Ghrh - growth hormone releasing hormone

This gene encodes a hormone that has stimulatory effects on pituitary growth hormone synthesis and release, and somatotrope expansion. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic processing to generate the mature peptide that is secreted by hypothalamus. Mice lacking the encoded protein are deficient in the growth hormone, live longer and exhibit growth retardation, enhanced insulin sensitivity and increased xenobiotic metabolism. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2016]