Abstract
It has recently been claimed that growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factors have a role in follicular development; different mechanisms of action have been proposed. Of late, many investigators have been led by these findings to use GH and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) for induction of ovulation, in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophins. It is, however, still doubtful whether or not growth hormones and/or insulin-like growth factors are mandatory for follicular development and fertility. In this study we describe two women with Laron-type dwarfism who lacked insulin-like growth factors and who had spontaneous pregnancies. We also discuss different natural defects in the production and metabolism of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors in humans, and the fertility performance of the affected females. It is our assumption that GH and systemic insulin-like growth factors may modulate follicular development, but that they are not necessarily mandatory for ovarian follicular development.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 670-671 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Human Reproduction |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1991 |
Keywords
- Fertilization
- Growth hormone
- Insulin-like growth factors I and II
- Laron dwarfism
- Reproduction