Insulin-like growth factor-i: Compartmentalization within the somatotropic axis?

Academic Article
uri icon

publication date

  • April 2002

abstract

  • Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is essential for normal growth; igf-1 gene mutations are associated with extreme growth retardation in mice and, very rarely, in humans. The relative contributions of tissue vs. endocrine (hepatic) IGF-I to the regulation of growth has been a fundamental question. New gene targeting technologies are providing answers for these questions.