Sex Steroids, Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1: Neuroendocrine and Metabolic Regulation in Puberty

GH, IGF-1 and sex steroids all markedly increase during puberty and their actions are amplified mutually as they control growth, increase muscle mass and affect the mineralization of the skeleton. The dichotomy of androgen and estrogen effects in the male and female may regulate the differential timing of the onset of puberty and final height in the two sexes. The synergistic actions of these anabolic hormones appear to be most significant during the finite years of puberty.