Question
Can pituitary dwarfism be inherited? Both parents are normal, and out of eight children, three have pituitary dwarfism (two girls and one boy, with heights over 1 meter), while the other five are normal. Among the normal children, one girl (tall 150 cm) got married to a man tall 170 cm and had a son (tall 170 cm) and a daughter (tall 155 cm). Will the girl, who is 155 cm tall, and the boy, who is 170 cm tall, have children that might inherit dwarfism? If so, what is the percentage of possibility?
Answer
Growth hormone (HGH) is a protein secreted by the adenohypophysis cells and is a peptide hormone. The growth hormone produced through recombinant DNA technology is abbreviated as RHGH. Normally, growth hormone HGH is secreted in a pulsatile manner, with its secretion regulated by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) produced by the hypothalamus, as well as influenced by gender, age, and circadian rhythms. Secretion is significantly increased during sleep. Sometimes, growth hormone can lead to an excessive insulin state, so it is necessary to pay attention to whether the patient shows symptoms of reduced glucose tolerance. As for the possibility of inheritance, specific genetic counseling and genetic testing are required to determine this.