Effect of Human Growth Hormone on Growth of Cells in Tissue Culture1

Abstract
The effect of human pituitary growth hormone (HGH) on human cells in tissue culture were studied by determining the changes produced by HGH on the number of nuclei and total protein content of the cells. HGH caused an increase in the rate of nuclear multiplication proportional to the concentration of the hormone and length of incubation time. The relative specificity of the response of the cells to HGH was indicated by the failure of other proteins, including human albumin, bovine somatotropin and human gamma globulin, to produce comparable changes in the rate of growth. The effect of HGH on nuclear multiplication was abolished by the antibody to this hormone.