[The growth hormone/somatomedin C system from the first years of life to young adulthood. Physiological aspects and physiopathologic involvement in diabetic syndrome].

The growth hormone (GH)/somatomedin-C (Sm-C) endocrine system plays a fundamental role in human anabolism. Whereas from a physiological point of view GH conforms to the classic hormone behaviour, Sm-C appears to follow a peripheral and local pattern of action with autocrine or paracrine involvement. The hormonal GH system interacts with the functional pattern of insulin and other hormones, and in addition with entire maturation process. On the basis of several reports, the puberal age seems to represent the first real "maturative-tumultuous" event managed by the operative GH/Sm-C system. It is thus possible to hypothesise that alterations to this system, as found in dysmetabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes), may either be seen as a cause or consequence of the disease process. It can therefore also be supposed that such alterations may interact with the development of the entire organism, above all when they occur during the delicate puberal phase.