Growth acceleration during puberty is largely related to the synergetic effects of gonadal sex steroids, growth hormone, intracellular growth factor-1 and ______.

Growth acceleration during puberty is largely related to the synergetic effects of gonadal sex steroids, growth hormone, intracellular growth factor-1 and ______.

• A. Cortisol
• B. Insulin
• C. Glucagon
• D. Thyroxine

Answer: (B)

Growth acceleration in puberty comes from the GH/IGF-1 axis working with sex steroids to drive rapid bone and lean-tissue growth. Insulin provides an essential anabolic environment that supports this process by promoting glucose and amino acid uptake into cells, enabling protein synthesis and tissue building. It also helps tissues respond more effectively to GH and IGF-1, amplifying their growth-promoting effects. While cortisol can dampen growth and glucagon is more about glucose regulation, insulin uniquely serves as the permissive, growth-supporting hormone in this combination. Thyroxine is important for growth in general, but the question highlights the specific partner that enhances GH/IGF-1–driven growth during puberty, which is insulin.

Growth acceleration in puberty comes from the GH/IGF-1 axis working with sex steroids to drive rapid bone and lean-tissue growth. Insulin provides an essential anabolic environment that supports this process by promoting glucose and amino acid uptake into cells, enabling protein synthesis and tissue building. It also helps tissues respond more effectively to GH and IGF-1, amplifying their growth-promoting effects. While cortisol can dampen growth and glucagon is more about glucose regulation, insulin uniquely serves as the permissive, growth-supporting hormone in this combination. Thyroxine is important for growth in general, but the question highlights the specific partner that enhances GH/IGF-1–driven growth during puberty, which is insulin.