A Century of Growth Hormone from Pierre Marie (1886) to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (1985)

This paper explores the historical development of growth hormone (GH) research from 1886 to 1985, particularly focusing on the recognition of acromegaly and the advancements in understanding pituitary function and hormone replacement therapy. The authors examine the concept of species specificity in GH and the active core hypothesis, which suggested that animal GH could be effective in humans, although this was ultimately rendered unnecessary with the advent of recombinant human GH. The study highlights the evolution of GH therapy and its implications for treating growth disorders.