title: [The evolution of opinion on the subject of insulin-like growth factors].
abstract: The present review is an attempt to brief summary of the current state of knowledge about insulin like growth factors (IGFs), formerly called somatomedins. The authors describe the fundamentals of the IGF system, explain its basic mechanisms of action. The purpose of this review is to presentation latest findings regarding effect of IGFs on pre-, neo- and postnatal growth and development of organisms. However, a role of IGF-I seems to be more crucial than thought 50 years ago, when the original somatomedin hypothesis was first put forward. Since then, several major revisions have been made. Special attention is given to role of IGF system in pathological states, reproduction, lactation, nutrition and immune system of human, rodents and ruminants. The link between normal and abnormal cellular growth resulting in tumor formation is also highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ruminant Improvement, Department of Ruminant Science, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Judyma 10, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland. malgorzata.szewczuk@zut.edu.pl
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szewczuk
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zych
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czerniawska-Piatkowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012377:Rodentia; D012418:Ruminants; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013002:Somatomedins