The Somatotrophic Axis and the Reproductive Process in Health and Disease

For many years now, our understanding of the somatotrophic and reproduc­ tive axes has evolved essentially independently, both fields of study reaching a highly advanced, although far from complete, level of under­ standing. Along the way, however, it became apparent that in some circumstances the reproductive and somatotrophic axes may be inter­ dependent. Inklings to this effect were at times feeble and at other times more convincing. Among those inklings are the clinical recognition by pediat