ESPE Abstracts

Epiphyseal growth plates, tiny cartilage discs located to the end of long bones, are necessary for longitudinal growth of the skeleton. When and why these structures appeared as individual organs was not very clear until recently. Bringing together an evolutionary approach with comparative analysis, mathematical modelling and both physical and biological experiments allowed to reveal that spatial allocation of the growth plate reduces mechanical stresses within the structure, ...

Background: Abnormal growth is a common problem in children. Some children do not respond to growth hormone therapy and alternative treatments selectively targeting the growth plate are needed. High doses of estrogens induce growth plate closure and stop further growth. However, high-dose estrogen treatment may also have severe side effects, including increased risk of cancer and reduced fertility. The expression of estrogen receptors (ER), including GPER-1, has been demonstra...