The idea for this volume emerged from a symposium on the clinical and basic aspects of growth hormone organized for the Developmental Pharmacology Section of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 1993. The goal was to create an up-to-date document in this fast-moving field that would provide basic scientists a resource about clinical aspects and clinical investigators a ready reference on basic and investigative issues. We have been fortunate to be able to recruit the leading investigators in the various areas to contribute chapters.