Аннотация:Summary: Earlier we have studied the effects of glucocorticoids and other bioregulators on body and organ growth in rats, as well as on protein secretion and macromolecule biosynthesis in primary cultures of pituitary and liver cells from animals of different age groups. Besides, we investigated the actions of glucocorticoids and other factors on proliferation of several cell lines in culture. In present work we analyzed our own results, together with data of world literature, in order to establish the role of stress hormones and proteins in regulation of body growth and cell proliferation, especially in ontogeny. The bibliographic search was performed in various databases, as well as in Public Domain of Internet, using Scholar Google and the indicated key words, during the last 45 years, preferably in English. In our hands, glucocorticoids inhibited body and organ growth in vivo and at least in some cases, diminished cell proliferation in vitro. Literature data confirm the contribution of stress hormones and proteins to regulation of body growth and cell proliferation. The main task at present is to unite the regulatory mechanisms of organismal and cell stress. In this sense, it is important to expand the studies of stress hormones beyond glucocorticoids and investigations of stress proteins beyond HSP. Besides, it is essential to implement life-course approach, evaluating the role of stress hormones and proteins in mechanisms of programming / imprinting phenomena.