Hormones of Pituitary Gland

• Growth hormone (GH)

  • Stimulates increase in size and rate of division of body cells; enhances movement of amino acids through membranes; promotes growth of long bones
  • Secretion inhibited by somatostatin (SS) and stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) from the hypothalamus
• Prolactin (PRL)

  • Sustains milk production after birth; amplifies effect of LH in males
  • Secretion inhibited by prolactin-release inhibiting hormone (PIH) and may be stimulated by yet to be identified prolactin-releasing factor (PRF) from the hypothalamus
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

  • Controls secretion of hormones from the thyroid gland.
  • Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

  • Controls secretion of certain hormones from the adrenal cortex
  • Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

  • Development of egg-containing follicles in ovaries; stimulates follicular cells to secrete estrogen; in males, stimulates production of sperm cells
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

  • Promotes secretion of sex hormones; releases egg cell in females
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

  • Causes kidneys to reduce water excretion; in high concentration, raises blood pressure
  • Hypothalamus in response to changes in blood water concentration and blood volume
• Oxytocin (OT)

  • Contracts muscles in uterine wall and those associated with milk-secreting glands.
  • Hypothalamus in response to stretch in uterine and vaginal walls and stimulation of breasts