1. Trophic hormones – secreted by the anterior
pituitary (the pars distalis of the
adenohypophysis)
Trophic – “feed”
High concentrations = hypertrophy of target
organ
Low concentrations= atrophy of target organ

2. 1. Growth Hormone (GH or somatrotropin)
-promotes movement of amino acids 
overall tissue and organ growth
2. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH or
thyrotropin)
-stimulates thyroid gland to produce and
secrete thryoxine and triiodothyronine
3. Adrenocoritcotropic hormone (ACTH or
corticotropin)
-stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete
glucocorticoids such as hydrocortisone

3. 4. Follicle-stimluating hormone (FSH or
folliculotropin)
-stimluates the growth of ovarian follicles in
females
-production of sperm cells in males
5. Luteinizing hormone (LH or luteotropin)
-with FSH are collectively called gonadotropic
hormones
- in females: stimluates ovulation and
conversion of ovulated ovarian follicle into a
corpus luteum.
-in males: sometimes called interstitial cell
stimulating hormone (ICSH); stimulates
secretion of male sex hormones from
interstitial cells in the testes

4. 6. Prolactin (PRL)
- stimulation of milk production by mammary
glands after birth of baby
- regulation of male reproductive system by
gonadotropins
-help regulate water and electrolyte balance
*Pituitary dwarfism
– inadequate growth hormone during
childhood
- pituitary cachexia (Simmonds’ disease) for
adults
Gigantism
-oversecretion of growth hormone

5.  Stores and releases 2 hormones:
1. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH or arginine
vasopressin [AVP])
-promotes retention of water by the kidneys
- “pressor effect” – vasoconstriction in
experimental animals
2. Oxytocin
-females: stimulates contraction of uterus
during labor; contraction of mammary
glands
-males: rise in oxytocin secretion at time of
ejaculation

6.  produced in neuron cell bodies of supraoptic
nuclei and paraventricular nuclei of the
hypothalamus
 Hormones produced are transported along
axons of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract
to the posterior pituitary (stored and later
released)
 Release of ADH and oxytocin is controlled by
neuroendocrine reflexes
 injection of oxytocin to pregnant women to
induce labor; severe pregnancy-induced
hypertension or preeclampsia.

8.  “master gland”
 Secretes hormones that regulate other
endocrine glands
Hormone & Target Organ:
Prolactin mammary gland
GH bone, muscle, adipose tissue
TSHThyroid
ACTHadrenal cortex
FSH & LHovary and testis

9.  Produced by neurons in the hypothalamus;
transported to axon endings in the basal
portion of the hypothalamus (median
eminence)
 Deliver blood to second capillary bed in the
anterior pituitary (link between the median
eminence and anterior pituitary form a portal
system)
 Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system –
vascular link between the hypothalamus and
anterior pituitary

10. HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONE EFFECT ON ANTERIOR PITUITARY
Corticotropin-releasing hormone Stimulates the secretion of
(CRH) adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH)
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone Stimulates the secretion of follicle-
(GnRH) stimulating hormone (FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH)
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH) Inhibits prolactin secretion
Somatostatin Inhibits secretion of growth
hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone Stimulates secretion of thyroid-
(TRH) stimulating hormone (TSH)
Growth hormone-releasing Stimulates growth hormone
hormone (GHRH) secretion

11. Hypothalamus
Thyrotropin-releasting
hormone (TRH)
Anterior pituitary
Thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH)
Thyroid
Thyroxine