Endocrine Glands and Their Hormones

Melatonin

Regulates internal body rhythms such as the 'daily cycle' and 'annual cycle;' causes changes in hormones like gonadotropins associated with daily and annual cycles.

Growth Hormone (GH)

Stimulates body growth and cell mitosis.

Prolactin (PRL)

Stimulates milk production in mammary glands.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Increases production and secretion of adrenal cortex steroid hormones related to stress and water balance.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Increases production and secretion of thyroid hormones such as THYROXINE.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Stimulate development of testes and ovary, production of sperm/eggs, and production of gonadal sex steroid hormones. FSH and LH are together called GONADOTROPINS.

β-Endorphin

Suppresses pain; may act as an 'endogenous opioid (opiate).'

β-Lipotropin (β-LPH)

Affects lipid metabolism, primarily by lipolysis.

Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH)

In animals, MSH stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin. Not actually secreted in humans, but can be created by ACTH cleavage. Functional importance in humans: unknown.

Oxytocin (OT)

Stimulates contraction of muscles in uterus to drive birthing contractions during 'labor,' and stimulates mammary gland muscles to release milk.

Vasopressin (AVP) = Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Decreases the amount (volume) of urine produced by the kidneys and increases urine solute concentration in order to conserve water in the body.

Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4)

Stimulate metabolic rate, nervous and metabolic activity, and growth.

Calcitonin (CT)

Inhibits the rate of bone break-down by osteoclasts and increases rate of calcium and phosphate excretion by kidneys into urine in order to lower the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the blood.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Stimulates bone break-down by osteoclasts, calcium absorption from food in gut, and decreases rate of calcium excretion by kidneys in order to increase blood concentration of calcium.

Thymosin, Thymopoietin, and others

Stimulates production and activation of certain white blood cells.

Atrial Natriuretic Hormone (ANH)

Stimulates sodium excretion and inhibits potassium excretion at kidneys: Result is increased water loss and decreased blood pressure.

Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGF-1, IGF-2)

Stimulate mitosis, body growth, and protein anabolism.

Gastrin

Stimulates secretion of stomach acid, increases gut activity.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Stimulates secretion of digestive enzymes from pancreas and bile from gall bladder; inhibits stomach activity and secretion of stomach acid.

Glucose-Dependent Insulotropic Hormone (GIP)

Stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits gastrin secretion.

Motilin

Stimulates intestinal smooth muscle to contract.

Secretin

Stimulates secretion of alkaline secretions from pancreas to 'neutralize' the stomach acids.

Insulin

Stimulates glucose uptake from blood into cells, glycogenesis, lipogenesis and protein anabolism; inhibits amino acid and fatty acid conversion to glucose. Result: Lowers blood glucose concentration.

Glucagon

Stimulates gluconeogenesis from lipids and proteins; stimulates glycogenolysis to release glucose from stored glycogen. Result: Increases blood glucose levels.

Somatostatin (SS)

Inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion.

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

Increase heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow to skeletal muscles, breathing rate; decrease gut activity and blood flow to gut.

Aldosterone

Stimulates excretion of potassium and inhibits secretion of sodium and water by kidney in order to increase blood volume and blood pressure.

Cortisol

Inhibits production of proteins in body and increases breakdown of amino acids and fatty acids (instead of glucose) for energy metabolism, in order to maintain normal blood concentrations of glucose between meals.

Sex hormones

Supplemental source for androgens (DHEA and androstenedione), estrogens, and progesterone.

Erythropoietin

Stimulates RBC synthesis.

1,25-(OH)2-Vitamin D3 (Calcitriol)

Stimulates calcium absorption from gut and calcium retention in kidneys.

Androgens (e.g., Testosterone (T) and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT))

Promote development of male secondary sex characteristics, stimulate sexual activity, stimulate production of sperm.

Estrogens (e.g., Estradiol (E2))

Promote development of female secondary sex characteristics, simulate egg production and ovulation.

Progestins (e.g., Progesterone (P))

Influence egg production, maintain pregnancy. Also made by placenta.

Progestins (Placenta)

Supports placenta during pregnancy.

Estrogens (Placenta)

Supports placenta during pregnancy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCH)

Supports placenta during pregnancy. Stimulates placenta to synthesize steroids.