Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Somatotroph

Human growth hormone (hGH)

Lactotroph

Prolactin (PRL)

Corticotroph

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

Thyrotroph

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Gonatotroph

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

hGH stimulates →

general body growth and regulates metabolism

PRL initiates →

milk production in suitably prepared mammary glands

ACTH stimulates →

adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoids

MSH →

increases skin pigmenetation

TSH stimulates →

thyroid to secrete its hormones

FSH stimulates →

sperm production by testes and stimulates ova production and secretion of estrogen by ovaries

LH stimulates →

secretion of testerone by testes

also with FSH stimulates secretion of estrogen by ovaries and ovulation. stimulates formation of corpus luteum and its secretion of progesterone