Hormones

Growth Hormone (GH)

Anterior Lobe.

Action: Stimulates increase in size and rate of division of body cells; enhances movement of amino acids through membranes; promotes growth of long bones.

Source of control: Secretion inhibited by somatostatin (SS) and stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) from the hypothalamus ​

Prolactin (PRL)

Anterior Lobe:

Action: Sustains milk production after birth; amplifies the effect of LH in males.

Source of Control: Secretion inhibited by prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH) from the hypothalamus​

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Anterior Lobe:

Action: Controls secretion of hormones from the thyroid gland.

Source of Control: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Anterior lobe.

Action: Controls secretion of certain hormones from the adrenal cortex.

Source of control: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Anterior Lobe:

Action: Promotes development of egg-containing follicles in ovaries; stimulates follicular cells to secrete estrogen; in males, stimulates production of sperm cells.

Source of control: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Anterior Lobe.

Action: Promotes secretion of male and female sex hormones; releases egg cell in females​.

Source of Control: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus​

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Posterior lobe:

Action: Causes kidneys to reduce water excretion; may help maintain blood pressure.

Source of Control: Hypothalamus in response to changes in body fluid concentration and blood volume.

Oxytocin (OT)

Posterior lobe.

Action:Contracts smooth muscle in the uterine wall; forces liquid from the milk glands into the milk ducts, ejects milk.

Source of Control: Hypothalamus in response to stretching uterine and vaginal walls and stimulation of breasts