Hormones of Pituitary Gland

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Cell Type:

• thyrotropic cells

Location:

• Thyroid gland

Function:

• stimulates thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones

Too much:

• Hyperthyroidism (Similar effects to graves disease- antibodies mimic TSH)

Too little:

• Cretinism (in children)

• Myxedema (in adults)

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Cell Type:

• corticotropic cell

Location:

• Adrenal cortex

Function:

• Promotes release of glucocorticoids and androgens

Too much:

• Crushing’s disease

Too little:

• Rare

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Cell Type:

• gonadotropic cells

Location:

• Ovaries and testes

Function:

• In females: stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and estrogen production

• In males: stimulates sperm production

Too much:

• No important effects

Too little:

• failure of sexual maturation

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Cell Type:

• gonadotropic cells

Location:

• Ovaries and testes

Function:

• In females: triggers ovulation and stimulates ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone

• In males promotes testosterone production

Too much:

• No important effects

Too little:

• failure of sexual maturation

Growth hormone (GH)

Cell Type:

• somatotropic cells

  • Location:

• Liver, muscle, bone, cartilage, and other tissues

Function:

• stimulates protein synthesis and somatic growth; mobilizes fats; and increases blood glucose

Too much:

• Gigantism (in children)

• Acromegaly (in adults)

Too little:

• Pituitary dwarfism (in children)

Prolactin (PRL)

Cell Type:

• prolactin cells

Location:

• Breasts secretory tissue

Function:

• Promotes lactation

Too much:

• inappropriate milk production (galactorrhea);

• cessation of menses (in females)

• impotence (in males)

Too little:

• poor milk production in nursing women

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) aka vasopressin

Neuron Type:

• supraoptic nucleus of hypothalamus

Location:

• Kidney

Function:

• stimulates kidney tubule cells to resorb water

Too much:

• syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)

Too little:

• Diabetes insipidus

Oxytocin

Neuron Type:

• paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus

Location:

• uterus

Function:

• stimulates uterine contraction; initiates labor; initiates milk ejection in breast

Too much:

• unknown

Too little:

• uknown