Anterior Pituitary Gland: Functions and Hormones

Anterior pituitary gland
Introduction
• The pituitary gland is small pea shaped
gland which hangs down from the
hypothalamus of the brain.
• The function of anterior pituitary gland is
regulated by the regulatory hormone
secreted by hypothalamus.
• Anterior pituitary gland is one of the most
important pituitary gland which regulated
the vital functions of the body and
wellbeing.
• It is also referred to as the master gland as
it controls the activity of other hormone
secreting gland (1)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH)
• It is also recognized as thyrotrophin.
Targets: TSH hormone is secreted from
anterior pituitary gland and targets the
thyroid gland.
Functions: It aids in the stimulation of the
thyroid gland to stow thyroxine.
Follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH)
• It helps in the pubertal development of
male’s testes.
Target: FSH hormone is secreted from the
anterior pituitary gland and targets on the
Testes of the male reproductive system
Function: It aids in the stimulation of the
testosterone and sperm.
LH and FSH are collectively referred
to as gonadotrophins (3).
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
(ACTH)
• It is also known as corticotrophin.
• It is a poly peptide tropic hormone
• It is released out from the hypothalamus as
a response to the stress.
Target: ACTH hormone is secreted from the
anterior pituitary gland and targets on the
adrenal gland of the human body
Function: It aids in the stimulation of the
adrenal gland in order to produce a hormone
named as cortisol.
Melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (MSH)
• Secreted by intermediate lobe of anterior
pituitary gland
Target: The target organ of MSH is
unknown (4).
Function: It is expected to be take function
skin darkening, but exact function is human
body is unknown.
Luteinising hormone (LH)
• It aids in the management of the
proper functioning of the female
reproductive system
• LH in males is mentioned to as
interstitial cell stimulating hormone.
Targets: Luteinising hormone
secreted from the anterior pituitary
gland and targets on the ovaries of
the female reproductive system
Functions: It aids the stimulation of
the ovaries in order to produce and
oestrogen
Growth hormone (GH)
• It aids in the management of complex
physiological process of the body.
• Further research is going to evaluate its
function in adult.
Target: GH hormone secreted by the
anterior pituitary gland targets on all cells
of the body.
Functions: It aids in stimulation of the
growth and repair
Prolactin (PRL)
• It is present every time in both male
and female.
• It is secreted in large amount during
breast feeding and pregnancy.
Target: PRL hormone is secreted from the
anterior pituitary gland and targets on the
breast.
Functions: It aids in the stimulation of the
breast to secrete milk (2).
References
(1). Gupta A. Role of Stress and Hormones of
the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis
in Aging. InModels, Molecules and
Mechanisms in Biogerontology 2019 (pp. 241-
263). Springer, Singapore.
(2). Ozone C, Suga H, Eiraku M, Kadoshima T,
Yonemura S, Takata N, Oiso Y, Tsuji T, Sasai Y.
Functional anterior pituitary generated in self-
organizing culture of human embryonic stem
cells. Nature communications. 2016 Jan
14;7:10351.
(3). de Fried EP, Kanzepolsky L. Routes of
Administration of Gonadotropins and Ovarian
Response. Manual of Ovulation Induction &
Ovarian Stimulation Protocols. 2016 Feb
29:125.
($). Ladyman SR, Augustine RA, Scherf E,
Phillipps HR, Brown CH, Grattan DR.
Attenuated hypothalamic responses to α‐
melanocyte stimulating hormone during
pregnancy in the rat. The Journal of
physiology. 2016 Feb 15;594(4):1087-101.