Hormones of the Adenohypophysis and Their Disorders

Hormones of the adenohypophysis - 1. Somatotropin / Growth hormone (GH) : The adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) secretes several distinct hormones. Somatotropin (STH/growth hormone/GH) stimulates growth and development of all body tissues by accelerating protein synthesis and cell division; its secretion peaks until puberty and then falls, though it continues at a lower level throughout life for tissue repair and replacement. Faulty GH secretion produces characteristic disorders: hyposecretion since childhood causes pituitary dwarfism (stunted physical growth); hypersecretion in childhood causes gigantism (abnormal overall height); and hypersecretion in already-grown, middle-aged adults causes acromegaly -- disproportionate growth and disfiguring enlargement of the nose, lower jaw, hands, fingers and feet, since the long bones can no longer lengthen but other tissues can still thicken.

2. Thyrotropin (TSH), 3. ACTH, 4. Prolactin : Thyrotropin (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone/TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroxine. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH/adrenocorticotropin) stimulates and maintains the functioning of the adrenal cortex. Prolactin (luteotropin/mammotropin) is unusual among pituitary hormones for being under predominantly inhibitory control from the hypothalamus; it activates breast growth during pregnancy (mammotropic action) and stimulates milk production and secretion after childbirth (lactogenic action). …