ANTERIOR

PITUITARY
HORMONES

Dr

ANTERIOR PITUTARY GLAND

this gland secret 6 types of hormones

Polypeptide :
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
Growth hormone (GH)
Prolactin
Glycoprotein :
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

CELL TYPES

2 types
Acidophilic cells
a) Somatotropes which secreted growth
hormone
b) Mamotropes which secreted prolactin
Basophilic cells
a) Thyrotropes which secreted TSH
b) Gonadotropes secreted LH and FSH
c) Corticotropes secreted ACTH

Hormones of the Anterior Pituitary

Anterior Pituitary
Hormones

Prolactin (PRL)

The half-life about 20 minutes

Promote breast development and milk

production during pregnancy

Controls sensitivity to LH & FSH

Development and maintenance of corpus

luteum & responsible for ovulation

Controlled by PRH and PIH.

Growth Hormone

Species specific

Half life [20-30 min]

About 50% of hormone is bound to plasma

protein

Growth Hormone

GH is an anabolic hormone
that stimulates growth of all
body tissues but the major
effects are directed to growth of
skeletal muscles and long
bones.

GROWTH PROMOTING
ACTIONS OF GROWTH
HORMONE

SOFT TISSUES:

1.

stimulates cell division, increases size

of cells

2.

stimulates almost all aspects of protein

synthesis

3.

inhibits protein degradation

4.

promotes uptake of amino acids

GROWTH PROMOTING
ACTIONS OF GROWTH
HORMONE

BONE:

(condrogensis) cartilage formation

promotes growth of long bones, thickness

& length by acting on epiphyseal plate

at end of adolescence, sex hormones stop

this action

Effect of growth hormone treatment for

4 days on the proximal tibial epiphysis
Note that increased width of the
unstained cartilage plate in the tibia of
the right, compared with the control in
the left.

Metabolic actions OF GH
1. It

stimulates protein synthesis & causes amino

acids to be built into proteins ( anabolic)

2.

It mobilizes fats& causes fats to be broken down

as a source of energy, i ncreasing FFAs (lipolysis)

3. It

inhibits glucose uptake and metabolism. It

antagonizes insulin causing hyperglycemia & conserves

glucose for the brain.

Somatomedins
The effects of GH on growth, cartilage, &
protein depend on an interaction
between growth hormone &
somatomedins

Somatomedins are growth factors

secreted by mainly by the liver

In humans the principal circulating

somatomedins are insulin-like growth
factor 1(IGF-1, somatomedin C) & IGF-II

GH dose not produce most of its effects

by itself but through IGF-1, mainly for
protein synthesis & chondrogenesis

GH acts on cartilage to convert its stem

cells into cells that respond to IGF-1,
then locally produced & circulating IGF1 make the cartilage growth

Somatotropi
n growth
hormone
IGF.1
somatomedi
nC

Actions mediated by GH and IGF

Growth Hormone

Secretion is regulated by Hypothalamus:

1.

GHRH

2.

GHIH (somatostatin).

Negative feedback mechanism

DIURNAL RHYTHM: GH max AT NIGHT

Control

Other stimuli:

Inhibitors:

1.

hypoglycemia

1. free fatty acids

2.

Non-REM sleep

2. I.V. glucose

3.

stress

3. cortisol

4.

exercise

4. Growth hormone

5.

protein intake

5. REM sleep

6.

Dopamine

Abnormalities of GH

Deficiency or Hyposecretion of GH
Pituitary Dwarfism in children [before
puberty]
short

stature

reduced

muscle strength

decreased

bone density

GH insensitivity or Laron Dwarfism

receptor

problem

reduced

IGF1

Excess or Hypersecretion
OF GH

Cause Gigantism in children

Acromegaly in adults [after

puberty]

Excess or Hypersecretion OF
GH
Acromegaly
1. Acromegalic faces
2. Enlarged hands & feet
3. lactation
4. Hirsutism
5. Osteoarthritic vertebral changes
6. Bitemporal hemianopia
7. D.M. resistant to insulin

Ephiphys
eal plate:
site of
elongatio
n of long
bone

Acromegaly

TSH
TSH

(Thyroid Stimulating

Hormone, Thyrotropin)
Glycoprotein
Half life [60 min]

TSH Control

Hypothalamus: TRH stimulates its release

Negative feedback to it by thyroid

hormone

Circadian rhythm ?

Other Stimuli: Cold

Inhibitors: Heat

TSH Actions

Trophic effect on Thyroid gland

TSH promotes normal

development, growth and
activity of the thyroid gland.

Stimulates thyroid gland to

release thyroid hormones

 Caused by:

Abnormalities

Pituitary problems
rare
results in

secondary hypo- or hyperthyroidism

TSH level is parallel to thyroid hormones
Thyroid problems
common
associated with primary

hypo- or

hyperthyroidism
TSH level is opposite to thyroid hormones

Other Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Gonadotropic hormones
FSH and LH regulate hormonal activity
of the gonads in both sexes.
Glycoproteins
Half life
FSH: 3 hours
LH: 1 hour

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

FSH: stimulates sex cell production.

1. regulates female sex hormones,

2. Stimulates follicle development in ovaries
3. Stimulates sperm development in testes

FSH & LH control

Gonadotropin levels rise in response

to GnRH from Hypothalamus which starts at
puberty

Negative feedback of gonadal

hormones inhibits gonadotropin release.

Inhibitors:
Stress and emotions
Prolactin

Abnormalities

Before puberty:
1.

Excess: precocious puberty

2.

Deficiency: delayed puberty

After puberty:

Deficiency: Infertility

ACTH
ACTH

(Adrenocorticotropin)

Half life [5-15 min]

ACTH

stimulates the adrenal

cortex to release
corticosteroids.

ACTH Control

release is triggered by Hypothalamus CRH

inhibited by feedback inhibition of
rising glucocorticoid levels.

Circadian rhythm

Other Stimuli:

Stress

Hypoglycemia

ACTH Actions
Trophic

effect: Adrenal cortex

Stimulate
MSH

Cortisol secretion

like effects leading to

Pigmentation of the skin& mucus

membranes

ACTH Abnormalities

Excess ACTH = excess cortisol

Secondary

Cushings syndrome

Deficiency of ACTH = decreased cortisol

Secondary

Addisons disease

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