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OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES

  • Identify the 3 families of anterior pituitary hormones and their main structural differences.

  • Understand the mechanisms that regulate anterior pituitary hormone production and describe their actions on target organs.

  • Diagram the short-loop and long-loop negative feedback control of anterior pituitary hormone secretion.

  • Predict the changes in secretory rates of hypothalamic, anterior pituitary, and target gland hormones caused by oversecretion or undersecretion of any of these hormones or receptor deficit for any of these hormones.

  • Explain the importance of pulsatile and diurnal hormone secretion.

imageThe anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, plays a central role in the regulation of endocrine function through the production and release of tropic hormones (Figure 3–1). The function of the anterior pituitary, and thereby the production of tropic hormones, is under hypothalamic regulation by the hypophysiotropic neuropeptides released in the median eminence, as discussed in Chapter 2, and summarized in Table 3–1. The tropic hormones produced by the anterior pituitary are released into the systemic circulation, from where they reach their target organs to produce a physiologic response, most frequently involving the release of a target organ hormone (see Figure 3–1). The hormones produced by the target organs affect anterior pituitary function as well as the release of hypophysiotropic neuropeptides, maintaining an integrated feedback control system of endocrine function (see Figures 1–11 and 3–2).

Figure 3–1

Anterior pituitary hormones, target organs, and physiologic effects. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroid hormones that regulate growth, differentiation, and energy balance. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulate gonadal production of sex steroids, spermatogenesis, and ovulation, mediating reproductive function and behavior. Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal glands to produce steroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, water and sodium balance, and inflammation. Prolactin (Prl) stimulates breast development and milk production. Growth hormone (GH) exerts direct effects on tissue growth and differentiation and indirect effects through the stimulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 production, which mediates some of the growth and differentiation effects of GH.

Figure 3–2

Feedback regulation of pituitary hormone release. Hypothalamic neurohormones (eg, gonadotropin-releasing hormone) stimulate the anterior pituitary to produce and release tropic hormones (eg, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone). Tropic hormones bind to receptors in target organs and elicit a physiologic response. In most cases, the response involves the production of a target organ hormone, which, in turn, mediates physiologic effects at the target organ (eg, uterus). In addition, the target organ hormone is involved in feedback mechanisms (negative or positive) that regulate the production and release of the tropic hormone and the hypothalamic factor that regulates pituitary hormone release.

Table 3–1Anterior pituitary cell type, regulatory hypothalamic factor, and hormone product

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