Endocrine glands are ductless glands which are specialised invaginations of the surface epithelium elaborating and secreting chemical substances called hormones in small quantities into blood through which it is transported to respective target organs.
The pituitary gland produces a totally 9 hormones; 6 of them from the anterior lobe, 1 from the intermediate lobe and 2 from the posterior lobe. The list with one function each is given below.
(1) Growth hormone (GH) or Somototrophin:
The basic function of this hormone is to stimulate body weight and rate of growth of the body in terms of muscle, bone structure, cartilage etc.
(2) Thyroid stimulating hormone (STH):
regulates the growth of the thyroid gland and increase in thyroid activity.
(3) Adrenocortlcotrophic hormone (ACTH):
Regulates the hormonal secretions of the Adrenal cortex (Steroid hormones) and Increase Adrenocortical activity.
(4) Gonadotrophic hormones: Stimulating the growth and activity of gonads
- Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): stimulates ovarian follicular growth in female (Ovary) and stimulates the increased production of sperms in male (Testis – semiferous tubules)
- Luteinizing hormones (LH): Stimulates finai maturation of graafian follicle in the ovary. Along with FSH it also stimulates production of progesterone in females. ICSH- in males, it stimulates the testis to produce androgens.
(5) Prolactin (PRL): Stimulates growth of mammary glands and production of milk in females.
(6) Melanocyte – stimulating hormone:
Stimulates the increased production of Melanin pigment and its dispersal in mammalian skin.
(7) Vasopressin (or Antidiuretic hormone – ADH):
Acts on kidney tubules and controls the water (metabplism) balance, i.e. increases reabsorption of water in kidney tubules (distal part) whenever the body faces a deficit in water.
