Major Hormones Secreted
| Hormone | Other names | Symbol(s) | Structure | Secretory cells | Staining | Target | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenocorticotropic hormone | Corticotropin | ACTH | Polypeptide | Corticotrophs | Basophil | Adrenal gland | Secretion of glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid and sexcorticoids |
| Beta-endorphin | Polypeptide | Corticotrophs | Basophil | Opioid receptor | Inhibit perception of pain | ||
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone | Thyrotropin | TSH | Glycoprotein | Thyrotrophs | Basophil | Thyroid gland | Secretion of thyroid hormones |
| Follicle-stimulating hormone | - | FSH | Glycoprotein | Gonadotrophs | Basophil | Gonads | Growth of reproductive system |
| Luteinizing hormone | Lutropin | LH, ICSH | Glycoprotein | Gonadotrophs | Basophil | Gonads | Sex hormone production |
| Growth hormone | Somatotropin | GH, STH | Polypeptide | Somatotrophs | Acidophil | Liver, adipose tissue | Promotes growth; lipid and carbohydrate metabolism |
| Prolactin | Lactogenic hormone | PRL | Polypeptide | Lactotrophs and Mammotrophs | Acidophil | Ovaries, mammary glands | Secretion of estrogens/progesterone; milk production |
The acidophilic cells (GH and PRL) have extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and produce single chain polypeptides without any glycosylation or phosphorylation. Basophilic staining results from lysosome action modifying the hormones (or prohormones in the case of corticotrophs) by glycosylation.
An easy mnemonic to remember the hormones produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary is "FLATPEG".
Read more about this topic: Anterior Pituitary
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