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Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...

The Pituitary Gland

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.

Regulation of Hormone Secretion

Regulation of Hormone Secretion

Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral stimuli,...

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.

Regulation of Food Intake

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...

Neural Regulation of Blood Pressure

Neural Regulation of Blood Pressure

The neural regulation of blood pressure involves intricate interactions between the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and cardiovascular system, ensuring adequate perfusion of tissues. This regulation primarily occurs through baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes, involving both short-term and long-term mechanisms.
Baroreceptor Reflex
Baroreceptors, located in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch, detect changes in blood pressure. When blood pressure rises, these stretch-sensitive receptors...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Published on: February 25, 2022

Neural mechanisms involved in pituitary control.

C Kordon¹

¹Unité 159 de Neuroendocrinologie de l'INSERM, 2ter rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France.

Neurochemistry International

|May 25, 2010

Summary

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal regulation involves neurosecretory neurons releasing neurotransmitters that control pituitary function. These signals integrate through complex cellular mechanisms, modulating adenylate cyclase and phospholipase activity.

Area of Science:

Neuroendocrinology
Cellular signaling

Background:

The hypothalamo-hypophyseal system regulates endocrine functions via neurosecretory neurons.
Over 20 neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are involved in this complex regulatory pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the cellular distribution and coupling pathways of neural signals controlling pituitary functions.
To discuss the functional consequences of interactions between adenylate cyclase and phospholipase modulation.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on neurosecretory neurons, hypothalamic structures, and pituitary cell receptors.
Analysis of signaling pathways involving adenylate cyclase, phospholipases, and ion channels.

Main Results:

Neurosecretory neurons in four hypothalamic areas project to the median eminence and posterior pituitary.

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Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland

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Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices

Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices

Published on: February 23, 2010

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

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Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland

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Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices

Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices

Published on: February 23, 2010

Pituitary cells express specific receptors for multiple neurotransmitters, often colocalized.

Neural signals integrate via reciprocal interactions between receptor coupling mechanisms, affecting adenylate cyclase and phospholipase activity.

Conclusions:

Pituitary secretion is controlled by integrated multiple neural signals.
Cellular signaling involves complex interactions modulating second messenger systems.
Understanding these pathways is crucial for comprehending pituitary function regulation.