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Related Concept Videos

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland01:27

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 Gland01:17

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.
Major Hormones and Their Functions01:27

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Regulation of Hormone Secretion01:19

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,...
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
09:48

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

Published on: February 25, 2022

Extrapituitary growth hormone.

S Harvey1

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, 7-41 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada, steve.harvey@ualberta.ca

Endocrine
|October 26, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Growth hormone (GH) is produced by the pituitary gland and acts as an endocrine hormone. However, GH gene expression also occurs in other tissues, suggesting local physiological and pathophysiological roles.

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Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pituitary somatotrophs secrete growth hormone (GH), a key endocrine hormone regulating various bodily functions.
  • While GH's endocrine actions are well-established, its gene expression extends beyond the pituitary to numerous other tissues.
  • The role of extrapituitary GH in local tissue function and its potential implications are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and potential functions of extrapituitary growth hormone (GH).
  • To explore the significance of local GH production in various tissues beyond its endocrine role.
  • To understand the implications of extrapituitary GH in both physiological and pathophysiological processes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of GH gene expression in various non-pituitary tissues.
  • Comparison of signaling mechanisms for endocrine versus local GH actions.
  • Literature review on the physiological and pathophysiological roles of GH.

Main Results:

  • GH gene expression is detected in neural, immune, reproductive, alimentary, respiratory, integumentary, muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular tissues.
  • Extrapituitary GH may act locally (autocrine/paracrine) to influence cell proliferation and differentiation.
  • Local GH signaling pathways may differ from endocrine pathways and could be implicated in oncogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Extrapituitary GH production has significant physiological roles, potentially complementing endocrine functions and maintaining tissue health.
  • Local GH actions may be crucial during development and in senescence, independent of pituitary function.
  • Understanding extrapituitary GH is vital for comprehending its role in both normal physiology and disease, including cancer development.