Positive/Negative Feedback loop

Neural input

Hypothalamus Inhibiting factors

+
Pituitary gland

Releasing factors

+
Hormone A

Target organ

+
Hormone B Important Point: Secretions are pulsatile vs. continuous

Somatotrophs (40-50% in pars distalis)

Neural input

Hypothalamus
- Somatostatin via PV nucleus (GIH)

+ +

GHRH via Arcuate Nucleus

Pituitary gland

ALSO by -Elevated blood glucose -Also inhibited GH via Somatotrophs by melatonin from pineal gland

Liver

+
IGF-1
When? Secreted in the morning before waking Effects? IGF-1 binds to chondrocyte receptors on the epiphyseal plates and stimulates long bone/soft tissue growth Defects? Excess (kids) Gigantism; Deficits (kids) Dwarfism; Excess (adults) acromegaly (enlarged hands, feet, jaw, and soft tissues)

Mammotrophs (15-20%)
Neural input

Hypothalamus
Prolactin Inhibiting H (dopamine) via Arcuate nucleus

+ +
Prolactin

TRH via dorsomedial Nucleus; Prolactin RH

Pituitary gland

Mammary glands

When? Suckling is the major stimulus of prolactin Effects? To stimulate lactation post partum; Mammary glands stimulate lactation which involves mammogenesis (growth of mammary glands), lactogenesis (stimulating lactation), and galactogenesis (stimulating production of galactose) ***Secretion is regulated by inhibitory factors rather than stimulating factors

Gonadotrophs (10%)
Neural input

Hypothalamus
Melatonin from the pineal gland inhibits gonadotropin

+ +

GnRH via arcuate nucleus

Pituitary gland

FSH/LH

Reproductive Organs

+
Various hormones Effects? Follicle Stimulating Hormone folliculogenesis in females (stimulates granulosa cells of ovarian follicle to proliferate and secrete estradiol, activin, and inhibin secretion); stimulates Sertoli cells in seminferous epithelium to synthesize inhibin, activin, and androgen-binding protein Lutenizing Hormone in females, progesterone secretion by corpus luteum; testosterone by Leydig cells in males Defects? A lack of FSH and LH lead to infertility

Thyrotrophs (5%)
Neural input

Hypothalamus

+
Pituitary gland

Thyrotropin RH via dorsomedial nucleus

+
TSH

Thyroid Gland

+
T3(inhibitory) T4

Defects? Hypothyroidism - At the level of the pituitary gland results in low levels of TSH and T3/T4 - At the level of the thyroid gland results in normal levels of TSH and low levels of T3/T4

Corticotrophs (20%)
Neural input

Hypothalamus

+
Pituitary gland

Corticotropin RH via paraventricular nucleus (anterior portion)

+
Corticotropin (ACTH)

Adrenal cortex

+
Cortisol ***Also stimulated by stress, low cortisol levels, and vasopressin Effects? Stimulates growth and synthesis of steroid hormones in the adrenal cortex When? In a circadian pattern high burst in the morning, declining afterwards