Anterior

pituitary-II
Mohamed Elsadig
 Prolactin(PRL), (mammotropin)
• Characteristics of Prolactin:
• Poly peptide hormone.
• Chemically similar to growth hormone.
• Half life is 20 minutes.
• It is secreted in the pulsatile manner.
• Uniquely among the pituitary hormones, prolactin secretion is
tonically inhibited by the hypothalamus
• In none pregnant or lactating, prolactin secretion is tonically
inhibited by dopamine (prolactin inhibitory hormone(PRLIH))
also known as prolactin-inhibiting factor(PIF) ).
 The control of PRL secretion
Stimulate PRL hormone
secretion Inhibit PRL hormone secretion
• PRLRH • PRLIH (dopamine)
• TRH • GHIH (somatostatin)
• Pregnancy (estrogen) • PRL (negative feed back)
• Breast feeding (suckling) • Dopamine agonist
• Sleep • GABA
• Stress
• Dopamine antagonist
• Serotonin
• VIP
• Oxytocin
• Angiotensin II
 PRL actions
1. During and after puberty(when no pregnancy):
• Prolactin, together with estrogens, progesterone, cortisol, and GH,
stimulates the proliferation and branching of ducts in the female
breast.
2. During pregnancy:
• Prolactin, along with estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol, causes
the development of lobules of alveoli within which milk is
produced.
3. After parturition:
• Prolactin, together with insulin and cortisol, stimulates milk
synthesis and prolactin with oxytocin maintains milk secretion
during the nursing period.
4. PRL inhibits GnRH, so it prevents ovulation in females and
normal sperm production in males.
5. Inhibition of libido.
6. It has cell growth and proliferation resemble GH and may induce
an intermediary growth molecule called synlactin, analogy to
somatomedins.
7. Extrapituitary production of prolactin suggests a role for this
hormone in the immunological balance required for the
acceptance of fetal tissues by the mother, and the protection of
maternal tissues from fetal invasion.
 Abnormalities of PRL secretion
• PRL excess:
1. Infertility in both males and females due to inhibition of
gonadotropin effects.
2. Amenorrhoea in females.
3. Impotence and loss of libido in males.
4. Galactorrhea(milk production).
5. Hypogonadism.
6. Gynaecomastia(breast like females).
• PRL deficiency:
• Failure of lactation.
Galactorrhea
Gynaecomastia
• NB:
• Cutting the pituitary stalk increases release of PRL while
decreasing release of other anterior pituitary hormones, because
prolactin is the only one anterior pituitary hormone is tonically
inhibited from the hypothalamus.
 Thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)
• Characteristics:
• Glycoprotein hormone.
• Half life 60min.
• Metabolized mainly in the kidney.
 Control of secretion
stimuli inhibitors
• TRH from hypothalamus. • T3 and T4
• Cold exposure • Stress
• Heat exposure
• Dopamine
• Somatostatin
• Glucocorticoids
• Actions of the TSH:
• Trophic effect on the thyroid gland and secretion of T3 and T4.
• Abnormalities of the TSH:
 TSH excess:
• Caused by:
1. Pituitary tumor, here TSH, T3 and T4 are high(secondary
hyperthyroidism).
2. Thyroid diseases that decreases T3 and T4(primary
hypothyroidism).
 TSH deficiency:
• Caused by:
1. Pituitary tumors that decrease TSH and then T3 and
T4(secondary hypothyroidism).
2. Thyroid diseases that increase T3 and T4 secretion(primary
hyperthyroidism).
 Adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH
• Characteristics:
• Peptide hormone synthesizes from proopiomelanocortin in anterior
pituitary.
• Half life 5-15 min.
 Control of secretion
stimuli inhibitors
• CRH. • ACTH.
• Stress. • Cortisol.
• Hypoglycemia. • Opioids.
• Trauma. • Somatostatin.
• Serotonin. • GABA.
• Acetyl choline.
• Cold exposure.
• ADH.
 Action of the ACTH
1. Trophic effect on the adrenal cortex, it increases cellularity
vascularity and secretion of cortisol.
2. Has melanocyte stimulating action for pigmentation of the skin.
Abnormalities of ACTH secretion
• Excess of ACTH:
• Caused by:
1. Pituitary tumor that secrete ACTH lead to cortisol
excess(secondary Cushing’s syndrome).
2. lung tumor secrete ACTH(ectopic Cushing’s syndrome).
3. Adrenal problems causing cortisol deficiency (primary Addison’s
disease).
• ACTH deficiency:
• Caused by:
1. Pituitary tumor that decrease ACTH, lead to decrease in cortisol
secretion(secondary Addison’s disease).
2. Diseases in adrenal cortex that increase cortisol secretion(primary
Cushing’s).
 Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)
• Characteristics:
• Glycoprotein hormone.
• Half life 3 hours.
• Metabolized in the liver.
 Control of FSH secretion
stimulation inhibitors
• GnRH • Estrogen (17-beta-estradiol).
• Testosterone.
• FSH.
• Inhibin.
• PRL.
 Action of FSH
1. Responsible for maturation of primordial follicles in the ovaries.
2. Together with LH, stimulates ovulation.
3. Growth and development of seminiferous tubules.
 Luteinizing hormone(LH)
• Characteristics:
• Glycoprotein hormone.
• Half life 1 hour.
 Control of secretion
stimulation inhibitor
• GnRH. • LH after mid –cycle.
• LH in the mid-cycle peak. • 17-beta-estradiol (estrogen).
• PRL.
 Action of LH
1. Promotion of growth and maturation of ovarian follicles with
FSH.
2. Main hormone responsible for ovulation.
3. Maintain the corpus luteum in the secretion phase of the
menstrual cycle.
 Abnormalities of FSH and LH secretion
• Excess:
• Results in precocious puberty if occurred before puberty.
• Deficiency:
• Delays onset of puberty if occurred before puberty and infertility if
occurred after puberty.
Thank you