Anterior Pituitary

Dr.Pruthil Patel
The Pituitary Gland
 Pituitary Gland
• Is also known as Hypophysis
• Sits in the small bony cavity Sella Turcica at
the base of the brain.
• Secretes hormones regulating homeostasis
including trophic hormones that stimulate
other endocrine glands.
• 3 lobes-Adenohypophysis also known as the
anterior pituitary and the neurohypophysis
also known as the Posterior hypophysis.
 Pituitary Gland
• Also an intermediate lobe that secretes MSH.
• Anterior pituitary synthesize and secretes
ACTH, LH, FSH, GH, TSH, Prolactin.
• Posterior pituitary secretes oxytocin and
ADH.
• Posterior lobe is connected to the
hypothalamus through the pituitary stalk
• Hormones are actually made in the nerve cell
bodies of the hypothalamus and then
transported down the posterior pituitary
 ACTH
• Is a polypeptide
• Acts on the adrenal cortex
• Secreted in response to the corticotropin-
releasing hormone (CRH) from the
hypothalamus.
• Consists of 39 amino acids and 13 may be
cleaved to (MSH).
• Hypocortisolism and Addison’s disease have
tanned skin.
• Stimulates the cortex of the adrenal gland to
produce corticosteroids, mainly glucocorticoids.
• Excess ACTH-Addison’s disease
Small cell carcinoma
Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia
Cushing’s syndrome.
 TSH
• Is a glycoprotein
• Also known as Thyrotropin
• 2 subunits
• α and β
• α is identical to HCG,LH,FSH
• β subunit is unique to TSH therefore determines
its function.
• Stimulates thyroid gland to secrete T3, T4
• Controlled by Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH)
 Luteinising Hormone
• A glycoprotein
• Also known as Lutropin
• Acts in concert with Follicular stimulating
hormone
• Play a part in normal reproductive function.
• In females, an acute rise triggers ovulation.
• In males, stimulates leydig cells to produce
testosterone.
• Controlled by Gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
 Follicle Stimulating Hormones.
• A glycoprotein.
• Acts in synergy with LH.
• In women, stimulates the growth of immature
Graafian follicles to maturation.
• In men, enhances production of sperm cells.
• Half life of 3-4 hrs.
• Controlled by Gonadotrophin-releasing
hormones .
• High in menopause and low in childhood.
• High levels is indicative of defective feed-back
from the gonads.
 FSH (ctd)
• High levels is typical in menopause, but
abnormal in reproductive years and may be a
sign of------- Premature menopause
Gonadal dysgenesis,
Castration.
Testicular failure.
Low levels is seen in.. Kallman syndrome
Hypopituitarism
Hypothalamic causes
Drugs-GnRH antagonists.
 Prolactin
• A peptide hormone
• Associated with lactation.
• In breast feeding, suckling reflex—
prolactin production—Fills breast with milk
(lactogenesis)
• Production is regulated by neuroendocrine
neurons of the hypothalamus.
 They are Classified into:
• Somatotropic Hormones:
1- Growth Hormone (GH).
2- Prolactin (Prl).
3- Placental Lactogen (PL).
• Glycoprotein Hormones:
1- Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
2- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH).
3- Chrionic Gonadotropin (CG).
4- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
• Pro-Opiomelanocortin (POMC) derived
Hormones:
1- Corticotropin: ACTH.
2- Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones: a-MSH, b-MSH.
3- Lipotropins: b-LPH, -LPH
 Growth Hormone (GH)
• Structure: It is a single polypeptide chain composed
of 191 amino acid residues. It has two disulfide bonds.
 Growth Hormone
• Also known as Somatotropin.
• A protein hormone.
• Stimulates growth and cell production.
• Excess GH leads to acromegaly and Gigantism.
• Highest amount of GH is secreted during
puberty.
• Regulated by GHrH and somatostatin.
• Other stimulators are.. Sleep, exercise, Reduced
blood sugar, dietary protein, estradiol.
• Inhibitors are ..somatostatin, circulating GH,
Dietary carbohydrates, glucocorticoids.
• Secretion:
Somatotropes of the Anterior Pituitary.
• Level:
High in children.
Maximal during adolescence.
Lowest during adulthood.
• Measurments:
During 24 hours.
After stimulation.
• Regulation:
Stimulation: By Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
(GHRH).
Inhibition: By Somatostatin.
 Physiological Effects:
• Direct Effects:
1- Stimulation of Lipolyses (Hydrolyses of Triglycerides).
2- Stimulation of Hepatic glucose output.
3- Production of Insulin-like growth factors (IGF’s,
Somatomedins)

• Indirect Effects:
Mediated by IGF-1:
1- Increase cell numbers.
2- Positive Nitrogen balance.
3- Increase Protein synthesis.
 Growth Hormone (GH)

• Peptide hormone produced in the anterior

pituitary

• Both a hormone and a trophic factor

- stimulates release of insulin-like

growth factors (IGFs; somatomedins)

• Chemical structure different between

species
 Effect on Growth

• Growth hormone is only one necessary

factor for normal development

- thyroid hormone
- androgens
- estrogens
- insulin
- IGFs
 Bone Development

• GH stimulates long bone growth

• increases length prior to epiphyseal
closure

• increases width after epiphyseal

closure

• IGFs stimulate both bone and cartilage

growth
 Metabolic effects of Growth
Hormone
• Increased rate of protein synthesis in all
body cells
• Increased mobilization and use of fatty
acids from adipose tissue for energy
• Decreased rate of glucose utilization
throughout the body
(i.e. enhances body protein, uses up fat
stores and conserves CHO)
 Growth Hormone Deficiency

• In childhood, results in pituitary dwarfism

• complete deficiency

• partial deficiency

• Both respond to GH therapies

 Growth Hormone Excess

• In childhood leads to GIGANTISM

 Growth Hormone Excess

• In adulthood leads to ACROMEGALY

 Regulation of GH secretion

• Released in a pulsatile fashion in

response to GHRH release from the
hypothalamus, inhibited by GHIH

• Release also stimulated by:

- hypoglycemia and fasting
- increased amino acids in plasma
- stress
- exercise
Metabolic Effects of Growth Hormone

• GH is anabolic

• Increases fat breakdown

• Increases hepatic glucose output

 Disease Conditions Related to GH:
• Deficiency:
* Dwarfism.
• Excessive Secretion:
* Giantism:
Due to tumor in somatotrpes in young children or
adolescents.
* Acromegaly:
Rare disease (3/Million).
Causes: 1- Benign tumor of Pituitary gland (90%).
2- Tumors of pancreas, lung or adrenal gland.
Symptoms: Enlargements of extremities.
 Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
(GHRH)
• Structure:
Single polypeptide chain composed of 108 amino
acid residues.
• Function:
Stimulate the secretion of GH.
• Uses:
Treatment of children with GH deficiency due to
hypothalamic defects.
Diagnosis of the cause of GH deficiency.
 Regulation of GH
• GH release is stimulated by the GHrH
• Which act on somatomedins(IGF-1
somatomedinC)
• Act to increase growth of cells, cartilage and
protein metabolism.
• GH release is inhibited by Somatostatins which
are produced in the hypothalamus.
• Secretion of somatostatins is stimulated by
increased circulating levels of GH.
• Other sites where we find somatostatins are the
GIT and pancreas.
Gigantism
Acromegaly
 Dwarfism
• Can be due to GHrH deficiency, GH
deficiency or other cause.
• Extreme shortness
• But proportional body parts.
• Other causes not due to pituitary GH are
osteodystrophy, achondroplasia.
Thank You !!!!