Source |
Hormone |
Target |
Physiologic Effect |
| Anterior pituitary |
Follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) |
Ovary and Testes |
Growth of
ovarian follicles or
seminiferous tubules |
| Anterior pituitary |
Luteinizing hormone
(LH) |
Ovary and Testes |
Production of
estrogen and progesterone
or testosterone |
| Anterior pituitary |
Prolactin (LTH) |
Ovary and Mammary |
Stimulate milk production in breast
maintain secretion of estrogen and progesterone by ovary |
| Anterior pituitary |
Thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) |
Thyroid |
Stimulates secretion of thyroid
hormones |
| Anterior pituitary |
Adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH) |
Adrenal cortex |
Stimulates secretion of adrenal
cortex hormones |
| Anterior pituitary |
Growth hormone (GH) |
General |
Stimulates growth |
| Anterior pituitary |
Melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (MSH) |
Melanocytes |
Stimulates dispersal of pigment in
chromatophores |
Hypothalamus via
posterior pituitary |
Oxytocin |
Uterus and Mammary |
Stimulates contraction and
secretion of milk |
Hypothalamus via
posterior pituitary |
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) |
Kidney |
Stimulates reabsorption of water |
| Thyroid gland |
Thyroxin and
triodothyroxin |
General |
Stimulates metabolism, growth and
development |
| Thyroid gland |
Calcitonin |
Bone |
Lowers blood calcium level by
inhibiting bone breakdown |
| Parathyroid gland |
Parathyroid hormone |
Bone, kidney
digestive tract |
Increases blood calcium by
stimulating bone breakdown |
| Adrenal cortex |
Mineralocorticoids
(aldosterone) |
Kidney |
Maintain sodium and phosphate
balance |
| Adrenal cortex |
Glucoocorticoids
(cortisol) |
General |
Raise blood-glucose level
adapt to long-term stress |
| Adrenal cortex |
Dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA) |
|
Stimulate sex drive
induce labor |
| Adrenal medulla |
Epinephrine
(adrenalin) |
Muscle, liver |
Stimulates glucose release
short term cope with stress |
| Adrenal medulla |
Norepinephrine |
Blood vessels |
Constricts blood vessels
increase heart rate |
| Pineal gland |
Melatonin |
Gonads, pigment cells
other cells |
Control biorhythms
influence reproduction |
Pancreas
alpha cells |
Glucagon |
Liver
fatty tissue |
Raise blood glucose concentration
stimulate gluconeogenesis |
Pancreas
beta cells |
Insulin |
General |
Lower blood glucose concentration
stimulate glycogen synthesis |
| Ovary |
Estrogen
estradiol |
General
uterus |
Develop/maintain female
characteristics
stimulate growth of uterine lining |
| Ovary |
Progestrogen |
Uterus
breast |
Stimulate development of uterine
lining |
Ovary and
placenta |
Relaxin |
Pelvic ligaments |
Relaxes pelvic ligaments |
| Placenta |
Chorionic
gonadotropin |
Anterior pituitary |
Stimulates release of FSH and LH |
| Testes |
Testosterone |
General and
reproductive structures |
Develops and maintains male sex
characteristics
promotes spermatogenesis |
| Testes |
Inhibin |
Anterior lobe
of pituitary |
Inhibits FSH release |
| Testes |
Testosterone |
General and
reproductive structures |
Develops and maintains male sex
characteristics
promotes spermatogenesis |
| Duodenal mucosa |
Secretin |
Pancreas |
Stimulates secretion of pancreatic
juice |
| Duodenal mucosa |
Cholecystokinin |
Gallbladder |
Stimulates release of bile by
gallbladder |