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