Question

what hormones are directly affected by hypopituitarism and what effect does it have on the rest of the endocrine system?

Answer 1

The tropic hormones secreted by anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) gland include,

1. Thyrotrophic hormone (TSH): TSH has many actions on the thyroid gland, including its growth and secretory activity, thus it stimulates the thyroid gland to synthesize and release thyroid hormones.
2. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH): This hormone stimulates adrenal cortex to release adrenocortical hormones, such as glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
3. Luteinising hormone (LH): It stimulates ovary in females to produce progesterone, and in males, it stimulates testes to produce testosterone.
4. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): This hormone stimulates the ovary to synthesize estrogen, and thus maturation of ovum. In males, it stimulates testes to produce spermatozoa.
5. Growth hormone: This hormone has both topic and non-tropic effects. The tropic effect is, it stimulates the release of insulin-like growth factors from the liver, which is essential for bone growth.

Hypothyroidism causes reduced secretion of all these hormones released by the anterior pituitary gland and consequently, the blood levels of all other endocrine hormones become reduced (due to tropic hormones deficiency)