• Skip to main content
  • Members Area
    • Login
    • Account
    • Quick and Effective Strength
    • Work From Home Fitness
    • Shoulder Flexibility
    • Easy Hamstrings Flexibility
    • Hip Flexibility Program
    • Smart Core
    • Rings Routine
    • Hypertrophy Routine
    • Slackline Program
  • My Training Programs
    • Quick and Effective Workout
    • Work From Home Fitness
    • The Ultimate Flexibility Bundle
    • Shoulder & Upper Back Flexibility
    • Hip Flexibility
    • Easy Hamstrings
    • Rings Routine
    • Smart Core
    • Hypertrophy Routine
    • /r/bodyweightfitness Routine (Free; Beginners)
    • Bodyweight PPL Split (Free; Intermediate)
    • Minimalistic Upper Body Routine (Free; All Levels)
  • Articles & Tutorials
    • The Fitness Index
    • Nutrition Index
    • Inspirational Index
    • Science Index
      • Human Anatomy Series
      • Human Physiology Series
      • Pharmacology Series
  • About Me
    • Contact Antranik
    • Online Coaching

Antranik.org

Strength & Flexibility Expert

Like! Follow! Subscribe!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Anterior Pituitary Hormones

ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin Hormone)

ACTH normally goes from the pituitary to the adrenal gland and produces adrenocorticosteroid hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone.

This process is regulated by negative feedback loop. (The model for all tropic hormones is regulation by a negative feedback loop.) When the pituitary senses that your cortisol and aldersoterone levels are too low, it creates ACTH to stimulate the signal to the adrenal gland to produce those hormones. Once it reaches a certain level, it shuts off the pituitary gland which then stops the signal to the adrenal gland.

If you need a physiology refresher: Review the physiology of ACTH (Including Cortisol)

Corticotropin and Cosyntropin are both ACTH-like drugs.

One potential use is to diagnose the possible cause of Addison’s disease. This is a disease of the adrenal gland where it doesn’t produce enough cortisol or aldosterone so the blood levels of these will be low.  Nowa­days the proper word that the text­books want us to use is hypoglu­co­cor­ti­cos­teroidism (low lev­els of glucocorticosteroids).

We want to diagnose where the problem is because the problem may be in the adrenal gland (Pri­mary adrenal insuf­fi­ciency) or higher up in the body in the pituitary gland (Sec­ondary adrenal insuf­fi­ciency).  Secondary adrenal insufficiency is much more common.

So what we do is we give a person an injection of these ACTH-like drugs and then we get a sample of their blood afterwards. If after the injection the cortisol levels are higher, then that means the adrenal gland reacted to the ACTH and the problem is not in the adrenal gland, but in the pituitary because the adrenals gland reacted fine.  Conversely, if we give the injection and we find that the cortisol levels are unchanged, that means we have a problem in the adrenal glands.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to produce Thyroxine (T4). This eventually changes from T4 to T3. This process is regulated by negative feedback loop. (The model for all tropic hormones is regulation by a negative feedback loop.)

Thyrotropin (Thropar) is an injectable TSH-like drug.  Thyrotropin is used to diagnose the cause of hypothyroidism. If a patient is not producing enough T4 or T3, the problem could be in the thyroid gland or the pituitary gland.  If they give an injection of TSH and the T4 levels come up, that means the problem is in the pituitary.  Conversely, if they get an injection of TSH and there’s no change in the blood levels, that means the problem is in the thyroid gland because it is not reacting.

Growth Hormone

This hormone, produced in the anterior pituitary, is important for children to grow. If they don’t have growth hormone they will not grow.  The medication used to replace growth hormone is an injectable called Somatropen (Genotropin).

FSH, LH and Prolactin

Some other hormones in the anterior pituitary are FSH, LH and Prolactin. There are drugs that mimic both FSH and LH to treat endometriosis to stimulate progesterone production.  There is no medication that mimics prolactin (oxytocin, however, does induce the production of endogenous prolactin just after birth).

Want To Get Strong and Flexible? 💪 Check Out My Programs!

Antranik’s Easy Hamstrings Program

For those who have poor flexibility, tight hamstrings and want a simple program that will help them to get looser in a gentle, non-painful manner. In this … [Read More]

Antranik’s Smart Core Program

I don't know about you but nothing gets me fired up more than working on my abs. It's a unique muscle group that is utilized in every exercise and making it … [Read More]

Antranik’s Hip Flexibility Program

I've created this hip flexibility program for those that would like to improve their flexibility in an efficient manner, with a follow along video that only … [Read More]

Antranik’s Rings Bodyweight Training Routine

This is for anybody who wants to get strong and have fun with a gymnastics-inspired routine. It is highly bodyweight-exercise oriented (no external weights) and … [Read More]

Shoulder & Upper Back Flexibility Program

For anyone who wants better shoulder health, shoulder flexibility, a looser upper back and improved posture, this program takes all the guess work out of it to … [Read More]

The Quick and Effective Workout Program

Looking for a simple and straightforward bodyweight-oriented strength training routine that doesn't take too much time? You're not the only one! A survey I … [Read More]

The Ultimate Flexibility Bundle

I have three premium flexibility programs that I offer and many of you have been clamoring for a bundle-package, so here it is! You could now buy the … [Read More]

Antranik’s Hypertrophy Routine

This training routine is focused largely on increasing strength and muscle mass (aka muscular hypertrophy). If I had to sum up the routine in one fell swoop I … [Read More]

Latest Instagram Posts

Contact · Login

Get An Exclusive Email Special

when you sign up for our newsletter today

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for special offer.