Hormone	Abbreviation	Gland of Origin	Major Actions
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone	TRH	Hypothalamus	Stimulates secretion of TSH and prolactin
Corticotropin-releasing hormone	CRH	Hypothalamus	Stimulates secretion of ACTH
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone	GnRH	Hypothalamus	Stimulates secretion of LH and FSH
Growth hormone-releasing hormone	GHRH	Hypothalamus	Stimulates secretion of growth hormone
Somatotropin release-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin)	SRIF	Hypothalamus	Inhibits secretion of growth hormone
Prolactin-inhibiting factor (dopamine)	PIF	Hypothalamus	Inhibits secretion of prolactin
Thyroid-stimulating hormone	TSH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones
Follicle-stimulating hormone	FSH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates growth of ovarian follicles and estrogen secretion; Promotes sperm maturation (testes)
Luteinizing hormone	LH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates ovulation, formation of corpus luteum, and synthesis of estrogen and progesterone (ovary); Stimulates synthesis and secretion of testosterone (testes)
Growth hormone	GH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates protein synthesis and overall growth
Prolactin	-	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates milk production and breast development
Adrenocorticotropic hormone	ACTH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates synthesis and secretion of adrenal cortical hormones
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone	MSH	Anterior pituitary	Stimulates melanin synthesis (? humans)
Oxytocin	-	Posterior pituitary	Milk ejection; uterine contraction
Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)	ADH	Posterior pituitary	Stimulates H2O reabsorption by renal collecting ducts and contraction of arterioles
L-thyroxine, Triiodothyronine	-	Thyroid gland	Skeletal growth; ↑ O2 consumption; heat production; ↑ protein, fat, and carbohydrate use; maturation of nervous system (perinatal)
Glucocorticoids (cortisol)	-	Adrenal cortex	Stimulates gluconeogenesis; anti-inflammatory; immunosuppression
Estradiol	-	Ovary	Growth and development of female reproductive organs; follicular phase of menstrual cycle
Progesterone	-	Ovary	Luteal phase of menstrual cycle
Testosterone	-	Testes	Spermatogenesis; male secondary sex characteristics
Parathyroid hormone	PTH	Parathyroid gland	↑ serum [Ca2+]; ↓ serum [phosphate]
Calcitonin	-	Thyroid gland	↓ serum [Ca2+]
Aldosterone	-	Adrenal cortex	↑ renal Na+ reabsorption; ↑ renal K+ secretion; ↑ renal H+ secretion
1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol	-	Kidney (activation)	↑ intestinal Ca2+ absorption; ↑ bone mineralization
Insulin	-	Pancreas (beta cells)	↓ blood [glucose]; ↓ blood [amino acid]; ↓ blood [fatty acid]
Glucagon	-	Pancreas (alpha cells)	↑ blood [glucose]; ↑ blood [fatty acid]
Human chorionic gonadotropin	HCG	Placenta	↑ estrogen and progesterone synthesis in corpus luteum of pregnancy
Human placental lactogen	HPL	Placenta	Same actions as growth hormone and prolactin during pregnancy