What is the nature of the relationship between the two lobes of the pituitary gland? The hormones of the anterior pituitary target many different tissues in the body including many endocrine tissues. Name the hormones that target endocrine tissues as well as their targets. Describe the process of "feedback."
The anterior pituitary, although structurally attached to the posterior pituitary, arises from different embryonic material than the posterior pituitary and remains functionally distinct from the posterior pituitary. There are three hormones released by the anterior pituitary that target endocrine tissues. The gonadotropic hormones include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates growth of ovarian follicles and of seminiferous tubules in the testes, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates secretion of the sex hormones by the gonads and stimulates the conversion of follicles into copora lutea. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex. Thyrotropic hormone stimulates the thyroid. The anterior pituitary regulates the activities of these tissues through the process of feedback: low levels of the three sets of target tissues' hormones stimulate the anterior pituitary to secrete its stimulatory hormones while high levels of the three sets of tissues' hormones inhibit the anterior pituitary's secretion of its stimulatory hormones.
