(b) Follicle -Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH is synthesized and secreted by gonadotrophs present in the anterior pituitary gland. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein consisting of an alpha chain of 92 amino acids and a beta chain of 118 amino acids. FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. Increase in FSH secretion causes ovulation. In sexually-mature males, FSH (assisted by testosterone) acts on spermatogonia stimulating the production of sperm. In sexually-mature females, FSH (assisted by LH) acts on the follicle to stimulate it to release estrogens . In female who has recently undergone menopause has a high level of FSH concentration in the serum.

(c) Luteinizing hormone ( LH): Luteinizing hormone is a hormone produced by gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland. It is also a heterodimeric glycoprotein consisting of 92-amino acid alpha chain and a beta chain of 121 amino acids. In females, an acute rise of luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation and development of the corpus luteum. LH levels are normally low during childhood and high after menopause. In males, LH stimulates the Leydig cell to produce testosterone. Low secretion of LH can result in hypogonadism. These conditions lead to hypothalamic suppression, Kallmann syndrome, Hyperprolactinemia etc.

(d) Prolactin: Prolactin is also known as luteotropic hormone. It is a protein which is made up of 198 amino acids. During pregnancy it helps in the preparation of the breasts for future milk production. Increased serum concentrations of prolactin during pregnancy cause enlargement of the mammary glands of the breasts and prepare for the production of milk. After birth, prolactin promotes the synthesis of milk. Prolactin promotes neurogenesis in maternal and foetal brains. Prolactin has important cell cycle related functions as a growth factor, differentiating factor and anti-apoptotic factor.

(e) Growth Hormone (GH): Growth Hormone is also known as somatotropin. GH is a protein made up of 191 amino acids. The growth hormone-secreting cells are stimulated to produce and release ggrowth hormone by the intermittent arrival of growth hormone releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. Growth hormone stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in vertebrates. Hypo secretion of growth hormone produces a short body. It can also cause delayed sexual maturity. In adults, deficiency causes pituitary adenoma or other structural lesions or trauma and rarely idiopathic GHD. Hyper secretion of growth hormone leads to gigantism in childhood. In adults, it leads to acromegaly .

(f) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): ACTH is also known as corticotrophin. ACTH is a peptide of 39 amino acids. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. ACTH acts on the cells of the adrenal cortex and stimulates them to produce glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens and in foetus, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Rapid actions of ACTH include stimulation of delivery of cholesterol to mitochondria where P450scc enzyme (Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme ) is located. Hyposecretion of ACTH in the pituitary leads to hypocorticism, Addison's disease. Hyper secretion of ACTH causes Cushing's disease.