hypothalamic releasing hormone
Noun: A hypothalamic releasing hormone is any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus of the brain. These hormones are transported via a specialized blood vessel system to the anterior pituitary gland. Their primary function is to stimulate or "release" the secretion of specific hormones from the anterior pituitary.
This term is used in specialized contexts such as endocrinology, neuroscience, and medicine to describe these specific signaling molecules. * The hypothalamic releasing hormone known as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) triggers the pituitary to release ACTH. * Researchers studied the effect of the hypothalamic releasing hormone on growth hormone secretion. * The system is regulated by feedback loops involving hypothalamic releasing hormones.
- Negative Feedback Inhibition: The secretion of a hypothalamic releasing hormone is often inhibited by the ultimate hormone in the cascade (e.g., thyroid hormones inhibit thyrotropin-releasing hormone).
- Hypophysiotropic Hormones: This is a more technical synonym for hypothalamic releasing (and inhibiting) hormones, emphasizing their direct action on the pituitary gland ().
- Releasing Factor (RF): An older, synonymous term (e.g., Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor, GHRF).
- Hypothalamic Inhibiting Hormone: The counterpart to a releasing hormone; it suppresses the release of a specific anterior pituitary hormone (e.g., somatostatin inhibits growth hormone release).
- Hypophysiotropic Hormone: A formal term encompassing both releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus.
- Releasing Hormone (RH)
- Releasing Factor (RF)
- Hypophysiotropic Hormone
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis: The functional system connecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which is centrally controlled by hypothalamic releasing hormones.
- Neuroendocrine Cell: The type of neuron in the hypothalamus that synthesizes and secretes these hormones into the bloodstream.
- any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each of these hormones causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormone