Trophic hormone

Trophic hormone is a hormone that has a growth effect, hyperplasia or hypertrophy, on the tissue it is stimulating. ^[1]

A key example of this is Thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulating the thyroid, excess Thyroid-stimulating hormone can create a goitre.

Trophic hormones from the anterior pituitary include:

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH or thyrotropin) – stimulates the thyroid gland increasing the size and number of cells.
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or corticotropin) – stimulates the adrenal cortex increasing the size and number of cells.

See also

• Endocrine system
• Non-tropic hormone
• Tropic hormone

References