| gastric hypersecretion | Excessive formation of gastric juice, especially the acid component. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| hypersecretion | <physiology> Excessive secretion. (18 Nov 1997) |
| hypersecretion glaucoma | Glaucoma caused by excessive formation of the aqueous humor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH | <endocrinology> A peptide hormone that is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. It stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoid hormones, which help cells synthesise glucose, catabolize proteins, mobilizefree fatty acids and inhibit inflammation in allergic responses. (10 May 1997) |
| ACTH-producing adenoma | <tumour> A pituitary tumour composed of corticotrophs that produce ACTH, often a basophilic adenoma; may give rise to Cushing's disease or Nelson's syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH stimulation test | A test for adrenal cortical function; ACTH administered by continuous intravenous infusion, or intramuscularly, evokes an increase in plasma cortisol in normal persons; in adrenal cortical insufficiency, the expected increase in plasma cortisol is limited or nonexistent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH suppression test | <investigation> A test that measures the response of the adrenal glands to ACTH. In this case, dexamethasone is given to the patient and then blood cortisol levels are measured. Under normal conditions, cortisol levels should drop in response to dexamethasone. In this test one milligram of dexamethasone is administered in the morning and then the blood is drawn for analysis the following morning. Abnormal test results can indicate Cushing's syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acth syndrome, ectopic | Symptom complex due to acth production by non-pituitary neoplasms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ectopic ACTH syndrome | <syndrome> The association of Cushing's syndrome with a non-pituitary neoplasm, usually a lung carcinoma that produces ACTH. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior pituitary gonadotropin | Any gonadotropin of hypophysial origin; formerly used to designate a single hormone, because it was thought that the anterior hypophysis secreted only one gonadotropin. Synonym: pituitary gonadotropic hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior pituitary-like hormone | A glycoprotein with a carbohydrate fraction composed of d-galactose and hexosamine, extracted from the urine of pregnant women and produced by the placental trophoblastic cells; its most important role appears to be stimulation, during the first trimester, of ovarian secretion of the oestrogen and progesterone required for the integrity of conceptus; it appears to play no significant role in the last two trimesters of pregnancy, as the oestrogen and progesterone are then formed by the placenta. Synonym: anterior pituitary-like hormone, choriogonadotropin, chorionic gonadotropic hormone, chorionic gonadotrophic hormone, placenta gonadotropin, placentagonadotropin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| receptors, pituitary hormone | Cell surface proteins that bind pituitary hormones with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Since many pituitary hormones are also released by neurons as neurotransmitters, these receptors are also found in the nervous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, pituitary hormone-regulating hormone | Cell surface receptors that bind the hypothalamic hormones regulating pituitary cell differentiation, proliferation, and hormone synthesis and release, including the pituitary-releasing and release-inhibiting hormones. The pituitary hormone-regulating hormones are also released by cells other than hypothalamic neurons, and their receptors also occur on non-pituitary cells, especially brain neurons, where their role is less well understood. Receptors for dopamine, which is a prolactin release-inhibiting hormone as well as a common neurotransmitter, are not included here. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pharyngeal pituitary | The embryonic remnant of the oral end of Rathke's pouch that is cut off from the adenohypophysis by the developing sphenoid bone; composed chiefly of chromophobes and, under normal conditions, considered physiologically inactive. See: hypophysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pituitary | <anatomy, endocrinology> An endocrine gland located at the base of the brain, in the small recess of a bone - certain sections of the pituitary each secretes important hormones including growth hormone (GH) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). (16 Dec 1997) |