tropic hormone

endocrinology

Also known as: trophic hormone

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Tropic hormones are a class of hormones secreted by the pituitary gland that target other endocrine glands. These hormones are crucial for regulating the endocrine system, often through complex feedback loops involving the hypothalamus and the target gland itself.1234

Examples of tropic hormones include:
* Thyrotropin (also known as thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH), which regulates the thyroid gland.1
* Corticotropin (adrenocorticotropin, ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex.5
* Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are gonadotropins that act on the gonads (ovaries and testes).25

The secretion of tropic hormones is precisely controlled, often by negative feedback mechanisms, ensuring that hormone levels are maintained within a narrow range. This intricate regulation allows the endocrine system to respond to both internal and external environmental changes.43

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

hormone
Hormones of the pituitary gland
The action of such tropic hormones can be understood only in the light of the mode of function of the endocrine glands they regulate.
Read More
The action of such tropic hormones can be understood only in the light of the mode of function of the endocrine glands they regulate.
Read More

endocrine system
The hypothalamic-pituitary-target organ axis
…vertebrates produce essentially the same tropic hormones: thyrotropin (TSH), corticotropin (ACTH), melanotropin (MSH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and one or two gonadotropins (usually FSH-like and LH-like hormones). The production and release of these tropic hormones are controlled by neurohormones from the hypothalamus. The cells of teleost fishes, however, are…
Read More
…vertebrates produce essentially the same tropic hormones: thyrotropin (TSH), corticotropin (ACTH), melanotropin (MSH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and one or two gonadotropins (usually FSH-like and LH-like hormones). The production and release of these tropic hormones are controlled by neurohormones from the hypothalamus. The cells of teleost fishes, however, are…
Read More