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Control of Hormone Release

Each of the main hormones has its own set of control molecules.  Depending on how you arrived here, you might be interested in estrogen, thyroid (here's a nice general site for basic education on thyroid) , or adrenalin.  Their production sites and control molecules are shown below, one system at a time.

1. Estrogen or Testosterone Control

    Hypothalamus                    
Gonadotropin releasing hormone
                 (GnRH)
  ä
          Pituitary                                                    
 Follicle Stimulating Hormone
       Luteinizing Hormone
             (FSH, LH)

               ä

   Ovaries or Testes

       ¯        ¯
 Estrogen or Testosterone

2. Thyroid Hormone Control  

   Hypothalamus                                         
  Thyrotropin releasing hormone          
                 (TRH)                                                       
    ä
          Pituitary                               
 Thyroid Stimulating Hormone                  
                (TSH)  
                                                        
                ä
             Thyroid Gland                                                      

           ¯
      Thyroid Hormone                                               

3. Stress Control

              Hypothalamus                                          
          Corticotropin releasing hormone           
                            (CRH)                                            
     ä
              Pituitary                     
          Adrenocortical Tropic Hormone               
                           (ACTH)                                       

     ä
                     Adrenal Gland                                   

                     ¯
                  Cortisol (the major stress hormone)