Pituitary Hormone-Driven Mechanism for Skeletal Loss

A single specific function has been traditionally ascribed to each anterior and posterior pituitary glycoprotein hormone. However, it has become clear over the past decade that these hormones and their receptors have more ubiquitous functions. Organs, such as the skeleton, are regulated by and respond to pituitary hormones, particularly when circulating levels are perturbed in disease. Additionally, certain pituitary hormones are also expressed in bone cells, underscoring paracrine regulation.