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Pituitary Receptor Sensitivity

Meaning

Pituitary Receptor Sensitivity refers to the degree of responsiveness exhibited by the cell-surface receptors on the anterior pituitary gland to the regulatory signals originating from the hypothalamus. This critical physiological parameter determines the magnitude of the pituitary’s secretory output, such as the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), following stimulation by its respective releasing hormone. Alterations in this sensitivity are a powerful and common mechanism the body uses to adjust the entire downstream endocrine axis.