Skip to main content

Stimulation Tests

Meaning

Stimulation tests are specialized dynamic endocrine function assays designed to assess the maximal secretory capacity or reserve function of an endocrine gland. These diagnostic procedures involve administering a specific trophic hormone or releasing factor to challenge the gland, followed by serial measurements of the target hormone’s response over time. They are crucial for distinguishing between primary glandular failure and secondary regulatory dysfunction within the hypothalamic-pituitary axes.