The document discusses the posterior pituitary gland and the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin/ADH. It states that the posterior pituitary gland stores and releases these two hormones synthesized in the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is synthesized in the paraventricular neuronal cell body and helps with uterine contraction during delivery and milk production after. Vasopressin/ADH is synthesized in the supraoptic neuronal cell body and helps decrease urine output by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys. High osmotic pressure stimulates osmoreceptors and the hypothalamus to secrete ADH from the posterior pituitary gland to decrease urine formation and increase blood volume, thereby decreasing osmotic pressure.

1. Ms.Anu Sebastian: B.Pharm; M.Pharm
Assistant Professor,
Dept. Of Pharmacology
Nirmala College Of Pharmacy
Muvattupuzha,Ernakulam,Kerala

2. POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
 Posterior pituitary gland do not synthesize any hormone. But it
stores & release two hormones of hypothalamus.
 Oxytocin and vasopressin/ADH
 These hormones are synthesized in the neuronal cell bodies in
hypothalamus.
 Oxytocin is synthesized on Paraventricular neuronal cell body.
 ADH is synthesized in Supraoptic neuronal cell body.

3.  After the synthesis , these hormones are packed into secretory
vesicles.
 These secretory vesicles are transported through the neuronal
axons(Neuronal axons are present in posterior pituitary gland).
 By exocytosis the hormones are released into posterior
pituitary.

5. OXYTOCIN
 This hormone is having two functions:
During delivery it enhances the contraction of uterine
smooth muscles.
After delivery it stimulates the mammary glands for milk
production.

6. ADH/ANTIDIURETUC HORMONE/VASOPRESSIN
 This hormone by increasing the water reabsorption in Kidney,
decreases the urine output.
ADH FUNCTIONS
 Kidneys- increases water reabsorption- decreases urine output
 Sweat gland- decreases sweating- decreases water loss
 Contraction of arterioles –increases blood pressure

7. REGULATION OFADH SECRETION
High osmotic pressure(Due to dehydration/decreased blood pressure)
Stimulate osmoreceptors
Stimulate Supraoptic neuronal cell bodies of hypothalamus
Stimulate synthesis of ADH
ADH is released from posterior pituitary
ADH reaches kidney through circulation
Decreases urine formation & increases water volume of blood
Dcreases osmotic pressure

8. THANK YOU