A patient with a known brain tumor learns that his pituitary stalk has been affected. Secretion of which of the following hormones is increased after the sectioning of the pituitary stalk?
**Question:** A patient with a known brain tumor learns that his pituitary stalk has been affected. Secretion of which of the following hormones is increased after the sectioning of the pituitary stalk?
A. Growth Hormone (GH)
B. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
C. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
D. Prolactin (PRL)
**Correct Answer:** D. Prolactin (PRL)
**Core Concept:**
The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized structure located at the base of the brain, also known as the "master gland" because it controls the function of the other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is divided into two main parts: the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). The pituitary stalk is a thin, elongated structure that connects the anterior pituitary to the hypothalamus, serving as a conduit for neurosecretory hormones released by the hypothalamus.
**Why the Correct Answer is D:**
When the pituitary stalk is sectioned, the secretion of prolactin (PRL) is increased. PRL is a peptide hormone produced and released by the anterior pituitary, particularly from lactotrophs (lactotropic cells). The hypothalamus controls the release of PRL via the hypothalamic hormone, Prolactin-Releasing Hormone (PRH). The pituitary stalk acts as a bridge between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, transmitting the signal from hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. Sectioning the pituitary stalk disrupts this connection, leading to an increase in PRL secretion, as the hypothalamus is unable to regulate the anterior pituitary directly.
**Why Other Options are Incorrect:**
A) Growth Hormone (GH): GH is regulated by the hypothalamus through GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone), which is not affected by the section of the pituitary stalk.
B) Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): TSH is regulated by the hypothalamus through TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone), which remains unaffected by the section of the pituitary stalk.
C) Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): ACTH is regulated by the hypothalamus through CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone), which remains unaffected by the section of the pituitary stalk.
**Clinical Pearl:**
Prolactin is an essential hormone involved in lactation and milk production in females, and in males, PRL plays a role in the maintenance of normal prostatic function. Elevated PRL levels can lead to clinical conditions like hyperprolactinemia, affecting fertility, breastfeeding, and causing gynecomastia in males.
In summary, the correct answer is D due to the