Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

TSH or thyrotropin stimulates the thyroid gland to release the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. In addition, TSH promotes the division frequency of thyroid cells. T4 or thyroxine is an iodine-containing hormone of the thyroid gland, which is produced on stimulation by the TSH of the anterior pituitary lobe. It is predominantly a so-called prohormone, which develops its main activity - although not its exclusive effect - via its metabolic product triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroxine is one of the longest known hormones. T3 and T4 work in two ways: On the one hand, they increase the energy turnover of the human body and thus adapt it to cold and activity; on the other hand, they also inhibit the release of TRH and TSH from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. We call this process negative feedback.