1 The phenotype may change constantly throughout the life of an individual because of environmental changes and the physiological and morphological changes associated with aging.
One special group of hormones is the tropic hormones that stimulate the hormone production of other endocrine glands. For example, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) causes growth and increased activity of another endocrine gland, the thyroid, which increases output of thyroid hormones. hormone (from Greek á½ÏÎ¼Î®, impetus) is any member of a class of signaling molecules produced by glands in multicellular organisms that are transported by the circulatory system to target distant organs to regulate physiology and behaviour.
The hypothalamus secretes thyrotropin-releasing hormone which, in turn, stimulates the pituitary gland to produce thyroid stimulating hormone. This hormone stimulates the production of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, by the thyroid gland. This hormone production system is regulated by a negative feedback loop so that when the levels of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine increase, they prevent the release of both thyrotropin-releasing hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone.