Recently discovered hypothalamic-pituitary hormones.

In recent years a variety of peptide hormones have been isolated from the mammalian hypothalamus and pituitary. Several hypothalamic hormones, including thyroliberin (thyrotropin-releasing factory), luliberin (luteinizing hormone-releasing factor), and somatostatin (somatotropin release-inhibiting factor), have been characterized and synthesized. The subsequent development of radioimmunoassays for these hormones has made possible the study of their physiology. The measurement of prolactin in serum and the release of pituitary hormones after the administration of the hypothalamic hormones has proved to be useful in clinical diagnosis. The use of hypothalamic hormones in treating various clinical disorders and the isolation and characterization of new releasing and inhibiting hormones in the hypothalamus are actively being investigated.