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Major Hormones and Functions

These tables provide a brief summary of the functions and responses of the major hormones in relation to exercise.

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Endocrine Gland	Hormone	Exercise effect	Target organ	Major function
Hypothalamus	Releasing hormones	Increases with anticipation of exercise	Pituitary gland	Stimulates the pituitary gland to release hormones
	Inhibiting hormones	Increases with cessation of exercise	Pituitary gland	Inhibits release of pituitary gland hormones.
Anterior Pituitary	Growth Hormone (GH)	Increases with increasing exercise	All cells of the body	Stimulates growth in all organs/tissues, increases protein synthesis, the mobilisation and use of fat for energy and inhibits carbohydrate metabolism
	Thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)	Increases with increasing exercise	Thyroid gland	Controls the secretion of the hormones released by the thyroid
	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)	Increases in response to exercise	Adrenal Cortex	Controls the secretion of hormones from the adrenal cortex
	Endorphins	Increases with long duration exercise		Blocks pain
Posterior Pituitary	Anti diuretic hormone(ADH)	Increases with increasing exercise	Kidneys	Stimulates water retention by the kidneys

Endocrine Gland	Hormone	Exercise effect	Target organ	Major function
Adrenal Medulla	Adrenaline (Epinephrine)	Increases with heavy exercise	Acts on most cells in the body prolonging and intensifying the sympathetic nervous system response to stress	Mobilises glucose, increases heart rate, heart contractility, oxygen use and blood flow to skeletal muscles Constricts blood vessels and elevates blood pressure.
	Nor adrenaline (Nor epinephrine)	Increases with increasing exercise intensity or duration	Acts on most cells in the body prolonging and intensifying the sympathetic nervous system response to stress	Mobilises glucose, increases heart rate, heart contractility, oxygen use and blood flow to skeletal muscles Constricts blood vessels and elevates blood pressure.
Adrenal Cortex	Aldosterone	Increases with exercise	Kidneys	Regulates electrolyte and fluid balance.
	Cortisol	Increases with heavy exercise	Most cells in the body	Increases blood sugar levels, aids the metabolism of fats, CHO and proteins, suppresses the immune system, has an anti-inflammatory action.

Endocrine Gland	Hormone	Exercise effect	Target organ	Major function
Pancreas	Insulin	Decreases with increasing exercise	All cells in the body	Controls blood glucose by lowering blood glucose levels
	Glucagon	Increases with increasing exercise	All cells in the body	Increases blood glucose, stimulates breakdown of glycogen and fat
Kidneys	Renin	Increases as blood pressure lowers	Adrenal Cortex	Assists in blood pressure control
Gonads: Testes	Testosterone	Increases with increasing exercise	Sex organs	Development of male sex organs, facial hair and change in voice
			Muscle	Promotes muscle growth
Ovaries	Oestrogen		Sex organs	Development of female sex organs, regulates menstrual cycle
			Adipose tissue	Storage of fat

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