releasing hormone

re·leas·ing fac·tors (RF),

1. any substance, usually of hypothalamic origin, capable of accelerating the rate of secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland;

2. factors required in the termination phase of either RNA biosynthesis or protein biosynthesis. Synonym(s): termination factor

3. colloquial shortened form for the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors used as antihyperlipidemic agents, whose generic names end with the suffix statin. Synonym(s): statins

Synonym(s): liberins, releasing hormone

releasing hormone (RH)

one of several peptides produced by the hypothalamus and secreted directly into the anterior pituitary gland via a connecting vein. Each of the releasing hormones stimulates the pituitary to secrete a specific tropic hormone. Thus corticotropic-releasing hormone stimulates the pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone, whereas growth hormone-releasing hormone stimulates the secretion of growth hormone. Previously called releasing factor.

re·leas·ing fac·tors

(rĕ-lēs'ing fak'tŏrz)

1. Substances, usually of hypothalamic origin, capable of accelerating the rate of secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland.

2. Factors required in the termination phase of either RNA biosynthesis or protein biosynthesis.
Synonym(s): liberins, releasing hormone.

releasing hormone

Abbreviation: RH

Any of a group of substances secreted by the hypothalamus that control or inhibit the release of various hormones. They include thyrotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, dopamine, growth hormone-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and somatostatin. Dopamine and somatostatin act to inhibit release of the hormones they act upon.

See also: hormone