Posterior Pituitary Disorders

The posterior (back) lobe of the pituitary gland releases ADH (antidiuretic hormone) and oxytocin (a hormone to contract the uterus during childbirth and stimulate milk production). Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is also called vasopressin, helps the kidneys (and body) conserve the right amount of water. For example, when a person becomes dehydrated, more ADH is produced to help the body conserve the water it contains. Lack of ADH leads to too much excretion of water (diabetes insipidus), and too much ADH leads to excessive retention of water by the body (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion).

Listed in the directory below you will find additional information regarding these posterior pituitary disorders, for which we have provided a brief overview.

If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please visit the Diabetes & Other Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Online Resources page in this Web site for an Internet/World Wide Web address that may contain additional information on that topic.