The pituitary gland secretes a small “cocktail” of major hormones that control growth, metabolism, stress, reproduction, and fluid balance in the body.

Main pituitary hormones (quick list)

From the anterior pituitary (front lobe):

  • Growth hormone (GH, or human growth hormone, HGH): Stimulates body growth, cell repair, and metabolism.
  • Thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH): Tells the thyroid gland to make and release thyroid hormones that set your metabolic rate.
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol and other adrenal hormones involved in stress response.
  • Prolactin (PRL): Promotes breast development and breast‑milk production.
  • Follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH): Helps control egg development and the menstrual cycle in females, and sperm production in males.
  • Luteinising hormone (LH): Triggers ovulation and progesterone production in females, and testosterone production in males.
  • Melanocyte‑stimulating hormone (MSH, from the intermediate lobe): Stimulates pigment‑producing cells (melanocytes) to make melanin, affecting skin and hair pigmentation.

From the posterior pituitary (back lobe – stored and released here):

  • Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin): Helps the kidneys retain water and maintain the body’s water and salt balance.
  • Oxytocin: Stimulates uterine contractions during labour and helps with milk let‑down during breastfeeding.

Mini table (HTML, as requested)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Hormone</th>
      <th>Lobe</th>
      <th>Main role (short)</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Growth hormone (GH/HGH)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Body growth, cell repair, metabolism [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Stimulates thyroid hormone production [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Stimulates adrenal cortisol release [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Prolactin (PRL)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Breast development and milk production [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Egg and sperm development, reproductive cycle [web:1][web:3][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Luteinising hormone (LH)</td>
      <td>Anterior</td>
      <td>Ovulation, sex hormone (e.g. testosterone) production [web:1][web:3][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)</td>
      <td>Intermediate/anterior</td>
      <td>Stimulates melanin production in skin and hair [web:1][web:6][web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Antidiuretic hormone (ADH/vasopressin)</td>
      <td>Posterior (stored/released)</td>
      <td>Water balance, kidney water reabsorption [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Oxytocin</td>
      <td>Posterior (stored/released)</td>
      <td>Labour contractions, milk let-down [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

In short: the pituitary is often called the “master gland” because this one tiny structure controls many other glands through these hormones.

TL;DR: The pituitary secretes (or stores and releases) GH, TSH, ACTH, prolactin, FSH, LH, MSH, ADH/vasopressin, and oxytocin, which together regulate growth, stress, reproduction, metabolism, and fluid balance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.