Pituitary gland The pituitary gland, which is one of the important internal glands, is partly an extension of the brain and is located just below the hypothalamus and produces a large number of hormones. The pituitary gland handles the secretion of many hormones in the organism and regulates the work of other endocrine glands with their secretions. For this reason, the pituitary gland is considered the orchestra conductor of the endocrine system and secretes especially hormones related to growth and reproduction. One of the most important hormones produced by the pituitary gland is antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This hormone is produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. The antidiuretic hormone affects the kidneys, and under its influence, the kidneys reduce the amount of water that is taken from the internal organs of the body and transferred to the bladder. As the thirst in the body increases, the amount of ADH increases. An increase in ADH release is observed in sports activities. Water and sodium loss is high especially in long exercises. The reason for the increase in ADH release depends on the reduction of water loss in exercise (GĂźnay, 2001). Under normal conditions, a limited amount of ADH enters the blood. If the amount of water in the body increases, the amount of ADH delivered to the blood decreases or stops completely. Under these conditions, the kidneys transfer large amounts of water to the bladder. Ultimately, ADH protects the amount of water in the body, ensuring that the internal organs and blood function properly.
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