releasing hormone meaning and definition

RELEASING HORMONE noun

Definition of releasing hormone (noun)

1. a substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland
   • synonyms: releasing factor, RF
2. any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each of these hormones causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormone
   • synonyms: hypothalamic releasing factor, hypothalamic releasing hormone, releasing factor, RH