Figure 35.7: The Anterior Pituitary Gland Cells of the anterior pituitary produce four tropic hormones that control other endocrine glands, as well as several other peptide hormones. These cells are controlled by releasing hormones (RHs) and inhibiting hormones (IHs) produced by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus. The RHs and IHs are delivered to cells in the anterior pituitary by blood flowing through portal blood vessels that run between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary through the pituitary stalk.