Professional Documents
Culture Documents
B. Pimentel, M.D.
University of Makati
College of Nursing
Functional Organization
Response
Exceptions:
• Neurohormones released by neurons secrete
into the circulatory system and function similar
to endocrine hormones.
• Some neurons directly innervate endocrine
glands and influence the secretory activity.
Intercellular Chemical Signals
Category Examples
Lipids Estrogens
Steroids (cholesterol Progestins
precursor) Testosterone
Mineralcorticoids
Glucocorticoids
Structural Categories of Hormones
Category Examples
Lipids Prostaglandins
Fatty acid Thromboxanes
Prostacyclins
Leukotrienes
Regulation of Hormones
Example:
– Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which is
released from neurons of the hypothalamus →
secretion of LH (leutinizing hormone) and follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary
cells → number of GnRH receptors molecules in the
pituitary to decrease several hours after exposure to
the hormone
Up Regulation
Example:
– increased number of receptor molecules for
leutinizing hormone (LH) in cells of the ovary during
each menstrual cycle. Follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) molecules secreted by the pituitary increase
the rate of LH receptor molecule synthesis in cells of
the ovary.
Pituitary Gland
Posterior
Anterior
Hormones
• Triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) target
most cells of the body.
• Calcitonin targets bone tissue.
Stimulus
hypothalamus
TRH
Ant. pituitary
TSH
T3/ T4
Target organ
Thyroid Gland (Regulation)
Parotid Glands
Hormones
• Adrenal Medulla
– Epinephrine and Norepinephrine. Target tissues are
heart, blood vessels, liver and fat cells.
• Adrenal Cortex
– Three types: Mineralocorticoids, Glucocorticoids, and
Androgens.
Adrenal Glands
Cholesterol
Pregnenolone
Progesterone 17-OH-
Pregnenolone
17-OH-Progesterone
Hypothalamus
CRH
Ant. pituitary
Cortisol
Pancreas