PART I

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Basic principles in hormone actions:
Many effects of one hormone are
antagonized by another hormone
This helps maintain HOMEOSTASIS

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Pineal Gland
-Main hormone secreted
MELATONIN
-Role Melatonin
--Mammals : Regulate
reproductive activity in
response to environmental
light cycles
e.g. Some mammals mate in
summer (lot of light), while
others mate in winter (low
light).

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Thyroid Gland
-Produces 3 main hormones

-Triiodothyronine (T3)
-Thyroxine (T4)
Regulate body metabolism and are
important in bone growth and maturation
of the brain
-Congenital lack of thyroid hormones:
Cretinism.
-Calcitonin
Acts by reducing calcium levels

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Parathyroid Gland
-Parathyroid Hormone
Raises Blood Calcium
(antagonize Calcitonin)
This hormone acts on bone, kidney
and the gut

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Thymus Gland
-Thymosin : Stimulates the
production of Lymphocytes
-Thymostatin : Inhibits the
production of Lymphocytes
Thymus : Important for the neonatal
production of antibodies
Thymus : Gland being at the center
of endocrine, neural, and immune
systems

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Heart
-Granular cells in the heart muscle
secrete Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF)
..ANF : Regulates blood pressure,
blood volume, and excretion
of water, sodium and
potassium
..ANF : Also a neuropeptide in
the brain

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Gastrointestinal Hormones

-The mucosa of the GI tract secretes a

dozen PEPTIDE hormones
3 most important:
1. Secretin : Secreted in the small intestine
Stimulates the secretion of
pancreatic bicarbonate and has
other functions on digestion
2. Gastrin: Secreted in the walls of stomach
Stimulate hydrochloric acid secretion
stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion
3. Cholecystokinin : Secreted in the small intestine
Stimulate gall bladder contraction
Stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Pancreas
Endocrine cells in the pancreas secrete
2 major types of hormones
1. Insulin : Secreted in response to
increase in blood glucose levels ;
So insulin LOWERS glucose levels by
INCREASING glucose UPTAKE in cells
where it is stored as glycogen.
2. Glucagon : Increases blood glucose
levels by stimulating the conversion
of glycogen to glucose in the liver.

A parte : Insulin & Diabetes

Insulin & Diabetes
Diabetes : Hyperglycemia, ie.
Elevated Blood Sugar
2 Types : The distinction is based upon
whether the blood sugar problem is
caused by insulin deficiency (Type 1)
or insulin resistance (Type 2)
Type 1- Insulin Deficiency : There is not
enough insulin produced by the pancreas
so the patient must inject insulin on a daily
basis
Type 2 - Insulin Resistance : There is plenty of
insulin but the cells of the body are resistant
to its action so, increase in blood sugar
This form is controlled by a strict diet

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Adrenal Glands
2 parts : Medulla & Cortex
Adrenal Cortex : 3 categories of steroid
hormones
1. Mineralocorticoids
2. Glucocorticoids
3. Sex Steroids
Adrenal Medulla
1. Adrenaline
2. Noradrenaline

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Adrenal Cortex
Androgen

Influence sexual differentiation

and bodily changes during puberty

Estrogen
Stress Hormone, converts stored
proteins to carbohydrate during stress.
Antiinflammatory and
Immunosuppressive functions.
If there is a sodium deprivation,
Aldosterone is secreted and acts
to increase reabsorption of
sodium ions (NA+) in the kidneys
salivary glands, and sweat glands.

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Adrenal Medulla
Adrenaline : Released following
stress due to environmental
extremes; Increases heart
rate and blood glucose levels
so, increases the amount of work
the muscles can do (FLIGHT)
Noradrenaline : As Adrenaline, act as a NT
in the brain
Periphery; increase blood pressure
and constrict blood vessels
(noradrenaline, stress, and heart disease)

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Gonads ; Testes
The male gonads : produces Androgens
Primary androgen = TESTOSTERONE
Other androgen : Dihydrotestosterone
Androstenedione
Testosterone : Important for masculinization
Control of sperm production
Development of male sexual
characteristics
Activation of sexual and
aggressive behaviors

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Gonads ; Ovaries
2 major classes of hormones
ESTROGENS
PROGESTINS
Primary ESTROGEN : Estradiol
others :
Estriol
Estrone
Synthetic estrogens : Birth control pills
Estrogens : -Development of sexual
characteristics at puberty
-Influence metabolic rate
-Influence sexual and
maternal behavior

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Gonads ; Ovaries
PROGESTIN : Progesterone

-Stimulates breast and uterine

enlargement at puberty & during
menstrual cycle
-Maintains pregnancy (inhibits menstrual
cycle during pregnancy)
Other hormone released at the end of
pregnancy : Relaxin
Acts to prepare the birth canal.
Estrogen and Progesterone act in synergy.

The Endocrine Glands & their Hormones

Placenta
-Hormones secreted by the fertilized egg
(Used in pregnancy tests)
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Act by keeping progesterone high at the
beginning of a pregnancy
Human Placental Lactogen (HPL)
Stimulates the mammary glands to begin
to secrete milk

PART II
The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Also called
the HYPOPHYSIS

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

-Attached to the HYPOTHALAMUS

-Secretion of the pituitary hormones
is regulated by hypothalamus
-HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY
connection

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

-3 parts
--> Anterior Lobe
-pars distalis
--> Intermediate Lobe
-pars intermedia
--> Posterior Lobe
-pars nervosa
(neural cells)
direct extension
of the
hypothalamus

ADENOhypophysis NEUROhypophysis

ANATOMY

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

PVN SON
-Neuroscretory Cells
-Paraventricular nucleus (PVN)
-Supraoptic nucleus (SON)
AXONS

-Hormones secreted
-OXYTOCIN
-VASOPRESSIN

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Neurohypophysis

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

PVN SON
OXYTOCIN & VASOPRESSIN
-Are really HYPOTHALAMIC
hormones
AXONS

-OXYTOCIN :
2 main functions

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Neurohypophysis

--> promotes uterine contractions

--> stimulates milk ejection from
mammary glands during
lactation

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

PVN SON

-VASOPRESIN :

AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Neurohypophysis

--> Antidiuretic hormone

--> Raises blood pressure
--> promotes water reabsorption
by kidneys
--> centrally : may promote
memory
- Binding proteins for both
oxytocin & vasopressin
--> Neurophysins

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

ADENOHYPOPHYSIS (ANTERIOR)
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Mechanism for release of hormones

True endocrine gland because
release hormone in the bloodstream
(hypophysal portal system)

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

1. Neurosecretory cells of the

hypothalamus release their hormones
at the median eminence
Median eminence

2. Hormones circulate in bloodstream

3. Carried to the adenohypophysis
4. Stimulates secretion of other
hormones from the adenophysis
5. These hormones are then released
in the bloodstream to reach
their target cells.

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones

AXONS

1. Growth Hormone (GH)

(also called somatotropin)
tropic=stimulating effect
GH = promotes growth in almost
all body cells

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

A lot of attention for degenerative

disease..
-Alzheimer
-Parkinson
-Anti-Aging
etc.

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones
2. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
ACTH
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Role : Stimulates synthesis and

release of glucocorticoid
hormones
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis
1970s : Role of memory
.little problems..

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones
3. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
TSH
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Role : Stimulates the synthesis and

release of thyroxine (T4)
and triiodochyronine (T3)
from the thyroid.

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones
3 last hormones=
.gonadotropic hormones
4. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Role : In both sexes, promotes the

development of reproductive
cells (gametes) and
promotes secretion of
gonadal hormones
Males : stimulates sperm production
Females : stimulates growth of
primary follicle of ovary

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones
3 last hormones=
.gonadotropic hormones
AXONS

5. Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Role :

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Female : Stimulates ovulation and

formation of progesteronesecreting cells
Males : Stimulates cells that secrete
androgens (e.g. testosterone)

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Adenohypophysis : 6 hormones
3 last hormones=
.gonadotropic hormones
AXONS

6. Prolactin (PRL)
Role : Initiates milk synthesis in
mammary glands

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Other functions related to

growth & parental behavior
Interaction with serotonin also
(important in depression)

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Non traditional hormone from the
adenohypophysis
--> beta-endorphin
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Adenohypophysis

Derivative from POMC

POMC : synthesized in the pars
distalis and pars intermedia
Broken down into ACTH, MSH &
beta-endorphins by enzymes

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Beta-Endorphin : Role to play in --> Analgesia

--> Learning and Memory
--> Psychiatric diseases
--> Feeding, Thermoregulation,
--> Blood pressure
--> also called the drug of the jogger..

The Pituitary Gland & its Hormone

Pars Intermedia :
Not present in adult humans but
present in fetal humans and mammals
AXONS

Attaches the
hypothalamus to the
pituitary. Also called
the Infundibulum

Pars Intermedia

Synthesize the hormone called

Melanocyte stimulating hormones
which acts in amphibian to change
skin color.
Our friend Watson :
Sex & Sunshine
MSH..

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