THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Function: The endocrine system is an information signal system much like the nervous system.
However, the nervous system uses nerves to conduct information, whereas the endocrine system mainly
uses blood vessels as information channels. Glands located in many regions of the body release into the
bloodstream specific chemical messengers called hormones

The body contain two types of gland:

Exocrine glands-secrete their products into ducts or directly onto epithelial surface.
Examples:sweat glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, stomach, liver, pancreas.

Endocrine glands -secrete their products directly into the blood

Action and Source of Selected Hormone

Anterior pituitary

1. Growth hormone (GH) or Somatotropin

-stimulate protein synthesis, increase lipolysis and the decrease use of the glucose for
ATP production, promoting hyperglycemia (diabetogenic effect)

-stimulate the growth of bone,muscle and other organ by increasing protein synthesis. It
resist protein breakdown during period of food deprivation and favors fat breakdown.

-Considered a diabetogenic hormone. It promote insulin resistance in muscle and

adipose tissue. Therefore, plasma glucose level increase with concomitant increase in
insulin levels. Usually insulin promote lipogenesis. However, GH antagonist this and
cause lipolysis to occur. This cause to increase free fatty acid with the formation of
ketoacidosis.

-however in healthy individuals, there is coordinated activity between GH and Insulin.

Therefore, the diabetogenic activity of GH is balance by the effect of insulin.

2. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

-stimulate and synthesis of adrenal cortical hormone. Its primary action is to promote
and maintain normal growth and development of the adrenal cortex.

3. Thyroid-stimulating hormones
-stimulate and synthesis of thyroid hormones

4. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

-stimulate the normal growth cycle of the ovarian follicle in females.
-stimulate the seminiferous tubules to produce spermatozoa.

5. Luteinizing hormone (LH)

-stimulate the development of corpus luteum; secretion of progesterone.
-stimulate secretion of testosterone.

Posterior pituitary
1. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
 -increase water reabsorption

2. Oxytocin
-stimulate contraction of pregnant uterus, milk ejection

Adrenal gland
Adrenal cortex
1. Minarelocorticosteroids, mainly aldosterone
-regulate blood volume and blood level of K and Na

2. Glucocorticoids, mainly cortisol

-help regulate blood nutrients level in the body, aid protein, fat, and carbohydrate
metabolismto help body meet stress condition.
-cortisol: increase breakdown of CHON and fats that can be used as energy;
reduce anti-inflammatory and immune response
-catecholamine; flight or fight hormone

3. Androgen
-stimulate the development of male sexual characteristic.
-influence female sex drive.

Adrenal Medulla
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
-release in response to stimulation by sympathetic nervous system

Thyroid gland
Thyroid (follicular cell)
triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxin (T4)
-increase metabolic rate, body growth and development and the activity of the nervous
system

thyroid C cells
calcitonin
-lower blood calcium level

Parathyroid gland
Parathyroid hormone
-regulate serum calcium. It bind to renal tubules cell, which increase active vitamin D
formation.
-decrease blood calcium level stimulate an increase PTH secretion. For example if too
little Ca is consumed in the diet or if the person suffer from prolong lack of vitamin d
blood Ca level decrease that cause increase PTH and increase the rate of bone resorption
and blood Ca level will maintain within range but prolong resorption of bone may result
in reduce bone density.

Pancreas
Pancreatic islet cells
Insulin
-lower blood glucose by facillitating glucose transport across cell membrane
 Glucagon
-increase blood glucose concentration by stimulating glucogenolysis
and glycogenesis.

Somatostatin
-delays intestinal absorption of glucose

Gastrointestinal tract
Gastrin
-stimulate release of hydrochloric acid

Cholecystokinin
-stimulate release of pancreatic secretion

Secretin
-stimulate release of pancreatic enzyme, gallbladder contraction

Kidney
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D
-stimulate Ca absorption from the intestine

Renin
-activates renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Erythropoietin
-Increase RBC production

Heart
Atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)
-produce natrriuresis

Ovaries
estrogen
-affect development of female sex organ and secondary sex characteristics

Progesterone
-influence menstrual cycle; stimulate of growth of uterine wall; maintain pregnancy

Testes
Androgen, mainly testosterone
-affect development of male sex organ and secondary sex characteristics; aid in sperm
production

Placenta
Human chorionic gonadotropin
-maintains pregnancy

Adipose cell
Leptin
 -decrease appetite and food intake, increase sympathetic activity and metabolic rate,
decrease insulin secretion to reduce fat storage.

Resistin
-suppresses insulin's ability to stimulate glucose uptake by adipose cells.