INTRODUCTION TO ENDOCRINE GLANDS

PARENCHYMA OF THE ENDOCRINE GLAND

Parenchyma- Constitutes the functional part of the organ itself.

High magnification: The parenchyma is made up of cells that appear epithilioid in nature.
Epithelial cells that are highly specialized in the synthesis and secretion of chemical
substances and these chemical substances exerts an effect to a certain target cell.

HORMONES: Because of the nature of the secreted molecules they are referred as Signaling
molecules.

The secretory cells of the Endocrine System varies in terms of distribution pattern
-Secretory cells that are diffused
-Secretory cells that are aggregates

Manner of distribution of glandular epithelial cells throughout the human body

-Glandular epithelium composes the entirety of the organ’s parenchyma and externally
invested with a capsule with a dedicated fitting blood vessel just like the thyroid. We call
thyroid as thyroid gland.

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20
- Some glandular tissues are diffusely admixed between other cells of an organ. Stomach
mucosa is lined by epithelial cells, some are typical epithelial cells for absorption, secretion
GASTRIN: highly specialized cells that secrete hormones

Whether an endocrine tissue constitutes a gland or the tissue is diffusely distributed within an
organ. Both are histologically characterized as: devoid of excretory ducts
Example:
 EXOCRINE GLAND: a conspicuous excretory duct lined by cuboidal epithelium,
associated with excretory cells
 ENDOCRINE GLAND: exhibit a rich capillary network closely associated with the
secretory cells.

Section of the pancreas: has 2 distinct functional parts:

EXOCRINE PANCREAS:
-secretory cells: functional cells: characteristic features: Nucleus with euchromatin pattern,
nucleoli consistent of a metabolically active cell, grandular cytoplasm depicting a synthetic
secretory ability of the cell

Histologically delineating structure: a clear lumen lined by a cuboidal epithelium

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20
characteristic consistent with a ductal structure.

ENDOCRINE PANCREAS
-Secretory cells are present but cytoplasmic characteristic is different due to the chemical
nature of its products, it is with a vascular network within the parenchyma

-Presence and absence of a duct- enough to distinguish whether the gland is endocrine or
exocrine type

Exocrine gland: with an excretory duct

Endocrine gland: rich with capillary network or sinusoids rather than a ductal structure.

SUMMARY
 Exocrine vs. Endocrine gland
 Exocrine or endocrine gland parenchyma is populated with secretory cells
 Difference lies on the ducts

Summary notes
-Distribution of glandular tissues:
-Glands-Specialized secretory cells are somewhat distributed in the body with vairations
-Glands are endocrine tissue with secretory cells consisting the parenchyma and invested
externally by a capsule
-Some cells are with diffuse distribution in an organ. Other cells are diffusely admixed within
specialized organs that are not purely secretory in nature.
HORMONES

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20
 signaling molecules
- are varied in terms of chemical structure. This chemical variation of endocrine hormones
can best explain differences in terms of their chemical derivation.
-Even though all are endocrine hormones, they share the same method of secretion, and
distribution to the blood, but the chemical derivation is diverse and their precursor chemicals
will eventually have a great impact on the histologic appearance of the glandular unit that
produces each endocrine hormone

TYPES
1. Lipid derived hormones

- secretory cells with rich cytoplasmic vacuoles, that contains lipids: cholesterol
- Shares the same precursor: cholesterol
-Hydrophobic:
 Blood plasma is aqueous, because of high conc. of H20, in order for the lipid hormones
to travel to the blood from their source to their target tissue or cells they require: Carrier
Molecule: Albumin- because of the association with the plasma proteins.
 Lipid-derived hormones are somewhat protected from degradation. Half-life that are
relatively longer compared to other hormones. Longest among them all: CORTISOL
 The hydrophobic nature of these hormones confers their ability to diffuse through the
lipid bilayer of their target cells, such it dictates the location of the receptor: must be
intracellular
 Cholesterol-derived hormones as steroid hormones,

Steroid hormones exist in two chemical forms:

Alcohol form- Estradiol, cortisol
Ketone form- Aldosterone, Androgen

Cortisol- a very potent anti-inflammatory chemical commonly synthetically created for

therapeutic interventions for diseases with hyperinflammatory features: asthma, autoimmune
disorders (ex. Systemic lupus erythematosus)

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20
SUMMARY
 Precursor of the steroid hormones
 Two forms of steroid hormones, examples of each
 Implications of it being hydrophobic: receptor location, requirement of carrier protein,
half-life

2. Amino acid derived hormones

- Amino acids: chemical origin of the hormones

- Among the 21 amino acids humans have, 2 are identified as a precursor of this endocrine
type of hormone: TYROSINE, TRYPTOPHAN
-Hydrophilic
 These hormones are secreted directly to the blood, without any need for a carrier
molecule. Since they are easily circulating in the blood they are easily degraded, hence
shorter half-life. -Receptor is located in the cell membrane.
 T3- the receptor is located intracellularly, within the nucleus and directly associated with
the cell’s genetic material. Transmembrane transport always require a transporter
molecule.. But for the other amino acid derived hormones receptors are almost always
located in the cell membrane of the target cell

Tyrosine derived hormones

- Thyroid hormones which includes: T3 and T4
- Cathecolamines which includes: epinephrine and norepinephrine

Tryptophan derived hormones

-Serotonin
-Melatonin

SUMMARY
 Precursors of amino acid hormones
 Hormones derived from each amino acid
 Implications of it being hydrophilic: blood transport, half-life, location of the receptor
3. Peptide hormones

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20
- Amino acids: building blocks, almost related with the amino acid derived hormones
Difference: peptide hormones are multiple amino acids, when amino acids are linked together
the linkage are always in peptide form.
Example:
Insulin- derived from a larger protein complex undergone modification to liberate the active
hormone the insulin. The same pattern of the macromolecule synthesis: Protein Production
- peptide hormones are synthesized just like how proteins are produced
-Just like proteins these hormones may be modified post-translationally or not modified at all
Example:
Oxytocin- peptide hormone that is never modified explaining its low molecular weight
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)-peptide hormone that is modified post-translationally.
The modification is in the form of: addition of a Carbohydrate molecule. FSH is a
glycoprotein with a very high molecular weight

SUMMARY
 Compare and contrast amino acid derived hormones and peptide hormones

©Dr. Michael Bangloy

Notes by: Genove, Ericka A.

5/27/20