Fox: Human Physiology, 11.
Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition
11 Endocrine Glands
Objectives After studying this chapter, you should be able to . . .
1. define the terms hormone and
endocrine gland and describe how
chemical transformations in the
target cells can activate certain
hormones.
2. list the general chemical categories
of hormones and give examples of
hormones within each category.
3. explain how different hormones can
exert synergistic, permissive, or
antagonistic effects.
4. explain how hormone
concentrations in the blood are
regulated and how the effects of a
hormone are influenced by its
concentration.
5. describe the mechanisms of
hormone action for steroid and
thyroid hormones.
6. describe the mechanism of
hormone action when cAMP is used
as a second messenger.
7. describe the mechanism of
hormone action when Ca2+ is used
as a second messenger.
© The McGraw−Hill
Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Secretion and Action
of Hormones
8. describe the structure of the
pituitary gland and explain the
functional relationship between the
pituitary and the hypothalamus.
9. list the hormones released by the
posterior pituitary, state the origin
of these hormones, and explain how
the hypothalamus regulates their
release.
10. list the hormones of the anterior
pituitary and explain how their
secretion is regulated by the
hypothalamus.
11. describe the production and actions
of the thyroid hormones and
explain how thyroid secretion is
regulated.
12. describe the location of the
parathyroid glands and explain the
actions of PTH and the regulation
of its secretion.
13. describe the types and actions of
corticosteroids and explain how the
secretions of the adrenal cortex are
regulated.
Companies, 2003
14. describe the actions of epinephrine
and norepinephrine, and explain
how the secretions of the adrenal
medulla are regulated.
15. explain why the pancreas is both an
exocrine and an endocrine gland
and describe the structure and
functions of the pancreatic islets.
16. describe the actions of insulin and
glucagon, and explain the regulation
of their secretion.
17. list the hormones secreted by the
pineal gland and thymus, and explain
the significance of these hormones
in general terms.
18. list the hormones secreted by the
gonads and placenta.
19. describe autocrine and paracrine
regulation with reference to the
blood vessels and immune system.
20. describe the chemical nature and
physiological roles of the
prostaglandins and explain how the
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs work.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Refresh Your
Memory
Before you begin this chapter, you may
want to review these concepts from
previous chapters:
■ Structure of the Plasma
Membrane 51
■ Cell Nucleus and Gene
Expression 61
■ Cell Signaling 143

Chapter at a Glance
Endocrine Glands Feedback Control of the Anterior Take Advantage
and Hormones 286
Chemical Classification of Hormones 287
Pituitary 303
Higher Brain Function and Pituitary of the Technology
Prohormones and Prehormones 289 Secretion 304 Visit the Online Learning Center for
Common Aspects of Neural and Endocrine Adrenal Glands 305 these additional study resources.
Regulation 289 Functions of the Adrenal Cortex 306 ■ Interactive quizzing
Hormone Interactions 290 Functions of the Adrenal Medulla 307
Synergistic and Permissive Effects 290 Stress and the Adrenal Gland 307 ■ Online study guide
Antagonistic Effects 290 ■ Current news feeds
Thyroid and Parathyroid
Effects of Hormone Concentrations on Tissue
Glands 308 ■ Crossword puzzles
Response 290
Priming Effects 291 Production and Action of Thyroid ■ Vocabulary flashcards
Desensitization and Downregulation 291 Hormones 309
Diseases of the Thyroid 309 ■ Labeling activities
Mechanisms of Hormone Parathyroid Glands 311
Action 292 www.mhhe.com/fox8
Pancreas and Other Endocrine
Hormones That Bind to Nuclear Receptor
Proteins 292 Glands 312
Mechanism of Steroid Hormone Pancreatic Islets (Islets of Langerhans) 312
Action 293 Pineal Gland 314
Mechanism of Thyroid Hormone Thymus 315
Action 293 Gastrointestinal Tract 315
Hormones That Use Second Messengers 294 Gonads and Placenta 315
Adenylate Cyclase—Cyclic AMP Second- Autocrine and Paracrine
Messenger System 294 Regulation 316
Phospholipase C-Ca2+ Second-Messenger Examples of Autocrine Regulation 316
System 296
Prostaglandins 317
Tyrosine Kinase Second-Messenger
Examples of Prostaglandin Actions 318
System 296
Inhibitors of Prostaglandin Synthesis 318
Pituitary Gland 299
Interactions 319
Pituitary Hormones 299
Hypothalamic Control of the Posterior
Pituitary 301 Summary 320
Hypothalamic Control of the Anterior
Pituitary 301 Review Activities 321
Releasing and Inhibiting Hormones 301 Related Websites 323
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Clinical Investigation Chapter Eleven

Rosemary, a 32-year-old office worker, discovers after taking a
physical that she has hypertension and hyperglycemia. She returns
to take an oral glucose tolerance test, which is found to be nor-
mal. Blood tests reveal normal blood levels of T4 and T3, but more
extensive tests show that her blood cortisol levels are abnor-
mally high. Rosemary has a generalized “puffiness,” but not
myxedema. Upon questioning, she states that she does not have a
history of chronic inflammation and has not been taking immuno-
suppressive drugs.
A later assay of her blood ACTH levels reveals that they are
only about one-fiftieth of normal. What might account for Rose-
mary’s symptoms?
Endocrine Glands and Hormones
Hormones are regulatory molecules secreted into the blood by
endocrine glands. Chemical categories of hormones include steroids,
amines, polypeptides, and glycoproteins. Interactions between the
various hormones produce effects that may be synergistic, permissive,
or antagonistic.
Endocrine glands lack the ducts that are present in exo-
crine glands (chapter 1). The endocrine glands secrete their
products, which are biologically active molecules called hor-
mones, into the blood. The blood carries the hormones to target
cells that contain specific receptor proteins for the hormones,
and which therefore can respond in a specific fashion to them.
Many endocrine glands are discrete organs (fig. 11.1a) whose
primary functions are the production and secretion of hormones.
The pancreas functions as both an exocrine and an endocrine
gland; the endocrine portion of the pancreas is composed of
clusters of cells called the pancreatic islets (islets of Langer-
hans) (fig. 11.1b). The concept of the endocrine system, how-
ever, must be extended beyond these organs. In recent years, it
has been discovered that many other organs in the body secrete
hormones. When these hormones can be demonstrated to have
significant physiological functions, the organs that produce
them may be categorized as endocrine glands, although they
serve other functions as well. It is appropriate, then, that a par-
tial list of the endocrine glands (table 11.1) should include the
heart, liver, adipose tissue, and kidneys.
Some specialized neurons, particularly in the hypothala-
mus, secrete chemical messengers into the blood rather than into
a narrow synaptic cleft. In these cases, the chemical that the neu-
rons secrete is sometimes called a neurohormone. In addition, a
number of chemicals—norepinephrine, for example—are secreted

Pineal gland
Pituitary gland

Hypothalamus
Thyroid gland

Adrenal gland

Pancreas

Ovary Pancreatic islet

(of Langerhans)

Testis
(a) (b)

■ Figure 11.1 The major endocrine glands. (a) The anatomical location of some of the endocrine glands. (b) A photomicrograph of a pancreatic islet (of
Langerhans) within the pancreas.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Endocrine Glands 287

both as a neurotransmitter and a hormone. Thus, a sharp distinc-
tion between the nervous and endocrine systems cannot always
be drawn on the basis of the chemicals they release.
Hormones affect the metabolism of their target organs and,
by this means, help to regulate total body metabolism, growth,
and reproduction. The effects of hormones on body metabolism
and growth are discussed in chapter 19; the regulation of repro-
ductive functions by hormones is considered in chapter 20.
Chemical Classification of Hormones
Hormones secreted by different endocrine glands vary widely in
chemical structure. All hormones, however, can be divided into
a few chemical classes.
1. Amines. These are hormones derived from the amino
acids tyrosine and tryptophan. They include the hormones
secreted by the adrenal medulla, thyroid, and pineal
glands.
2. Polypeptides and proteins. Polypeptide hormones
generally contain less than 100 amino acids; an example is
antidiuretic hormone (table 11.2). Protein hormones are
polypeptides with more than 100 amino acids; growth
hormone is an example. The distinction between
polypeptide and protein hormones is blurred in the case of
insulin, which is composed of two polypeptide chains that
are both derived from the same protein precursor.
3. Glycoproteins. These molecules consist of a long
polypeptide (containing more than 100 amino acids)
bound to one or more carbohydrate groups. Examples are
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing
hormone (LH).
4. Steroids. These are lipids derived from cholesterol. They
include the hormones testosterone, estradiol, progesterone,
and cortisol (fig. 11.2).
In terms of their actions in target cells, hormone molecules
can be divided into those that are polar, and therefore water-soluble,

Table 11.1 A Partial Listing of the Endocrine Glands

Endocrine Gland Major Hormones Primary Target Organs Primary Effects
Adipose tissue Leptin Hypothalamus Suppresses appetite
Adrenal cortex Glucocorticoids Liver and muscles Glucocorticoids influence glucose metabolism;
Aldosterone Kidneys aldosterone promotes Na+ retention, K+
excretion
Adrenal medulla Epinephrine Heart, bronchioles, and blood vessels Causes adrenergic stimulation
Heart Atrial natriuretic hormone Kidneys Promotes excretion of Na+ in the urine
Hypothalamus Releasing and inhibiting hormones Anterior pituitary Regulates secretion of anterior pituitary
hormones
Small intestine Secretin and cholecystokinin Stomach, liver, and pancreas Inhibits gastric motility and stimulates bile and
pancreatic juice secretion
Islets of Langerhans Insulin Many organs Insulin promotes cellular uptake of glucose and
(pancreas) Glucagon Liver and adipose tissue formation of glycogen and fat; glucagon
stimulates hydrolysis of glycogen and fat
Kidneys Erythropoietin Bone marrow Stimulates red blood cell production
Liver Somatomedins Cartilage Stimulates cell division and growth
Ovaries Estradiol-17β and progesterone Female reproductive tract and mammary Maintains structure of reproductive tract and
glands promotes secondary sex characteristics
Parathyroid glands Parathyroid hormone Bone, small intestine, and kidneys Increases Ca2+ concentration in blood
Pineal gland Melatonin Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary Affects secretion of gonadotrophic hormones
Pituitary, anterior Trophic hormones Endocrine glands and other organs Stimulates growth and development of target
organs; stimulates secretion of other
hormones
Pituitary, posterior Antidiuretic hormone Kidneys and blood vessels Antidiuretic hormone promotes water
Oxytocin Uterus and mammary glands retention and vasoconstriction; oxytocin
stimulates contraction of uterus and
mammary secretory units
Skin 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Small intestine Stimulates absorption of Ca2+
Stomach Gastrin Stomach Stimulates acid secretion
Testes Testosterone Prostate, seminal vesicles, and other Stimulates secondary sexual development
organs
Thymus Thymopoietin Lymph nodes Stimulates white blood cell production
Thyroid gland Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine Most organs Thyroxine and triiodothyronine promote
(T3); calcitonin growth and development and stimulate basal
rate of cell respiration (basal metabolic rate
or BMR); calcitonin may participate in the
regulation of blood Ca2+ levels
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

288 Chapter Eleven

Table 11.2 Examples of Polypeptide and Glycoprotein Hormones

Hormone Structure Gland Primary Effects
Antidiuretic hormone 8 amino acids Posterior pituitary Water retention and vasoconstriction
Oxytocin 8 amino acids Posterior pituitary Uterine and mammary contraction
Insulin 21 and 30 amino acids (double chain) Beta cells in islets of Langerhans Cellular glucose uptake, lipogenesis, and
glycogenesis
Glucagon 29 amino acids Alpha cells in islets of Langerhans Hydrolysis of stored glycogen and fat
ACTH 39 amino acids Anterior pituitary Stimulation of adrenal cortex
Parathyroid hormone 84 amino acids Parathyroid Increase in blood Ca2+ concentration
FSH, LH, TSH Glycoproteins Anterior pituitary Stimulation of growth, development, and secretory
activity of target glands

CH3
C O

HO HO
Cholesterol Pregnenolone

CH3
C O
Adrenal
cortex

O Corpus Ovary
Progesterone luteum
O
CH2OH Secreted by
C O corpus luteum
of ovaries
HO OH

O
Androstenedione
O
Cortisol (hydrocortisone) OH

Secreted by adrenal cortex

O
Follicles Testosterone
in ovary
OH Secreted by Leydig
cells of testes

Interstitial (Leydig) cells

Ovary Spermatic
HO
Estradiol-17β cord

Secreted by Testis
follicles of ovaries
Seminiferous tubules

■ Figure 11.2 Simplified biosynthetic pathways for steroid hormones. Notice that progesterone (a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the
ovaries) is a common precursor of all other steroid hormones and that testosterone (the major androgen secreted by the Leydig cells of the testes) is a
precursor of estradiol-17β, the major estrogen secreted by the follicles of the ovaries.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
and those that are nonpolar, and thus insoluble in water. Since
the nonpolar hormones are soluble in lipids, they are often re-
ferred to as lipophilic hormones. Unlike the polar hormones,
which cannot pass through plasma membranes, lipophilic hor-
mones can gain entry into their target cells. These lipophilic hor-
mones include the steroid hormones and thyroid hormones.
Steroid hormones are secreted by only two endocrine
glands: the adrenal cortex and the gonads (fig. 11.2). The go-
nads secrete sex steroids; the adrenal cortex secretes corticos-
teroids (including cortisol and aldosterone) and small amounts
of sex steroids.
The major thyroid hormones are composed of two deriva-
tives of the amino acid tyrosine bonded together (fig. 11.3).
When the hormone contains four iodine atoms, it is called
tetraiodothyronine (T4), or thyroxine. When it contains three
atoms of iodine, it is called triiodothyronine (T3). Although
these hormones are not steroids, they are like steroids in that
they are relatively small, nonpolar molecules. Steroid and thy-
roid hormones are active when taken orally (as a pill). Sex
steroids are the active agents in contraceptive pills, and thyroid
hormone pills are taken by people whose thyroid is deficient
(who are hypothyroid). By contrast, polypeptide and glycopro-
tein hormones cannot be taken orally because they would be di-
■ Figure 11.3 Structural formulas for the thyroid hormones.
Thyroxine, also called tetraiodothyronine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) are
secreted in a ratio of 9 to 1.
Table 11.3 Conversion of Prehormones into Biologically Active Derivatives
Endocrine Gland Prehormone Active Products
Skin Vitamin D3 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3
Testes Testosterone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Estradiol-17β (E2)
Thyroid Thyroxine (T4) Triiodothyronine (T3)
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
289
gested into inactive fragments before being absorbed into the
blood. Thus, insulin-dependent diabetics must inject themselves
with this hormone.
The pineal gland secretes melatonin, a hormone derived
from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin has properties that
are similar in some ways to both the lipophilic hormones and
the water-soluble hormones. The adrenal medulla secretes the
catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine (see fig. 9.8),
which are derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Like polypep-
tide and glycoprotein hormones, the catecholamine hormones
are too large and polar to pass through plasma membranes.
Prohormones and Prehormones
Hormone molecules that affect the metabolism of target cells are
often derived from less active “parent,” or precursor, molecules.
In the case of polypeptide hormones, the precursor may be a
longer chained prohormone that is cut and spliced together to
make the hormone. Insulin, for example, is produced from pro-
insulin within the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the
pancreas (see fig. 3.25). In some cases, the prohormone itself is
derived from an even larger precursor molecule; in the case of in-
sulin, this molecule is called preproinsulin. The term prehormone
is sometimes used to indicate such precursors of prohormones.
In some cases, the molecule secreted by the endocrine gland
(and considered to be the hormone of that gland) is actually inac-
tive in the target cells. In order to become active, the target cells
must modify the chemical structure of the secreted hormone. Thy-
roxine (T4), for example, must be changed into T3 within the tar-
get cells in order to affect the metabolism of these cells. Similarly,
testosterone (secreted by the testes) and vitamin D3 (secreted by
the skin) are converted into more active molecules within their
target cells (table 11.3). In this text, the term prehormone will be
used to designate those molecules secreted by endocrine glands
that are inactive until changed by their target cells.
Common Aspects of Neural
and Endocrine Regulation
The fact that endocrine regulation is chemical in nature might
lead one to believe that it differs fundamentally from neural con-
trol systems that depend on the electrical properties of cells.
This assumption is incorrect. As explained in chapter 7, electri-
cal nerve impulses are, in fact, chemical events produced by the
Comments
Conversion (through hydroxylation reactions) occurs in the
liver and the kidneys.
DHT and other 5α-reduced androgens are formed in most
androgen-dependent tissue.
E2 is formed in the brain from testosterone, where it is believed
to affect both endocrine function and behavior; small amounts
of E2 are also produced in the testes.
Conversion of T4 to T3 occurs in almost all tissues.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
290
diffusion of ions through the neuron plasma membrane. Interest-
ingly, the action of some hormones (such as insulin) is accom-
panied by ion diffusion and electrical changes in the target cells,
so changes in membrane potential are not unique to the nervous
system. Also, most nerve fibers stimulate the cells they inner-
vate through the release of a chemical neurotransmitter. Neuro-
transmitters do not travel in the blood as do hormones; instead,
they diffuse across a narrow synaptic cleft to the membrane of
the postsynaptic cell. In other respects, however, the actions of
neurotransmitters are very similar to the actions of hormones.
Indeed, many polypeptide hormones, including those se-
creted by the pituitary gland and by the digestive tract, have
been discovered in the brain. In certain locations in the brain,
some of these compounds are produced and secreted as hor-
mones. In other brain locations, some of these compounds ap-
parently serve as neurotransmitters. The discovery of
polypeptide hormones in unicellular organisms, which of course
lack a nervous and endocrine system, suggests that these regula-
tory molecules appeared early in evolution and were incorpo-
rated into the function of nervous and endocrine tissue as these
systems evolved. This fascinating theory would help to explain,
for example, why insulin, a polypeptide hormone produced in
the pancreas of vertebrates, is found in neurons of invertebrates
(which lack a distinct endocrine system).
Regardless of whether a particular chemical is acting as a
neurotransmitter or as a hormone, in order for it to function in
physiological regulation: (1) target cells must have specific re-
ceptor proteins that combine with the regulatory molecule;
(2) the combination of the regulatory molecule with its receptor
proteins must cause a specific sequence of changes in the target
cells; and (3) there must be a mechanism to quickly turn off the
action of the regulator. This mechanism, which involves rapid
removal and/or chemical inactivation of the regulator molecules,
is essential because without an “off-switch” physiological con-
trol would be impossible.
Hormone Interactions
A given target tissue is usually responsive to a number of differ-
ent hormones. These hormones may antagonize each other or
work together to produce effects that are additive or comple-
mentary. The responsiveness of a target tissue to a particular
hormone is thus affected not only by the concentration of that
hormone, but also by the effects of other hormones on that tis-
sue. Terms used to describe hormone interactions include syner-
gistic, permissive, and antagonistic.
Synergistic and Permissive Effects
When two or more hormones work together to produce a par-
ticular result, their effects are said to be synergistic. These ef-
fects may be additive or complementary. The action of
epinephrine and norepinephrine on the heart is a good example
of an additive effect. Each of these hormones separately pro-
duces an increase in cardiac rate; acting together in the same
concentrations, they stimulate an even greater increase in car-
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
Chapter Eleven
diac rate. The synergistic action of FSH and testosterone is an
example of a complementary effect; each hormone separately
stimulates a different stage of spermatogenesis during puberty,
so that both hormones together are needed at that time to com-
plete sperm development. Likewise, the ability of mammary
glands to produce and secrete milk requires the synergistic ac-
tion of many hormones—estrogen, cortisol, prolactin, oxy-
tocin, and others.
A hormone is said to have a permissive effect on the ac-
tion of a second hormone when it enhances the responsiveness
of a target organ to the second hormone or when it increases the
activity of the second hormone. Prior exposure of the uterus to
estrogen, for example, induces the formation of receptor pro-
teins for progesterone, which improves the response of the
uterus when it is subsequently exposed to progesterone. Estro-
gen thus has a permissive effect on the responsiveness of the
uterus to progesterone. Glucocorticoids (a class of corticos-
teroids including cortisol) exert permissive effects on the actions
of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine). When
these permissive effects are not produced because of abnormally
low glucocorticoids, the catecholamines will not be as effective
as they are normally. One symptom of this condition may be an
abnormally low blood pressure.
Vitamin D3 is a prehormone that must be modified by en-
zymes in the kidneys and liver, where two hydroxyl (OH– )
groups are added to form the active hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvi-
tamin D3. This hormone helps to raise blood calcium levels.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has a permissive effect on the ac-
tions of vitamin D3 because it stimulates the production of the
hydroxylating enzymes in the kidneys and liver. By this means,
an increased secretion of PTH has a permissive effect on the
ability of vitamin D3 to stimulate the intestinal absorption of
calcium.
Antagonistic Effects
In some situations, the actions of one hormone antagonize the
effects of another. Lactation during pregnancy, for example, is
inhibited because the high concentration of estrogen in the
blood inhibits the secretion and action of prolactin. Another ex-
ample of antagonism is the action of insulin and glucagon (two
hormones from the pancreatic islets) on adipose tissue; the for-
mation of fat is promoted by insulin, whereas glucagon pro-
motes fat breakdown.
Effects of Hormone Concentrations
on Tissue Response
The concentration of hormones in the blood primarily reflects the
rate of secretion by the endocrine glands. Hormones do not gen-
erally accumulate in the blood because they are rapidly removed
by target organs and by the liver. The half-life of a hormone—
the time required for the plasma concentration of a given amount
of the hormone to be reduced to half its reference level—ranges
from minutes to hours for most hormones (thyroid hormone,
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
however, has a half-life of several days). Hormones removed
from the blood by the liver are converted by enzymatic reactions
into less active products. Steroids, for example, are converted
into more water-soluble polar derivatives that are released into
the blood and excreted in the urine and bile.
The effects of hormones are very dependent on concentra-
tion. Normal tissue responses are produced only when the hor-
mones are present within their normal, or physiological, range
of concentrations. When some hormones are taken in abnor-
mally high, or pharmacological, concentrations (as when they
are taken as drugs), their effects may be different from those
produced by lower, more physiological, concentrations. The fact
that abnormally high concentrations of a hormone may cause
the hormone to bind to tissue receptor proteins of different but
related hormones may account, in part, for these different ef-
fects. Also, since some steroid hormones can be converted by
their target cells into products that have different biological ef-
fects (as in the conversion of androgens into estrogens), the ad-
ministration of large quantities of one steroid can result in the
production of a significant quantity of other steroids with differ-
ent effects.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic androgens (male
hormones) that promote protein synthesis in muscles
and other organs. Use of these drugs by bodybuilders,
weightlifters, and others is prohibited by most athletic
organizations. Although administration of exogenous androgens
does promote muscle growth, it can also cause a number of unde-
sirable side effects. Since the liver and adipose tissue can change an-
drogens into estrogens, male athletes who take exogenous
androgens often develop gynecomastia—an abnormal growth of fe-
malelike mammary tissue. High levels of exogenous androgens also
inhibit the secretion of FSH and LH from the pituitary, causing atro-
phy of the testes and erectile dysfunction. The exogenous andro-
gens also promote acne, aggressive behavior, male pattern baldness,
and premature closure of the epiphyseal discs (growth plates in
bones), stunting the growth of adolescents. Female users of exoge-
nous androgens display masculinization and antisocial behavior. In
both sexes, the anabolic steroids raise blood levels of LDL choles-
terol (the “bad cholesterol”) and triglycerides, while lowering the
levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”), thus predispos-
ing users to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Pharmacological doses of hormones, particularly of
steroids, can thus have widespread and often damaging side ef-
fects. People with inflammatory diseases who are treated with
high doses of cortisone over long periods of time, for example,
may develop osteoporosis and characteristic changes in soft tis-
sue structure. Contraceptive pills, which contain sex steroids,
have a number of potential side effects that could not have been
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
291
predicted in 1960, when “the pill” was first introduced. At that
time, the concentrations of sex steroids were much higher than
they are in the pills presently being marketed.
Priming Effects
Variations in hormone concentration within the normal, physio-
logical range can affect the responsiveness of target cells. This is
due in part to the effects of polypeptide and glycoprotein hor-
mones on the number of their receptor proteins in target cells.
More receptors may be formed in the target cells in response to
particular hormones. Small amounts of gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH) secreted by the hypothalamus, for example,
increase the sensitivity of anterior pituitary cells to further
GnRH stimulation. This is a priming effect, sometimes also
called upregulation. Subsequent stimulation by GnRH thus
causes a greater response from the anterior pituitary.
Desensitization and Downregulation
Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of polypeptide hor-
mones has been found to desensitize the target cells. Subsequent
exposure to the same concentration of the same hormone thus
produces less of a target tissue response. This desensitization
may be partly due to the fact that high concentrations of these
hormones cause a decrease in the number of receptor proteins in
their target cells—a phenomenon called downregulation. Such
desensitization and downregulation of receptors has been shown
to occur, for example, in adipose cells exposed to high concen-
trations of insulin and in testicular cells exposed to high concen-
trations of luteinizing hormone (LH).
In order to prevent desensitization from occurring under
normal conditions, many polypeptide and glycoprotein hor-
mones are secreted in spurts rather than continuously. This pul-
satile secretion is an important aspect, for example, in the
hormonal control of the reproductive system. The pulsatile se-
cretion of GnRH and LH is needed to prevent desensitization;
when these hormones are artificially presented in a continuous
fashion, they produce a decrease (rather than the normal in-
crease) in gonadal function. This effect has important clinical
implications, as will be described in chapter 20.
Test Yourself Before You Continue
1. Compare the four chemical classes of hormones with reference
to hormones within each class.
2. Define prohormone and prehormone, and give examples of each of
these molecules.
3. Describe the common characteristics of hormones and
neurotransmitters.
4. List the terms used to describe hormone interactions and give
examples of these effects.
5. Explain how the response of the body to a given hormone can be
affected by the concentration of that hormone in the blood.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
292
Mechanisms of Hormone Action
Each hormone exerts its characteristic effects on target organs by
acting on the cells of these organs. Hormones of the same chemical
class have similar mechanisms of action. Lipid-soluble hormones pass
through the target cell’s plasma membrane, bind to intracellular
receptor proteins, and act directly within the target cell. Polar
hormones do not enter the target cells, but instead bind to receptors
on the plasma membrane.This results in the activation of intracellular
second-messenger systems that mediate the actions of the hormone.
Although each hormone exerts its own characteristic ef-
fects on specific target cells, hormones that are in the same
chemical category have similar mechanisms of action. These
similarities involve the location of cellular receptor proteins and
the events that occur in the target cells after the hormone has
combined with its receptor protein.
Hormones are delivered by the blood to every cell in the body,
but only the target cells are able to respond to these hormones. In
order to respond to any given hormone, a target cell must have spe-
cific receptor proteins for that hormone. Receptor protein–hormone
interaction is highly specific. In addition to this property of speci-
ficity, hormones bind to receptors with a high affinity (high bond
strength) and a low capacity. The latter characteristic refers to the
possibility of saturating receptors with hormone molecules because
of the limited number of receptors per target cell (usually a few
thousand). Notice that the characteristics of specificity and satura-
tion that apply to receptor proteins are similar to the characteristics
of enzyme and carrier proteins discussed in previous chapters.
The location of a hormone’s receptor proteins in its target
cells depends on the chemical nature of the hormone. Since the
lipophilic hormones (steroids and thyroxine) can pass through
the plasma membrane and enter their target cells, the receptor
proteins for lipophilic hormones are located within the cyto-
plasm and nucleus. Since the water-soluble hormones (cate-
cholamines, polypeptides, and glycoproteins) cannot pass
through the plasma membrane, their receptors are located on the
outer surface of the membrane. In these cases, hormone action
requires the activation of second messengers within the cell.
Hormones That Bind to Nuclear
Receptor Proteins
Unlike the water-soluble hormones, the lipophilic steroid and thy-
roid hormones do not travel dissolved in the aqueous portion of the
plasma; rather, they are transported to their target cells attached to
plasma carrier proteins. These hormones must then dissociate
from their carrier proteins in the blood in order to pass through the
lipid component of the plasma membrane and enter the target cell,
within which their receptor proteins are located (fig 11.4).
The receptors for the lipophilic hormones are known as
nuclear hormone receptors because they function within the
Text © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
Chapter Eleven
Cytoplasm
Nucleus
DNA
mRNA
H
Translocation
Carrier
protein
mRNA
H
H
Protein
Receptor synthesis
protein
Steroid
H H
hormone
response
Blood Target cell
■ Figure 11.4 The mechanism of action of a steroid hormone on
the target cells. Some steroids bind to a cytoplasmic receptor, which then
translocates to the nucleus. Other steroid hormones enter the nucleus and
then bind to their receptor. In both cases, the steroid-receptor complex can
then bind to a specific area of DNA and activate specific genes.
cell nucleus to activate genetic transcription (production of
mRNA). The nuclear hormone receptors thus function as tran-
scription factors that first must be activated by binding to their
hormone ligands. The newly formed mRNA produced by the ac-
tivated genes directs the synthesis of specific enzyme proteins
that change the metabolism of the target cell in ways that are
characteristic of the effects of that hormone on that target cell.
Each nuclear hormone receptor has two regions, or do-
mains: a ligand (hormone)-binding domain and a DNA-binding
domain (fig. 11.5). The receptor must be activated by binding to
its hormone ligand before it can bind to a specific region of the
DNA, which is called a hormone-response element. This is a
short DNA span, composed of characteristic nucleotide bases,
located adjacent to the gene that will be transcribed when the
nuclear receptor binds to the hormone-response element.
The nuclear hormone receptors are said to constitute a su-
perfamily composed of two major families: the steroid family
and the thyroid hormone (or nonsteroid) family. In addition to
the receptor for thyroid hormone, the latter family also includes
the receptors for the active form of vitamin D and for retinoic
acid (derived from vitamin A, or retinol). Vitamin D and retinoic
acid, like the steroid and thyroid hormones, are lipophilic mole-
cules that play important roles in the regulation of cell function
and organ physiology.
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Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Endocrine Glands 293

Steroid As illustrated in figure 11.5, the hormone-response element

hormone
H long, separated by a three-nucleotide spacer segment. One
Receptor protein
Ligand-binding for steroid hormone
domain
DNA-binding
domain Half-sites
DNA
Target gene
Hormone-
response
element
Dimerization of receptor
Steroid
hormone H H Steroid
hormone
DNA
Genetic transcription
mRNA
■ Figure 11.5 Receptors for steroid hormones. (a) Each nuclear
hormone receptor protein has a ligand-binding domain, which binds to a
hormone molecule, and a DNA-binding domain, which binds to the
hormone-response element of DNA. (b) Binding to the hormone causes
the receptor to dimerize on the half-sites of the hormone-response
element. This stimulates genetic transcription (synthesis of RNA).
Modern molecular biology has ushered in a new era in en-
docrine research, where nuclear receptors can be identified and
their genes cloned before their hormone ligands are known. In
fact, scientists have currently identified the hormone ligand for
only about half of the approximately seventy different nuclear
receptors that are now known. The receptors for unknown hor-
mone ligands are called orphan receptors. For example, the re-
ceptor known as the retinoid X receptor (abbreviated RXR) was
an orphan until its ligand, 9-cis-retinoic acid (a vitamin A deriv-
ative) was discovered. The significance of this receptor will be
described shortly.
Mechanism of Steroid Hormone Action
There is some controversy regarding the location of the steroid
hormone receptors prior to their binding to steroid hormones.
They have been found in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus,
and it appears that a particular steroid hormone receptor is dis-
tributed in a characteristic way between both compartments.
When the cytoplasmic receptor binds to its specific steroid hor-
mone ligand, however, it translocates (moves) into the nucleus,
where its DNA-binding domain binds to the specific hormone-
response element of the DNA (see fig. 11.4).
of DNA consists of two half-sites, each six nucleotide bases
steroid receptor, bound to one molecule of the steroid hormone,
attaches as a single unit to one of the half-sites. Another steroid
receptor, bound to another steroid hormone, attaches to the other
half-site of the hormone-response element. The process of two
receptor units coming together at the two half-sites is called
dimerization (fig 11.5). Since both receptor units of the pair are
the same, the steroid receptor is said to form a homodimer. (The
situation is different for the nonsteroid family of receptors, as will
be described.) Once dimerization has occurred, the activated nu-
clear hormone receptor stimulates transcription of particular genes,
and thus hormonal regulation of the target cell (see fig. 11.4).
Mechanism of Thyroid Hormone Action
As previously discussed, the major hormone secreted by the thy-
roid gland is thyroxine, or tetraiodothyronine (T4). Like steroid
hormones, thyroxine travels in the blood attached to carrier pro-
teins (primarily to thyroxine-binding globulin, or TBG). The thy-
roid also secretes a small amount of triiodothyronine, or T3. The
carrier proteins have a higher affinity for T4 than for T3, how-
ever, and, as a result, the amount of unbound (or “free”) T3 in
the plasma is about ten times greater than the amount of free T4.
Approximately 99.96% of the thyroxine in the blood is at-
tached to carrier proteins in the plasma; the rest is free. Only the
free thyroxine and T3 can enter target cells; the protein-bound
thyroxine serves as a reservoir of this hormone in the blood (this
is why it takes a couple of weeks after surgical removal of the
thyroid for the symptoms of hypothyroidism to develop). Once
the free thyroxine passes into the target cell cytoplasm, it is en-
zymatically converted into T3. As previously discussed, it is the
T3 rather than T4 that is active within the target cells.
Unlike many of the steroid receptors, the inactive receptor
proteins for T3 are located in the nucleus. Until they bind to T3,
however, the receptors are incapable of binding to DNA and
stimulating transcription. The T3 may enter the cell from the
plasma, or it may be produced in the cell by conversion from T4.
In either case, it uses some nonspecific binding proteins as “step-
ping stones” to enter the nucleus, where it binds to the ligand-
binding domain of the receptor (fig. 11.6). Once the receptor
binds to T3, its DNA-binding domain can attach to the half-site
of the DNA hormone-response element.
The other half-site, however, does not bind to another T3 re-
ceptor protein. Unlike the steroid hormone receptors, the nuclear
receptors in the nonsteroid family bind to DNA as heterodimers.
The thyroid hormone receptor (abbreviated TR) is one partner in
the heterodimer; the other partner is a receptor (abbreviated RXR)
for the vitamin A derivative 9-cis-retinoic acid. Once bound to
their different ligands, the two partners in the heterodimer can
bind to the DNA to activate the hormone-response element for
thyroid hormone (fig. 11.7). In this way, thyroid hormones stimu-
late transcription of genes, production of specific mRNA, and
therefore the production of specific enzymes (see fig. 11.6).
Interestingly, the receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,
the active form of vitamin D, also forms heterodimers with the
receptor for 9-cis-retinoic acid (the RXR receptor) when it binds
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

294 Chapter Eleven

RXR
Cytoplasm receptor TR
(for 9-cis- receptor
retinoic acid) (for triiodothyronine)
Nucleus
DNA

Receptor
protein

mRNA Dimerization
T3
9-cis-
Carrier Retinoic acid T3 Triiodothyronine
protein T3 mRNA
(TBG)

T4 T3
Protein
synthesis
Binding
protein
T3
Thyroid
T4 T4
hormone
response
Blood Target cell
■ Figure 11.6 The mechanism of action of thyroid hormones on
the target cells. T4 is first converted into T3 within the cytoplasm of the
target cell. T3 then enters the nucleus and binds to its nuclear receptor. The
hormone-receptor complex can then bind to a specific area of DNA and
activate specific genes.
to DNA and activates genes. The RXR receptor and its vitamin
A derivative ligand thus form a link between the mechanisms of
action of thyroid hormone, vitamin A, and vitamin D, along
with those of some other molecules that are important regulators
of genetic expression.
Hormones That Use
Second Messengers
Hormones that are catecholamines (epinephrine and norepineph-
rine), polypeptides, and glycoproteins cannot pass through the
lipid barrier of the target cell’s plasma membrane. Although some
of these hormones may enter the cell by pinocytosis, most of their
effects result from their binding to receptor proteins on the outer
surface of the target cell membrane. Since they exert their effects
without entering the target cells, the actions of these hormones
must be mediated by other molecules within the target cells. If you
think of hormones as “messengers” from the endocrine glands, the
intracellular mediators of the hormone’s action can be called sec-
ond messengers. (The concept of second messengers was intro-
duced in connection with synaptic transmission in chapter 7.)
Second messengers are thus a component of signal-transduction
mechanisms, since extracellular signals (hormones) are transduced
into intracellular signals (second messengers).
DNA
Hormone- Genetic
response transcription
element
mRNA
■ Figure 11.7 The receptor for triiodothyronine (T3). The nuclear
receptor protein for T3 forms a dimer with the receptor protein for 9-cis-
retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A. This occurs when each binds to its
ligand and to the hormone-response element of DNA. Thus, 9-cis-retinoic
acid is required for the action of T3. The heterodimer formed on the DNA
stimulates genetic transcription.
When these hormones bind to membrane receptor proteins,
they must activate specific proteins in the plasma membrane in
order to produce the second messengers required to exert their ef-
fects. On the basis of the membrane enzyme activated, we can dis-
tinguish second-messenger systems that involve the activation of
(1) adenylate cyclase, (2) phospholipase C, and (3) tyrosine kinase.
Adenylate Cyclase–Cyclic AMP Second-Messenger System
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (abbreviated cAMP) was
the first “second messenger” to be discovered and is the best un-
derstood. When epinephrine and norepinephrine bind to their
β-adrenergic receptors (chapter 9), the effects of these hormones
are due to cAMP production within the target cells. It was later
discovered that the effects of many (but not all) polypeptide and
glycoprotein hormones are also mediated by cAMP.
When one of these hormones binds to its receptor protein, it
causes the dissociation of a subunit from the complex of G-proteins
(discussed in chapter 7; see table 7.7). This G-protein subunit
moves through the membrane until it reaches the enzyme adeny-
late (or adenylyl) cyclase (fig 11.8). The G-protein subunit then
binds to and activates this enzyme, which catalyzes the following
reaction within the cytoplasm of the cell:
ATP → cAMP + PPi
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is thus converted into
cyclic AMP (cAMP) and two inorganic phosphates (pyrophos-
phate, abbreviated PPi). As a result of the interaction of the hor-
mone with its receptor and the activation of adenylate cyclase,
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Endocrine Glands 295

Receptor Hormone Adenylate cyclase

protein Plasma membrane

ATP

G-proteins
cAMP + PPi

Inhibitory subunit Inhibitory subunit

Protein kinase cAMP
(inactive)

Protein kinase
(active)
Phosphorylation
of proteins
Activation of Inactivation of
specific enzymes specific enzymes

■ Figure 11.8 The adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP second-messenger system. The hormone causes the production of cAMP within the target cell
cytoplasm, and cAMP activates protein kinase. The activated protein kinase then causes the activation or inactivation of a number of specific enzymes. These
changes lead to the characteristic effects of the hormone on the target cell.

therefore, the intracellular concentration of cAMP is increased.

Cyclic AMP activates a previously inactive enzyme in the cyto-
plasm called protein kinase. The inactive form of this enzyme
consists of two subunits: a catalytic subunit and an inhibitory
subunit. The enzyme is produced in an inactive form and be-
comes active only when cAMP attaches to the inhibitory sub-
unit. Binding of cAMP to the inhibitory subunit causes it to
dissociate from the catalytic subunit, which then becomes active
(fig. 11.8). In summary, the hormone—acting through an in-
crease in cAMP production—causes an increase in protein ki-
nase enzyme activity within its target cells.
Active protein kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of (at-
tachment of phosphate groups to) different proteins in the target
cells. This causes some enzymes to become activated and others
to become inactivated. Cyclic AMP, acting through protein ki-
nase, thus modulates the activity of enzymes that are already
present in the target cell. This alters the metabolism of the target
tissue in a manner characteristic of the actions of that specific
hormone (table 11.4).
Table 11.4 Sequence of Events Involving
Cyclic AMP as a Second Messenger
1. The hormone binds to its receptor on the outer surface of the target cell’s
plasma membrane.
2. Hormone-receptor interaction acts by means of G-proteins to stimulate
the activity of adenylate cyclase on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.
3. Activated adenylate cyclase catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP
(cAMP) within the cytoplasm.
4. Cyclic AMP activates protein kinase enzymes that were already present in
the cytoplasm in an inactive state.
5. Activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase transfers phosphate groups to
(phosphorylates) other enzymes in the cytoplasm.
6. The activity of specific enzymes is either increased or inhibited by
phosphorylation.
7. Altered enzyme activity mediates the target cell’s response to the
hormone.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
296
Like all biologically active molecules, cAMP must be ra-
pidly inactivated for it to function effectively as a second mes-
senger in hormone action. This inactivation is accomplished by
phosphodiesterase, an enzyme within the target cells that hy-
drolyzes cAMP into inactive fragments. Through the action of
phosphodiesterase, the stimulatory effect of a hormone that uses
cAMP as a second messenger depends upon the continuous gen-
eration of new cAMP molecules, and thus depends on the level
of secretion of the hormone.
Drugs that inhibit the activity of phosphodiesterase
prevent the breakdown of cAMP and thus result in in-
creased concentrations of cAMP within the target
cells. The drug theophylline and its derivatives, for
example, are used clinically to raise cAMP levels within bronchiolar
smooth muscle. This duplicates and enhances the effect of epi-
nephrine on the bronchioles (producing dilation) in people who
suffer from asthma. Caffeine, a compound related to theo-
phylline, is also a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and thus exerts its
effects by raising the cAMP concentrations within cells.
In addition to cyclic AMP, cyclic guanosine monophos-
phate (cGMP) functions as a second messenger in certain cases.
For example, the regulatory molecule nitric oxide (discussed in
chapter 7 and later in this chapter) exerts its effects on smooth
muscle by stimulating the production of cGMP in its target cells.
One example of this is the vascular smooth muscle relaxation
that produces erection of the penis (see chapter 20, fig. 20.23).
Indeed, as illustrated in this figure, the drug Viagra helps treat
erectile dysfunction by inhibiting the phosphodiesterase enzyme
that breaks down cGMP.
Phospholipase C-Ca2+ Second-Messenger System
The concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm is kept very low by
the action of active transport carriers—calcium pumps—in the
plasma membrane. Through the action of these pumps, the con-
centration of calcium is about 10,000 times lower in the cyto-
plasm than in the extracellular fluid. In addition, the
endoplasmic reticulum (chapter 3) of many cells contains cal-
cium pumps that actively transport Ca2+ from the cytoplasm into
the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The steep concentra-
tion gradient for Ca2+ that results allows various stimuli to evoke
a rapid, though brief, diffusion of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm,
which can serve as a signal in different control systems.
At the terminal boutons of axons, for example, the entry of
Ca2+ through voltage-regulated Ca2+ channels in the plasma
membrane serves as a signal for the release of neurotransmitters
(chapter 7; see fig. 7.21). Similarly, when muscles are stimulated
to contract, Ca2+ couples electrical excitation of the muscle cell
to the mechanical processes of contraction (see chapter 12). Ad-
ditionally, it is now known that Ca2+ serves as a part of a second-
messenger system in the action of a number of hormones.
Text © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
Chapter Eleven
When epinephrine stimulates its target organs, it must first
bind to adrenergic receptor proteins in the membrane of its target
cells. As discussed in chapter 9, there are two types of adrenergic
receptors—alpha and beta (see fig. 9.10). Stimulation of the beta-
adrenergic receptors by epinephrine results in activation of adenyl-
ate cyclase and the production of cAMP. Stimulation of
alpha-adrenergic receptors by epinephrine, in contrast, activates the
target cell via the Ca2+ second-messenger system (see fig. 11.10).
The binding of epinephrine to its alpha-adrenergic recep-
tor activates, via a G-protein intermediate, an enzyme in the
plasma membrane known as phospholipase C. The substrate of
this enzyme, a particular membrane phospholipid, is split by the
active enzyme into inositol triphosphate (IP3) and another de-
rivative, diacylglycerol (DAG). Both derivatives serve as sec-
ond messengers, but the action of IP 3 is somewhat better
understood and will be discussed in this section.
The IP3 leaves the plasma membrane and diffuses through
the cytoplasm to the endoplasmic reticulum. The membrane of
the endoplasmic reticulum contains receptor proteins for IP3, so
that the IP3 is a second messenger in its own right, carrying the
hormone’s message from the plasma membrane to the endoplas-
mic reticulum. Binding of IP3 to its receptors causes specific
Ca2+ channels to open, so that Ca2+ diffuses out of the endoplas-
mic reticulum and into the cytoplasm (fig. 11.9).
As a result of these events, there is a rapid and transient
rise in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. This signal is aug-
mented, through mechanisms that are incompletely understood,
by the opening of Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. This
may be due to the action of yet a different (and currently un-
known) messenger sent from the endoplasmic reticulum to the
plasma membrane. The Ca2+ that enters the cytoplasm binds to a
protein called calmodulin. Once Ca2+ binds to calmodulin, the
now-active calmodulin in turn activates specific protein kinase
enzymes (those that add phosphate groups to proteins) that mod-
ify the actions of other enzymes in the cell (fig. 11.10). Activa-
tion of specific calmodulin-dependent enzymes is analogous to
the activation of enzymes by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
The steps of the Ca2+ second-messenger system are summarized
in table 11.5.
Tyrosine Kinase Second-Messenger System
Insulin promotes glucose and amino acid transport and stimulates
glycogen, fat, and protein synthesis in its target organs—primarily
the liver, skeletal muscles, and adipose tissue. These effects are
achieved by means of a mechanism of action that is quite com-
plex, and in some ways still incompletely understood. Neverthe-
less, it is known that insulin’s mechanism of action bears
similarities to the mechanism of action of other regulatory mole-
cules known as growth factors. These growth factors, examples
of which are epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived
growth factor (PDGF), and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are
autocrine regulators (described at the end of this chapter).
In the case of insulin and the growth factors, the receptor
protein is located in the plasma membrane and is itself a kind
of enzyme known as a tyrosine kinase. A kinase is an enzyme
that adds phosphate groups to proteins, and a tyrosine kinase
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Endocrine Glands 297

Receptor Phospholipase C
protein Hormone
Plasma membrane

G-proteins

Ca2+ Ca2+
IP3
Ca2+
Cytoplasm Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+
Ca2+ Ca2+ Endoplasmic
reticulum

■ Figure 11.9 The phospholipase C-Ca2+ second-messenger system. Some hormones, when they bind to their membrane receptors, activate
phospholipase C (PLC). This enzyme catalyzes the formation of inositol triphosphate (IP3), which causes Ca2+ channels to open in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Ca2+ is thus released and acts as a second messenger in the action of the hormone.

Liver cell

cAMP

Adenylate
Beta-adrenergic cyclase
effect of epinephrine
Active
ATP protein
kinase

Glycogen Ca2+

Alpha-adrenergic
Active protein effect of
kinase epinephrine

Glucose 1-phosphate

Calmodulin Ca2+

Glucose 6-phosphate Free glucose

■ Figure 11.10 Epinephrine can act through two second-messenger systems. The stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors invokes the cAMP second-
messenger system, and the stimulation of the α-adrenergic receptors invokes the Ca2+ second-messenger system.

specifically adds these phosphate groups to the amino acid ty-
rosine within the proteins. The insulin receptor consists of two
units that come together (dimerize) when they bind with insulin
to form an active tyrosine kinase enzyme (fig. 11.11). Each unit
of the receptor contains a site on the outside of the cell that
binds to insulin (termed the ligand-binding site) and a part that
spans the plasma membrane, with an enzymatic site in the cyto-
plasm. The enzymatic site is inactive until insulin binds to the
ligand-binding site and causes dimerization of the receptor.
When insulin binding and dimerization occur, the enzymatic
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

298 Chapter Eleven

Table 11.5 Sequence of Events Involving the Ca2+ Second-Messenger System

1. The hormone binds to its receptor on the outer surface of the target cell’s plasma membrane.
2. Hormone-receptor interaction stimulates the activity of a membrane enzyme, phospholipase C.
3. Activated phospholipase C catalyzes the conversion of particular phospholipids in the membrane to inositol triphosphate (IP3) and another derivative, diacylglycerol.
4. Inositol triphosphate enters the cytoplasm and diffuses to the endoplasmic reticulum, where it binds to its receptor proteins and causes the opening of Ca2+
channels.
5. Since the endoplasmic reticulum accumulates Ca2+ by active transport, there exists a steep Ca2+ concentration gradient favoring the diffusion of Ca2+ into the
cytoplasm.
6. Ca2+ that enters the cytoplasm binds to and activates a protein called calmodulin.
7. Activated calmodulin, in turn, activates protein kinase, which phosphorylates other enzyme proteins.
8. Altered enzyme activity mediates the target cell’s response to the hormone.

Insulin Extracellular fluid

P P
ADP P ADP P
ATP
ATP ATP
Cytoplasm
ADP
P

Binding to receptor Dimerization Phosphorylation of Phosphorylation of

proteins receptor signal molecules

Tyrosine Cascade of effects

kinase now
active Glucose uptake and
anabolic reactions

■ Figure 11.11 The receptor for insulin. Insulin binds to two units of its receptor protein, causing these units to dimerize (come together) on the
plasma membrane. This activates the tyrosine kinase enzyme portion of the receptor. As a result, the receptor phosphorylates itself, thereby making the enzyme
even more active. The receptor then phosphorylates a number of cytoplasmic “signal molecules” that exert a cascade of effects in the target cell.

site is activated in each unit of the receptor, and one unit phos-
phorylates the other. This process, termed autophosphorylation,
increases the tyrosine kinase activity of the dimerized receptor.
The activated tyrosine kinase receptor then phosphorylates
other proteins that serve as signaling molecules. Some of these
signaling molecules are themselves kinase enzymes that phos-
phorylate and activate other second-messenger systems. As a re-
sult of a complex series of activations, insulin and the different
growth factors regulate the metabolism of their target cells.
For example, insulin indirectly stimulates the insertion of
GLUT-4 carrier proteins (for the facilitated diffusion of glucose;
see chapter 6, fig. 6.15) into the plasma membrane of skeletal
muscle, adipose, and liver cells. In this way, insulin stimulates
the uptake of plasma glucose into these organs. Also, the bind-
ing of insulin to its receptor indirectly causes the activation of
glycogen synthetase, the enzyme in liver and skeletal muscles
that catalyzes the production of glycogen in these organs.
The complexity of different second-messenger systems is
needed so that different signaling molecules can have varying
effects. For example, insulin uses the tyrosine kinase second-
messenger system to stimulate glucose uptake into the liver
and its synthesis into glycogen, whereas glucagon (another
hormone secreted by the pancreatic islets) promotes opposite
effects—the hydrolysis of hepatic glycogen and subsequent se-
cretion of glucose—by activating a different second-messenger
system that involves the production of cAMP.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
Test Yourself Before You Continue
1. Using diagrams, describe how steroid hormones and thyroxine
exert their effects on their target cells.
2. Use a diagram to show how cyclic AMP is produced within a
target cell in response to hormone stimulation and how cAMP
functions as a second messenger.
3. Describe the sequence of events by which a hormone can cause
a rise in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and explain how
Ca2+ can function as a second messenger.
4. Explain the nature and actions of the receptor proteins for insulin
and the growth factors.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland includes the anterior pituitary and the posterior
pituitary.The posterior pituitary stores and releases hormones that
are actually produced by the hypothalamus, whereas the anterior
pituitary produces and secretes its own hormones.The anterior
pituitary, however, is regulated by hormones secreted by the
hypothalamus, as well as by feedback from the target gland hormones.
The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is located on the in-
ferior aspect of the brain in the region of the diencephalon
(chapter 8). Roughly the size of a pea—about 1.3 cm (0.5 in.) in
diameter—it is attached to the hypothalamus by a stalklike
structure called the infundibulum (fig. 11.12).
The pituitary gland is structurally and functionally di-
vided into an anterior lobe, or adenohypophysis, and a poste-
rior lobe called the neurohypophysis. These two parts have
different embryonic origins. The adenohypophysis is derived
from a pouch of epithelial tissue (Rathke’s pouch) that migrates
upward from the embryonic mouth, whereas the neurohypophy-
sis is formed as a downgrowth of the brain. The adenohypophy-
sis consists of two parts in adults: (1) the pars distalis, also
known as the anterior pituitary, is the rounded portion and the
major endocrine part of the gland, and (2) the pars tuberalis is
the thin extension in contact with the infundibulum. These parts
are illustrated in figure 11.12. A pars intermedia, a strip of tis-
sue between the anterior and posterior lobes, exists in the fetus.
During fetal development, its cells mingle with those of the an-
terior lobe, and in adults they no longer constitute a separate
structure.
The neurohypophysis is the neural part of the pituitary
gland. It consists of the pars nervosa, also called the posterior
pituitary, which is in contact with the adenohypophysis and the
infundibulum. Nerve fibers extend through the infundibulum
along with small neuroglia-like cells called pituicytes.
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
299
Hypothalamus
Optic chiasma
Anterior lobe
(adenohypophysis):
Infundibulum
Pars tuberalis
Pars distalis
Posterior lobe
(neurohypophysis)
■ Figure 11.12 The structure of the pituitary gland. The anterior
lobe is composed of glandular tissue, whereas the posterior lobe is
composed largely of neuroglia and nerve fibers.
Pituitary Hormones
The hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary (the pars dis-
talis of the adenohypophysis) are called trophic hormones.
The term trophic means “feed.” Although the anterior pituitary
hormones are not food for their target organs, this term is used
because high concentrations of the anterior pituitary hormones
cause their target organs to hypertrophy, while low levels cause
their target organs to atrophy. When names are applied to the
hormones of the anterior pituitary, “trophic” (conventionally
shortened to tropic, meaning “attracted to”) is incorporated into
them. This is why the shortened forms of the names for the an-
terior pituitary hormones end in the suffix -tropin. The hor-
mones of the anterior pituitary, listed here, are summarized in
table 11.6.
1. Growth hormone (GH, or somatotropin). GH promotes
the movement of amino acids into cells and the
incorporation of these amino acids into proteins, thus
promoting overall tissue and organ growth.
2. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, or thyrotropin).
TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and
secrete thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine, or T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3).
3. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, or corticotropin).
ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete the
glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone (cortisol).
4. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, or folliculotropin).
FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in females
and the production of sperm cells in the testes of males.
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Hormones

300 Chapter Eleven

Table 11.6 Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Hormone
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
GH (growth hormone)
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
PRL (prolactin)
LH (luteinizing hormone)
Target Tissue Principal Actions Regulation of Secretion
Adrenal cortex Stimulates secretion of Stimulated by CRH (corticotropin-
glucocorticoids releasing hormone); inhibited by
glucocorticoids
Thyroid gland Stimulates secretion of thyroid Stimulated by TRH (thyrotropin-
hormones releasing hormone); inhibited by
thyroid hormones
Most tissue Promotes protein synthesis and Inhibited by somatostatin; stimulated
growth; lipolysis and increased by growth hormone–releasing
blood glucose hormone
Gonads Promotes gamete production and Stimulated by GnRH (gonadotropin-
stimulates estrogen production in releasing hormone); inhibited by
females sex steroids and inhibin
Mammary glands and other sex Promotes milk production in Inhibited by PIH (prolactin-inhibiting
accessory organs lactating females; additional actions hormone)
in other organs
Gonads Stimulates sex hormone secretion; Stimulated by GnRH; inhibited by sex
ovulation and corpus luteum steroids
formation in females; stimulates
testosterone secretion in males

5. Luteinizing hormone (LH, or luteotropin). This

hormone and FSH are collectively called gonadotropic
hormones. In females, LH stimulates ovulation and the
conversion of the ovulated ovarian follicle into an
endocrine structure called a corpus luteum. In males, LH
is sometimes called interstitial cell stimulating hormone,
or ICSH; it stimulates the secretion of male sex hormones
(mainly testosterone) from the interstitial cells (Leydig
cells) in the testes.
6. Prolactin (PRL). This hormone is secreted in both males
and females. Its best known function is the stimulation of
milk production by the mammary glands of women after
the birth of a baby. Prolactin plays a supporting role in the
regulation of the male reproductive system by the
gonadotropins (FSH and LH) and acts on the kidneys to
help regulate water and electrolyte balance.
As mentioned earlier, the pars intermedia of the adenohy-
pophysis ceases to exist as a separate lobe in the adult human pi-
two hormones, both of which are produced in the hypothalamus.
tuitary, but it is present in the human fetus and in other animals.
Until recently, it was thought to secrete melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (MSH), as it does in fish, amphibians, and reptiles,
where it causes darkening of the skin. In humans, however,
plasma concentrations of MSH are insignificant. Some cells of
the adenohypophysis, derived from the fetal pars intermedia, pro-
duce a large polypeptide called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC).
POMC is a prohormone whose major products are beta-endorphin
(chapter 7), MSH, and ACTH. Since part of the ACTH molecule
contains the amino acid sequence of MSH, elevated secretions of
ACTH (as in Addison’s disease) cause a marked darkening of the
skin.
Inadequate growth hormone secretion during child-
hood causes pituitary dwarfism. Hyposecretion of
growth hormone in an adult produces a rare condi-
tion called pituitary cachexia (Simmonds’ disease). One
of the symptoms of this disease is premature aging caused by tis-
sue atrophy. Oversecretion of growth hormone during childhood,
by contrast, causes gigantism. Excessive growth hormone secre-
tion in an adult does not cause further growth in length because
the cartilaginous epiphyseal discs have already ossified. Hyper-
secretion of growth hormone in an adult instead causes
acromegaly (see fig. 19.15), in which the person’s appearance
gradually changes as a result of thickening of bones and the
growth of soft tissues, particularly in the face, hands, and feet.
The posterior pituitary, or pars nervosa, stores and releases
1. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as arginine
vasopressin (AVP). ADH promotes the retention of water
by the kidneys so that less water is excreted in the urine
and more water is retained in the blood. At high doses, this
hormone also has a “pressor” effect; that is, it causes
vasoconstriction in experimental animals. The
physiological significance of this pressor effect in humans
is controversial, however.
2. Oxytocin. In females, oxytocin stimulates contractions of
the uterus during labor and for this reason is needed for
parturition (childbirth). Oxytocin also stimulates
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Hormones
Endocrine Glands
contractions of the mammary gland alveoli and ducts, which
result in the milk-ejection reflex in a lactating woman. In
men, a rise in oxytocin secretion at the time of ejaculation
has been measured, but the physiological significance of
this hormone in males remains to be demonstrated.
Injections of oxytocin may be given to a pregnant
woman to induce labor if the pregnancy is prolonged
or if the fetal membranes have ruptured and there is
danger of infection. Labor also may be induced by in-
jections of oxytocin in the case of severe pregnancy-induced hy-
pertension, or preeclampsia. Oxytocin administration after
delivery causes the uterus to regress in size and squeezes the
blood vessels, thus minimizing the danger of hemorrhage.
Hypothalamic Control
of the Posterior Pituitary
Both of the posterior pituitary hormones—antidiuretic hormone
and oxytocin—are actually produced in neuron cell bodies of the
supraoptic nuclei and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothala-
mus. These nuclei within the hypothalamus are thus endocrine
glands. The hormones they produce are transported along axons
of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract (fig. 11.13) to the poste-
rior pituitary, where they are stored and later released. The poste-
rior pituitary is thus more a storage organ than a true gland.
The release of ADH and oxytocin from the posterior pitu-
itary is controlled by neuroendocrine reflexes. In nursing
mothers, for example, the mechanical stimulus of suckling acts,
via sensory nerve impulses to the hypothalamus, to stimulate the
reflex secretion of oxytocin (chapter 20). The secretion of ADH
is stimulated by osmoreceptor neurons in the hypothalamus in
response to a rise in blood osmotic pressure (chapter 6); its se-
cretion is inhibited by sensory impulses from stretch receptors
in the left atrium of the heart in response to a rise in blood vol-
ume (chapter 14).
Hypothalamic Control
of the Anterior Pituitary
At one time the anterior pituitary was called the “master gland”
because it secretes hormones that regulate some other endocrine
glands (fig. 11.14 and table 11.6). Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and the go-
nadotropic hormones (FSH and LH) stimulate the adrenal cor-
tex, thyroid, and gonads, respectively, to secrete their hormones.
The anterior pituitary hormones also have a “trophic” effect on
their target glands in that the health of these glands depends on
adequate stimulation by anterior pituitary hormones. The ante-
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
301
Paraventricular
nucleus ADH and oxytocin
produced here
Supraoptic
nucleus
Hypothalamus
Optic chiasma
Infundibulum
Hypothalamo-
hypophyseal
tract
Posterior pituitary
Anterior
pituitary
ADH and
oxytocin
released
■ Figure 11.13 Hypothalamic control of the posterior
pituitary. The posterior pituitary, or neurohypophysis, stores and releases
hormones—vasopressin and oxytocin—that are actually produced in
neurons within the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the
hypothalamus. These hormones are transported to the posterior pituitary by
axons in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract.
rior pituitary, however, is not really the master gland, since se-
cretion of its hormones is in turn controlled by hormones se-
creted by the hypothalamus.
Releasing and Inhibiting Hormones
Since axons do not enter the anterior pituitary, hypothalamic
control of the anterior pituitary is achieved through hormonal
rather than neural regulation. Releasing and inhibiting hor-
mones, produced by neurons in the hypothalamus, are trans-
ported to axon endings in the basal portion of the hypothalamus.
This region, known as the median eminence (fig 11.15), contains
blood capillaries that are drained by venules in the stalk of the
pituitary.
The venules that drain the median eminence deliver blood
to a second capillary bed in the anterior pituitary. Since this sec-
ond capillary bed is downstream from the capillary bed in the me-
dian eminence and receives venous blood from it, the vascular
link between the median eminence and the anterior pituitary
forms a portal system. (This is analogous to the hepatic portal sys-
tem that delivers venous blood from the intestine to the liver, as
described in chapter 18.) The vascular link between the hypothal-
amus and the anterior pituitary is thus called the hypothalamo-
hypophyseal portal system.
Regulatory hormones are secreted into the hypothalamo-
hypophyseal portal system by neurons of the hypothalamus. These
hormones regulate the secretions of the anterior pituitary (fig. 11.15
and table 11.7). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
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302 Chapter Eleven

Paraventricular nucleus

Hypothalamus
Supraoptic nucleus

Median eminence

Portal system
Infundibulum

Posterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary

TSH

Prolactin

Thyroid

Mammary gland

ACTH

Adrenal cortex

Growth
hormone
FSH

Gonadotropins

LH

Bone Muscle Adipose tissue Ovary Testis

■ Figure 11.14 Hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary and their target organs. Notice that the anterior pituitary controls some (but by no
means all) of the other endocrine glands.
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Hormones

Endocrine Glands 303

Table 11.7 Hypothalamic Hormones Involved in the Control of the Anterior Pituitary
Hypothalamic Hormone Structure Effect on Anterior Pituitary
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) 41 amino acids Stimulates secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 10 amino acids Stimulates secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FHS) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH) Dopamine Inhibits prolactin secretion
Somatostatin 14 amino acids Inhibits secretion of growth hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) 3 amino acids Stimulates secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) 44 amino acids Stimulates growth hormone secretion

Cell body polypeptide consisting of forty-four amino acids. Experiments

suggest that a releasing hormone for prolactin may also exist, but
Axons to primary no such specific releasing hormone has yet been discovered.
capillaries

Feedback Control
of the Anterior Pituitary
In view of its secretion of releasing and inhibiting hormones, the
Primary Median eminence hypothalamus might be considered the “master gland.” The
capillaries chain of command, however, is not linear; the hypothalamus and
Pituitary stalk anterior pituitary are controlled by the effects of their own ac-
Portal venules tions. In the endocrine system, to use an analogy, the general
takes orders from the private. The hypothalamus and anterior pi-
Releasing tuitary are not master glands because their secretions are con-
hormones
trolled by the target glands they regulate.
Secondary Anterior pituitary secretion of ACTH, TSH, and the go-
capillaries nadotropins (FSH and LH) is controlled by negative feedback
inhibition from the target gland hormones. Secretion of ACTH
Posterior pituitary
is inhibited by a rise in corticosteroid secretion, for example,
and TSH is inhibited by a rise in the secretion of thyroxine from
Anterior the thyroid. These negative feedback relationships are easily
pituitary demonstrated by removal of the target glands. Castration (surgi-
Anterior cal removal of the gonads), for example, produces a rise in the
pituitary secretion of FSH and LH. In a similar manner, removal of the
hormones adrenals or the thyroid results in an abnormal increase in ACTH
or TSH secretion from the anterior pituitary.
■ Figure 11.15 Hypothalamic control of the anterior pituitary.
Neurons in the hypothalamus secrete releasing hormones (shown as dots)
into the blood vessels of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system. These
releasing hormones stimulate the anterior pituitary to secrete its hormones Clinical Investigation Clue
into the general circulation. Remember that Rosemary has a blood ACTH level that was
only about one-fiftieth of normal.
stimulates the secretion of TSH, and corticotropin-releasing hor- ■ What might account for the low ACTH secretion from the anterior
mone (CRH) stimulates the secretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary?
pituitary. A single releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing
hormone, or GnRH, stimulates the secretion of both go-
nadotropic hormones (FSH and LH) from the anterior pituitary. The effects of removal of the target glands demonstrate
The secretion of prolactin and of growth hormone from the ante- that, under normal conditions, these glands exert an inhibitory
rior pituitary is regulated by hypothalamic inhibitory hormones, effect on the anterior pituitary. This inhibitory effect can occur
known as prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH) and somato- at two levels: (1) the target gland hormones can act on the hypo-
statin, respectively. thalamus and inhibit the secretion of releasing hormones, and
A specific growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) (2) the target gland hormones can act on the anterior pituitary
that stimulates growth hormone secretion has been identified as a and inhibit its response to the releasing hormones. Thyroxine,
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304 Chapter Eleven

–
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus

Thyrotropin-
releasing Gonadotropin-
hormone releasing hormone
(TRH) (GnRH)
Negative
feedback

– –
Anterior Anterior
pituitary pituitary
Inhibits Negative
responsiveness feedback
Thyroid- to TRH
Gonadotropins
stimulating (FSH and LH)
hormone Inhibits Inhibits
(TSH) secretion responsiveness
of GnRH to
GnRH
Gonads
Growth Thyroid Thyroxine
of thyroid

■ Figure 11.16 The hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis (control Sex steroid

system). The secretion of thyroxine from the thyroid is stimulated by
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary. The
secretion of TSH is stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
secreted from the hypothalamus. This stimulation is balanced by negative
feedback inhibition (blue arrow) from thyroxine, which decreases the
responsiveness of the anterior pituitary to stimulation by TRH.
hormones
(estrogens and
androgens)
■ Figure 11.17 The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis (control
system). The hypothalamus secretes GnRH, which stimulates the anterior
pituitary to secrete the gonadotropins (FSH and LH). These, in turn,
stimulate the gonads to secrete the sex steroids. The secretions of the
hypothalamus and anterior pituitary are themselves regulated by negative
feedback inhibition (blue arrows) from the sex steroids.

for example, appears to inhibit the response of the anterior pitu-

itary to TRH and thus acts to reduce TSH secretion (fig. 11.16).
Sex steroids, by contrast, reduce the secretion of gonadotropins
by inhibiting both GnRH secretion and the ability of the anterior
pituitary to respond to stimulation by GnRH (fig. 11.17).
Evidence suggests that there may be retrograde transport
of blood from the anterior pituitary to the hypothalamus. This
may permit a short feedback loop in which a particular trophic
hormone inhibits the secretion of its releasing hormone from the
hypothalamus. A high secretion of TSH, for example, may in-
hibit further secretion of TRH by this means.
In addition to negative feedback control of the anterior pi-
tuitary, there is one instance of a hormone from a target organ
that actually stimulates the secretion of an anterior pituitary hor-
mone. Toward the middle of the menstrual cycle, the rising se-
cretion of estradiol from the ovaries stimulates the anterior
pituitary to secrete a “surge” of LH, which results in ovulation.
This is commonly described as a positive feedback effect to dis-
tinguish it from the more usual negative feedback inhibition of
target gland hormones on anterior pituitary secretion. Interest-
ingly, higher levels of estradiol at a later stage of the menstrual
cycle exert the opposite effect—negative feedback inhibition—
on LH secretion. The control of gonadotropin secretion is dis-
cussed in more detail in chapter 20.
Higher Brain Function
and Pituitary Secretion
The relationship between the anterior pituitary and a particular
target gland is described as an axis; the pituitary-gonad axis, for
example, refers to the action of gonadotropic hormones on the
testes and ovaries. This axis is stimulated by GnRH from the hy-
pothalamus, as previously described. Since the hypothalamus re-
ceives neural input from “higher brain centers,” however, it is
not surprising that the pituitary-gonad axis can be affected by
emotions. Indeed, the ability of intense emotions to alter the
timing of ovulation or menstruation is well known. Psychologi-
cal stress, as another example, also stimulates another axis—the
pituitary-adrenal axis (described in the next section).
Stressors, as described later in this chapter, produce an in-
crease in CRH secretion from the hypothalamus, which in turn
results in elevated ACTH and corticosteroid secretion. In addi-
tion, the influence of higher brain centers produces circadian
(“about a day”) rhythms in the secretion of many anterior pitu-
itary hormones. The secretion of growth hormone, for example,
is highest during sleep and decreases during wakefulness, al-
though its secretion is also stimulated by the absorption of par-
ticular amino acids following a meal.
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Hormones

Endocrine Glands 305

The influence of higher brain centers on the pituitary-

gonad axis helps to explain the “dormitory effect”—
that is, the tendency for the menstrual cycles of
female roommates to synchronize. This synchroniza-
tion will not occur in a new roommate if her nasal cavity is plugged
with cotton, suggesting that the dormitory effect is due to the ac-
tion of chemicals called pheromones. These chemicals are ex-
creted to the outside of the body and act through the olfactory
sense to modify the physiology or behavior of another member of
the same species. Pheromones are important regulatory molecules
in the urine, vaginal fluid, and other secretions of most mammals,
and help to regulate their reproductive cycles and behavior. The
role of pheromones in humans is difficult to assess. Recently, how-
ever, scientists discovered that pheromones produced in the axil-
lae (underarms) of women may contribute to the dormitory effect.

Test Yourself Before You Continue

1. Describe the embryonic origins of the adenohypophysis and
neurohypophysis, and list the parts of each. Which of these parts
is also called the anterior pituitary? Which is called the posterior
pituitary?
2. List the hormones released by the posterior pituitary. Where do
these hormones originate and how are their secretions regulated?
3. List the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary and explain
how the hypothalamus controls the secretion of each.
4. Draw a negative feedback loop showing the control of ACTH
secretion. Explain how this system would be affected by (a) an
injection of ACTH, (b) surgical removal of the pituitary, (c) an
injection of corticosteroids, and (d) surgical removal of the
adrenal glands.

■ Figure 11.18 The structure of the adrenal gland, showing the

Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla are structurally and functionally
different.The adrenal medulla secretes catecholamine hormones,which
complement the sympathetic nervous system in the “fight-or-flight”
reaction.The adrenal cortex secretes steroid hormones that participate
in the regulation of mineral and energy balance.
The adrenal glands are paired organs that cap the supe-
rior borders of the kidneys (fig. 11.18). Each adrenal consists of
an outer cortex and inner medulla that function as separate
glands. The differences in function of the adrenal cortex and
medulla are related to the differences in their embryonic deriva-
tion. The adrenal medulla is derived from embryonic neural
crest ectoderm (the same tissue that produces the sympathetic
three zones of the adrenal cortex. The zona glomerulosa secretes the
mineralocorticoids (including aldosterone), whereas the other two zones
secrete the glucocorticoids (including cortisol).
ganglia), whereas the adrenal cortex is derived from a different
embryonic tissue (mesoderm).
As a consequence of its embryonic derivation, the adrenal
medulla secretes catecholamine hormones (mainly epinephrine,
with lesser amounts of norepinephrine) into the blood in re-
sponse to stimulation by preganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers
(chapter 9). The adrenal cortex does not receive neural innerva-
tion, and so must be stimulated hormonally (by ACTH secreted
from the anterior pituitary). The cortex consists of three zones:
an outer zona glomerulosa, a middle zona fasciculata, and an
inner zona reticularis (fig. 11.18). These zones are believed to
have different functions.
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306 Chapter Eleven

(DHEA)

■ Figure 11.19 Simplified pathways for the synthesis of steroid hormones in the adrenal cortex. The adrenal cortex produces steroids that regulate
Na+ and K+ balance (mineralocorticoids), steroids that regulate glucose balance (glucocorticoids), and small amounts of sex steroid hormones. (DHEA =
dehydroepiandrosterone.)

Functions of the Adrenal Cortex Nonspecific stress

Higher
brain centers
The adrenal cortex secretes steroid hormones called corticos-
teroids, or corticoids, for short. There are three functional cate-
gories of corticosteroids: (1) mineralocorticoids, which
regulate Na+ and K+ balance; (2) glucocorticoids, which regu- –
Hypothalamus
late the metabolism of glucose and other organic molecules; and
(3) sex steroids, which are weak androgens (including dehy-
droepiandrosterone, or DHEA) that supplement the sex steroids
secreted by the gonads. These three categories of steroid hor- CRH
mones are derived from the same precursor (parent molecule),
cholesterol. The biosynthetic pathways from cholesterol di-
verges in the different zones of the adrenal cortex, so that a par- –
Anterior
ticular category of corticosteroid is produced in a particular Cortisol pituitary
zone of the adrenal cortex (fig. 11.19).
Aldosterone is the most potent mineralocorticoid. The
mineralocorticoids are produced in the zona glomerulosa and Adrenal ACTH
stimulate the kidneys to retain Na+ and water while excreting K+ cortex
in the urine. These actions help to increase the blood volume
and pressure (as described in chapter 14), and to regulate blood ■ Figure 11.20 Activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis by
electrolyte balance (as described in chapter 17). nonspecific stress. Negative feedback control of the adrenal cortex (blue
The predominant glucocorticoid in humans is cortisol (hy- arrows) is also shown.
drocortisone), which is secreted by the zona fasciculata and per-
haps also by the zona reticularis. The secretion of cortisol is
stimulated by ACTH from the anterior pituitary (fig. 11.20).
Cortisol and other glucocorticoids have many effects on metabo- fatty acids into the blood. The roles of glucocorticoids and other
lism; they stimulate gluconeogenesis (production of glucose hormones in metabolic regulation are explained in chapter 19.
from amino acids and lactic acid) and inhibit glucose utilization, Exogenous glucocorticoids (taken as pills, injections,
which help to raise the blood glucose level; and they promote sprays, and topical creams) are used medically to suppress the
lipolysis (breakdown of fat) and the consequent release of free immune response and inhibit inflammation. Thus, these drugs
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
are very useful in treating inflammatory diseases such as asthma
and rheumatoid arthritis. As might be predicted based on their
metabolic actions, the side effects of glucocorticoids include hy-
perglycemia and decreased glucose tolerance. Other negative
side effects include decreased synthesis of collagen and other
extracellular matrix proteins (chapter 6) and increased bone re-
sorption, leading to osteoporosis.
Hypersecretion of corticosteroids results in Cush-
ing’s syndrome. This disorder is generally caused by
oversecretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary,
but it can also result from a tumor of the adrenal cor-
tex. Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by changes in carbohy-
drate and protein metabolism, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and
muscular weakness. Metabolic problems give the body a puffy ap-
pearance and can cause structural changes characterized as “buf-
falo hump” and “moon face.”
Addison’s disease is caused by inadequate secretion of
both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which results in hy-
poglycemia, sodium and potassium imbalance, dehydration, hy-
potension, rapid weight loss, and generalized weakness. A person
with this condition who is not treated with corticosteroids will die
within a few days because of severe electrolyte imbalance and de-
hydration. President John F. Kennedy had Addison’s disease, but
few knew of it because it was well controlled by corticosteroids.
Clinical Investigation Clue
Remember that Rosemary had high blood levels of cortisol
together with low ACTH. She also had a puffy appearance.
■ What disease, due to what cause, is most likely responsible for
Rosemary’s condition?
Functions of the Adrenal Medulla
The cells of the adrenal medulla secrete epinephrine and nor-
epinephrine in an approximate ratio of 4 to 1, respectively. The
effects of these catecholamine hormones are similar to those
caused by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, except
that the hormonal effect lasts about ten times longer. The hor-
mones from the adrenal medulla increase the cardiac output and
heart rate, dilate coronary blood vessels, increase mental alert-
ness, increase the respiratory rate, and elevate the metabolic rate.
The adrenal medulla is innervated by preganglionic
sympathetic axons, and secretes its hormones whenever the
sympathetic nervous system is activated during “fight or
flight” (chapter 9, fig. 9.7). These sympathoadrenal effects are
supported by the metabolic actions of epinephrine and norepi-
nephrine: a rise in blood glucose due to stimulation of hepatic
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
307
glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen) and a rise in blood
fatty acids due to stimulation of lipolysis (breakdown of fat).
The endocrine regulation of metabolism is described more
fully in chapter 19.
A tumor of the adrenal medulla is referred to as a
pheochromocytoma. This tumor causes hyper-
secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, which
produces an effect similar to continuous sympathetic
nerve stimulation. The symptoms of this condition are hyperten-
sion, elevated metabolism, hyperglycemia and sugar in the urine,
nervousness, digestive problems, and sweating. It does not take
long for the body to become totally fatigued under these condi-
tions, making the patient susceptible to other diseases.
Stress and the Adrenal Gland
In 1936, a Canadian physiologist, Hans Selye, discovered that
injections of a cattle ovary extract into rats (1) stimulated
growth of the adrenal cortex; (2) caused atrophy of the lym-
phoid tissue of the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus; and
(3) produced bleeding peptic ulcers. At first he attributed these
effects to the action of a specific hormone in the extract. How-
ever subsequent experiments revealed that injections of a vari-
ety of substances—including foreign chemicals such as
formaldehyde—could produce the same effects. Indeed, the
same pattern occurred when Selye subjected rats to cold envi-
ronments or when he dropped them into water and made them
swim until they were exhausted.
The specific pattern of effects produced by these proce-
dures suggested that the effects were due to something the pro-
cedures shared in common. Selye reasoned that all of the
procedures were stressful. Stress, according to Selye, is the reac-
tion of an organism to stimuli called stressors, which may pro-
duce damaging effects. The pattern of changes he observed
represented a specific response to any stressful agent. He later
discovered that stressors produce these effects because they
stimulate the pituitary-adrenal axis. Under stressful conditions,
there is increased secretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary,
and thus there is increased secretion of glucocorticoids from the
adrenal cortex.
On this basis, Selye stated that there is “a nonspecific re-
sponse of the body to readjust itself following any demand made
upon it.” A rise in the plasma glucocorticoid levels results from
the demands of the stressors. Selye termed this nonspecific re-
sponse the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). Stress, in
other words, produces GAS. There are three stages in the re-
sponse to stress: (1) the alarm reaction, when the adrenal glands
are activated; (2) the stage of resistance, in which readjustment
occurs; and (3) if the readjustment is not complete, the stage of
exhaustion, which may lead to sickness and possibly death.
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308 Chapter Eleven

Glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone, can inhibit

the immune system. For this reason, these steroids
Thyroid
are often administered to treat various inflammatory cartilage
diseases and to suppress the immune rejection of a of larynx
transplanted organ. It seems reasonable, therefore, that the ele-
vated glucocorticoid secretion that can accompany stress may in- Cricoid
hibit the ability of the immune system to protect against disease. cartilage
of larynx
Indeed, studies suggest that prolonged stress results in an in-
creased incidence of cancer and other diseases.

Thyroid
gland
Selye’s concept of stress has been refined by subsequent Trachea
research. These investigations demonstrate that the sympathoad-
(a)
renal system becomes activated, with increased secretion of epi-
nephrine and norepinephrine, in response to stressors that
challenge the organism to respond physically. This is the “fight-
or-flight” reaction described in chapter 9. Different emotions,
however, are accompanied by different endocrine responses. The
pituitary-adrenal axis, with rising levels of glucocorticoids, be-
comes more active when the stress is of a chronic nature and
when the person is more passive and feels less in control.

Test Yourself Before You Continue

1. List the categories of corticosteroids and identify the zone of the
adrenal cortex that secretes the hormones within each category.
2. Identify the hormones of the adrenal medulla and describe their
effects.
(b)
3. Explain how the secretions of the adrenal cortex and adrenal
medulla are regulated. ■ Figure 11.21 The thyroid gland. (a) Its relationship to the larynx
4. Explain how stress affects the secretions of the adrenal cortex and trachea. (b) A scan of the thyroid gland 24 hours after the intake of
and medulla. Why does hypersecretion of the adrenal medullary radioactive iodine
hormones make a person more susceptible to disease?

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The thyroid secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which
are needed for proper growth and development and which are
Follicles
primarily responsible for determining the basal metabolic rate (BMR).
The parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone, which helps to
raise the blood Ca2+ concentration. Colloid

The thyroid gland is located just below the larynx Follicular

(fig. 11.21). Its two lobes are positioned on either side of the tra-
chea and are connected anteriorly by a medial mass of thyroid
tissue called the isthmus. The thyroid is the largest of the pure
endocrine glands, weighing between 20 and 25 grams.
On a microscopic level, the thyroid gland consists of nu-
merous spherical hollow sacs called thyroid follicles (fig. 11.22).
cells
■ Figure 11.22 A photomicrograph (250×) of a thyroid gland.
Numerous thyroid follicles are visible. Each follicle consists of follicular cells
surrounding the fluid known as colloid, which contains thyroglobulin.
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Hormones

Endocrine Glands 309

These follicles are lined with a simple cuboidal epithelium com-
posed of follicular cells that synthesize the principal thyroid hor-
mone, thyroxine. The interior of the follicles contains colloid, a
protein-rich fluid. In addition to the follicular cells that secrete
thyroxine, the thyroid also contains parafollicular cells that se-
crete a hormone known as calcitonin (or thyrocalcitonin).
Production and Action
of Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid follicles actively accumulate iodide (I–) from the
blood and secrete it into the colloid. Once the iodide has entered
the colloid, it is oxidized to iodine and attached to a specific
amino acid (tyrosine) within the polypeptide chain of a protein
called thyroglobulin. The attachment of one iodine to tyrosine
produces monoiodotyrosine (MIT); the attachment of two
iodines produces diiodotyrosine (DIT).
Within the colloid, enzymes modify the structure of MIT
and DIT and couple them together. When two DIT molecules that
are appropriately modified are coupled together, a molecule of
tetraiodothyronine (T4), or thyroxine, is produced (fig. 11.23).
The combination of one MIT with one DIT forms triiodothyro-
nine (T3). Note that at this point T4 and T3 are still attached to
thyroglobulin. Upon stimulation by TSH, the cells of the follicle
take up a small volume of colloid by pinocytosis, hydrolyze the
T3 and T4 from the thyroglobulin, and secrete the free hormones
into the blood.
The transport of thyroid hormones through the blood and
their mechanism of action at the cellular level was described earlier
in this chapter. Through the activation of genes, thyroid hormones
stimulate protein synthesis, promote maturation of the nervous sys-
tem, and increase the rate of cell respiration in most tissues of the
body. Through this action, thyroxine (after it is converted into T3)
elevates the basal metabolic rate (BMR, discussed in chapter 19),
which is the resting rate of calorie expenditure by the body.
Calcitonin, secreted by the parafollicular cells of the thy-
roid, works in concert with parathyroid hormone (discussed
shortly) to regulate the calcium levels of the blood. Calcitonin
inhibits the dissolution of the calcium phosphate crystals of
bone and stimulates the excretion of calcium in the urine by the
kidneys. Both of these actions result in the lowering of blood
calcium concentrations.
Diseases of the Thyroid
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pitu-
itary stimulates the thyroid to secrete thyroxine; however, it
also exerts a trophic (growth-stimulating) effect on the thy-
roid. This trophic effect is evident in people who develop an
iodine-deficiency (endemic) goiter, or abnormal growth of

Blood plasma Thyroid follicle

I–
(Iodide in
plasma)
Thyroid
uptake of I2 (Iodine) Monoiodotyrosine
Peroxidase (MIT )
iodide I– +
H2O2 Thyroglobulin Diiodotyrosine
(DIT )
MIT + DIT DIT + DIT
Colloid
Triiodothyronine Tetraiodothyronine
(T3) (T4)

Endocytosis Bound to
stim thyroglobulin
u l a te
d by TSH

Plasma T3
carrier
protein T4

Thyroid
hormone
secretion

■ Figure 11.23 The production and storage of thyroid hormones. Iodide is actively transported into the follicular cells. In the colloid, it is converted
into iodine and attached to tyrosine amino acids within the thyroglobulin protein. MIT (monoiodotyrosine) and DIT (diiodotyrosine) are used to produce T3
and T4 within the colloid. Upon stimulation by TSH, the thyroid hormones, bound to thyroglobulin, are taken into the follicular cells by pinocytosis. Hydrolysis
reactions within the follicular cells release the free T4 and T3, which are secreted.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

310 Chapter Eleven

Hypothalamus

TRH

–
Anterior
pituitary

Normal TSH
thyroid

Thyroid

If iodine
If iodine adequate
Negative
inadequate feedback
Low T3 and T4
T3 and T4

■ Figure 11.24 Endemic goiter is caused by insufficient iodine in

the diet. A lack of iodine causes hypothyroidism, and the resulting elevation Low negative
in TSH secretion stimulates the excessive growth of the thyroid. feedback

the thyroid gland (fig. 11.24). In the absence of sufficient di-
etary iodine, the thyroid cannot produce adequate amounts of
T4 and T3. The resulting lack of negative feedback inhibition
causes abnormally high levels of TSH secretion, which in turn
stimulates the abnormal growth of the thyroid. These events
are summarized in figure 11.25.
People who have inadequate secretion of thyroid hor-
mones are said to be hypothyroid. As might be predicted from
the effects of thyroxine, people who are hypothyroid have an ab-
normally low basal metabolic rate and experience weight gain
and lethargy. A thyroxine deficiency also decreases the ability to
adapt to cold stress. Hypothyroidism in adults causes
myxedema—accumulation of mucoproteins and fluid in subcu-
taneous connective tissues. Symptoms of this disease include
swelling of the hands, face, feet, and tissues around the eyes.
Clinical Investigation Clue
Remember that Rosemary’s puffiness was determined not to
be myxedema, and that her blood T4 and T3 levels were normal.
■ What disorder is ruled out by these observations?
Hypothyroidism can result from a thyroid gland defect or
secondarily from insufficient thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH) secretion from the hypothalamus, or insufficient TSH se-
cretion from the anterior pituitary, or insufficient iodine in the
diet. In the latter case, excessive TSH secretion stimulates abnor-
mal thyroid growth and the development of an endemic goiter, as
described previously. The hypothyroidism and goiter caused by
iodine deficiency can be reversed by iodine supplements.
Anterior
pituitary
Excess TSH
Thyroid Growth
(goiter)
Hypertorphy—
produces goiter
■ Figure 11.25 How iodine deficiency causes a goiter. Lack of
adequate iodine in the diet interferes with the negative feedback control of
TSH secretion, resulting in the formation of an endemic goiter.
A goiter can also be produced by another mechanism. In
Graves’ disease, autoantibodies (chapter 15) exert TSH-like ef-
fects on the thyroid. Since the production of these antibodies is
not inhibited by negative feedback, the high secretion of thyrox-
ine that results cannot turn off the excessive stimulation of the
thyroid. As a result, the person is hyperthyroid (has excessive
thyroxine secretion) and develops a goiter. This condition is
called toxic goiter, or thyrotoxicosis. This condition is often ac-
companied by exophthalmos, or bulging eyes, due to edema in
the orbits (fig. 11.26). The hyperthyroid state produces a high
BMR accompanied by weight loss, nervousness, irritability, and
an intolerance to heat. There is also a significant increase in car-
diac output and blood pressure (chapter 14). The symptoms of
hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are compared in table 11.8.
Because of its stimulation of protein synthesis, children
need thyroxine for body growth and, most importantly, for the
proper development of the central nervous system. The need for
thyroxine is particularly great when the brain is undergoing its
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Hormones

Endocrine Glands 311

Table 11.8 Comparison of Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

Feature Hypothyroid Hyperthyroid
Growth and development Impaired growth Accelerated growth
Activity and sleep Lethargy; increased sleep Increased activity; decreased sleep
Temperature tolerance Intolerance to cold Intolerance to heat
Skin characteristics Coarse, dry skin Normal skin
Perspiration Absent Excessive
Pulse Slow Rapid
Gastrointestinal symptoms Constipation; decreased appetite; increased weight Frequent bowel movements; increased appetite; decreased weight
Reflexes Slow Rapid
Psychological aspects Depression and apathy Nervous, “emotional” state
Plasma T4 levels Decreased Increased

■ Figure 11.26 A symptom of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is

characterized by an increased metabolic rate, weight loss, muscular
weakness, and nervousness. The eyes may also protrude (exophthalmos)
due to edema in the orbits.

■ Figure 11.27 Cretinism. Cretinism is a disease of infancy caused

greatest rate of development—from the end of the first trimester
of prenatal life to 6 months after birth. Hypothyroidism during
this time may result in cretinism (fig. 11.27). Unlike people
with dwarfism, who have inadequate secretion of growth hor-
mone from the anterior pituitary, people with cretinism suffer
severe mental retardation. Treatment with thyroxine soon after
birth, particularly before 1 month of age, has been found to
completely or almost completely restore development of intelli-
gence as measured by IQ tests administered 5 years later.
by an underactive thyroid gland.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the only hormone se-
creted by the parathyroid glands. PTH, however, is the single
most important hormone in the control of the calcium levels of
the blood. It promotes a rise in blood calcium levels by acting
on the bones, kidneys, and intestine (fig. 11.29). Regulation of
calcium balance is described in more detail in chapter 19.

Parathyroid Glands Test Yourself Before You Continue

The small, flattened parathyroid glands are embedded in the
1. Describe the structure of the thyroid gland and list the effects of
posterior surfaces of the lateral lobes of the thyroid gland, as
thyroid hormones.
shown in figure 11.28. There are usually four parathyroid
glands: a superior and an inferior pair, although the precise 2. Describe how thyroid hormones are produced and how their
number can vary. Each parathyroid gland is a small yellowish- secretion is regulated.
brown body 3 to 8 mm (0.1 to 0.3 in.) long, 2 to 5 mm (0.07 to 3. Explain the consequences of an inadequate dietary intake of iodine.
0.2 in.) wide, and about 1.5 mm (0.05 in.) deep.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
312
Pharynx
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid
glands
Esophagus
Trachea
■ Figure 11.28 A posterior view of the parathyroid glands. The
parathyroids are embedded in the tissue of the thyroid gland.
Pancreas and Other
Endocrine Glands
The pancreatic islets secrete two hormones, insulin and glucagon.
Insulin promotes the lowering of blood glucose and the storage of
energy in the form of glycogen and fat. Glucagon has antagonistic
effects that act to raise the blood glucose concentration. Additionally,
many other organs secrete hormones that help to regulate digestion,
metabolism, growth, immune function, and reproduction.
The pancreas is both an endocrine and an exocrine gland.
The gross structure of this gland and its exocrine functions in
digestion are described in chapter 18. The endocrine portion of
the pancreas consists of scattered clusters of cells called the
pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans. These endocrine
structures are most common in the body and tail of the pan-
creas (fig. 11.30).
Pancreatic Islets (Islets of Langerhans)
On a microscopic level, the most conspicuous cells in the islets
are the alpha and beta cells (fig. 11.30). The alpha cells secrete
the hormone glucagon, and the beta cells secrete insulin.
Alpha cells secrete glucagon in response to a fall in
blood glucose concentrations. Glucagon stimulates the liver to
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
Chapter Eleven
Decreasing blood –
Ca2+
Parathyroids
Parathyroid
hormone
Kidneys Bone
Reabsorption Dissolution of
of Ca 2+ CaPO4 crystals
Negative
Increased blood feedback
Ca2+
Decreased urinary
excretion of Ca2+
■ Figure 11.29 The actions of parathyroid hormone and the
control of its secretion. An increased level of parathyroid hormone causes
the bones to release calcium and the kidneys to conserve calcium that
would otherwise be lost through the urine. A rise in blood Ca+ can then
exert negative feedback inhibition on parathyroid hormone secretion.
hydrolyze glycogen to glucose (glycogenolysis), which causes
the blood glucose level to rise. This effect represents the com-
pletion of a negative feedback loop. Glucagon also stimulates
the hydrolysis of stored fat (lipolysis) and the consequent re-
lease of free fatty acids into the blood. This effect helps to pro-
vide energy substrates for the body during fasting, when blood
glucose levels decrease. Glucagon, together with other hor-
mones, also stimulates the conversion of fatty acids to ketone
bodies, which can be secreted by the liver into the blood and
used by other organs as an energy source. Glucagon is thus a
hormone that helps to maintain homeostasis during times of
fasting, when the body’s energy reserves must be utilized.
Beta cells secrete insulin in response to a rise in blood glu-
cose concentrations (fig 11.31). Insulin promotes the entry of
glucose into tissue cells, and the conversion of this glucose into
energy storage molecules of glycogen and fat. Insulin also aids
the entry of amino acids into cells and the production of cellular
protein. Thus, insulin promotes the deposition of energy storage
molecules (primarily glycogen and fat) following meals, when
the blood glucose concentration rises. This action is antagonistic
to that of glucagon, and the secretion of glucagon is normally
decreased when insulin secretion increases. During times of
fasting, conversely, the secretion of insulin is decreased while
the secretion of glucagon is increased. The secretion and actions
of insulin and glucagon, and the association of these hormones
with diabetes mellitus, is more fully explained in chapter 19.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
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Hormones

Endocrine Glands 313

■ Figure 11.30 The pancreas and associated pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans). Alpha cells secrete glucagon and beta cells secrete insulin. The
pancreas is also exocrine, producing pancreatic juice for transport via the pancreatic duct to the duodenum of the small intestine.

–
Blood glucose Diabetes mellitus is characterized by fasting hyper-
glycemia and the presence of glucose in the urine.
There are two forms of this disease. Type 1, or insulin-
β cells in
dependent diabetes mellitus, is caused by destruction
pancreatic islets of the beta cells and the resulting lack of insulin secretion. Type 2,
or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (the more common
form), is caused by decreased tissue sensitivity to the effects of in-
Insulin sulin, so that larger than normal amounts of insulin are required to
secretion
produce a normal effect. Both types of diabetes mellitus are also
associated with abnormally high levels of glucagon secretion. The
causes and symptoms of diabetes mellitus are described in more
Cellular uptake Blood glucose
of blood glucose detail in chapter 19.

Glucose Glucose

Glycogen Triglyceride
Clinical Investigation Clues
Remember that Rosemary has hyperglycemia and hyperten-
Liver and Adipose sion, and that her oral glucose tolerance test (which tests a
skeletal muscle tissue person’s insulin secretion and action) was normal.
■ Figure 11.31 Homeostasis of blood glucose. A rise in blood ■ Was Rosemary’s hyperglycemia and hypertension the result of
glucose concentration stimulates insulin secretion. Insulin promotes a fall in diabetes mellitus?
blood glucose by stimulating the cellular uptake of glucose and the ■ If not, what did produce these symptoms?
conversion of glucose to glycogen and fat.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

314 Chapter Eleven

Pineal Gland
The small, cone-shaped pineal gland is located in the roof of the
third ventricle of the diencephalon (chapter 8), where it is encap-
sulated by the meninges covering the brain. The pineal gland of a
child weighs about 0.2 g and is 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in.) long
and 9 mm wide. The gland begins to regress in size at about age
7 and in the adult appears as a thickened strand of fibrous tissue.
Although the pineal gland lacks direct nervous connections to
the rest of the brain, it is highly innervated by the sympathetic
nervous system from the superior cervical ganglion.
The principal hormone of the pineal gland is melatonin.
Production and secretion of this hormone is stimulated by activity
of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus of
the brain via activation of sympathetic neurons to the pineal gland
(fig. 11.32). The SCN is the primary center for circadian rhythms
in the body: rhythms of physiological activity that follow a 24-
hour pattern. The circadian activity of the SCN is automatic, but
environmental light/dark changes are required to entrain (synchro-
nize) this activity to a day/night cycle. Activity of the SCN, and
thus secretion of melatonin, begins to increase with darkness and
peaks by the middle of the night. During the day, neural pathways
from the retina of the eyes to the hypothalamus (fig. 11.32) act to
depress the activity of the SCN, reducing sympathetic stimulation
of the pineal and thus decreasing melatonin secretion.
The pineal gland has been implicated in a variety of physio-
logical processes. One of the most widely studied is the ability of
melatonin to inhibit the pituitary-gonad axis (inhibiting GnRH se-
cretion or the response of the anterior pituitary to GnRH, depend-
ing on the species of animal). Indeed, a decrease in melatonin
secretion in many species is required for the maturation of the go-
nads during the reproductive season of seasonal breeders. Al-
though there is evidence to support an antigonadotropic effect in
humans, this possibility has not yet been proven. For example, ex-
cessive melatonin secretion in humans is associated with a delay in
the onset of puberty. Research findings indicate that melatonin se-
cretion is highest in children between the ages of 1 and 5 and de-
creases thereafter, reaching its lowest levels at the end of puberty,
when concentrations are 75% lower than during early childhood.
This suggests a role for melatonin in the onset of human puberty.
However, because of much conflicting data, the importance of
melatonin in human reproduction is still highly controversial.
The pattern of melatonin secretion is altered when a per-
son works night shifts or flies across different time zones. There

Melatonin
H H H O
CH3O C C N C CH3
H H
N
H

Pineal
gland

Day

Inhibition

Sympathetic
neurons

Night
Retinohypothalamic
tract
Stimulation
Superior cervical
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
ganglion
(the "biological clock")

■ Figure 11.32 The secretion of melatonin. The secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland is stimulated by sympathetic axons originating in the
superior cervical ganglion. Activity of these neurons is regulated by the cyclic activity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, which sets a circadian
rhythm. This rhythm is entrained to light/dark cycles by neurons in the retina.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
is evidence that exogenous melatonin (taken as a pill) may be
beneficial in the treatment of jet lag, but the optimum dosage is
not currently known. Phototherapy using bright fluorescent
lamps, which act like sunlight to inhibit melatonin secretion, has
been used effectively in the treatment of seasonal affective dis-
order (SAD), or “winter depression.”
Melatonin pills decrease the time required to fall
asleep and increase the duration of rapid eye move-
ment (REM) sleep; for these reasons, they may be use-
ful in the treatment of insomnia. This is particularly
significant for elderly people with insomnia, who have the lowest
nighttime levels of endogenous melatonin secretion. Melatonin can
also act, much like vitamin E, as a scavenger of hydroxyl and other
free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to cells. This antioxi-
dant effect of melatonin, however, only occurs at pharmacological,
rather than at normal physiological, doses. The purported benefi-
cial effects of exogenous melatonin (other than for insomnia and
jet lag) are not yet proven, and the consensus of current medical
opinion is against the uncontrolled use of melatonin pills.
■ Figure 11.33 The thymus is a bilobed organ within the
mediastinum of the thorax. The thymus secretes hormones that help to
regulate the immune system.
© The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
315
Thymus
The thymus is a bilobed organ positioned in front of the aorta
and behind the manubrium of the sternum (fig. 11.33). Although
the size of the thymus varies considerably from person to per-
son, it is relatively large in newborns and children, and sharply
regresses in size after puberty. Besides decreasing in size, the
thymus of adults becomes infiltrated with strands of fibrous and
fatty connective tissue.
The thymus is the site of production of T cells (thymus-
dependent cells), which are the lymphocytes involved in cell-
mediated immunity (see chapter 15). In addition to providing
T cells, the thymus secretes a number of hormones that are be-
lieved to stimulate T cells after they leave the thymus.
Gastrointestinal Tract
The stomach and small intestine secrete a number of hormones
that act on the gastrointestinal tract itself and on the pancreas
and gallbladder (chapter 18; the hormone actions are summa-
rized in table 18.6). These hormones, acting in concert with reg-
ulation by the autonomic nervous system, coordinate the
activities of different regions of the digestive tract and the secre-
tions of pancreatic juice and bile.
Gonads and Placenta
The gonads (testes and ovaries) secrete sex steroids. These
include male sex hormones, or androgens, and female sex
hormones—estrogens and progesterone. The androgens and
estrogens are families of hormones. The principal androgen
secreted by the testes is testosterone, and the principal estro-
gen secreted by the ovaries is estradiol-17β. The principal es-
trogen during pregnancy, however, is a weaker estrogen called
estriol, secreted by the placenta. After menopause, the princi-
pal estrogen is estrone, produced primarily by fat cells.
The testes consist of two compartments: seminiferous
tubules, which produce sperm cells, and interstitial tissue between
the convolutions of the tubules. Within the interstitial tissue are
Leydig cells, which secrete testosterone. Testosterone is needed
for the development and maintenance of the male genitalia (penis
and scrotum) and the male accessory sex organs (prostate, semi-
nal vesicles, epididymides, and vas deferens), as well as for the
development of male secondary sex characteristics.
During the first half of the menstrual cycle, estradiol-17β
is secreted by small structures within the ovary called ovarian
follicles. These follicles contain the egg cell, or ovum, and gran-
ulosa cells that secrete estrogen. By about midcycle, one of
these follicles grows very large and, in the process of ovulation,
extrudes its ovum from the ovary. The empty follicle, under the
influence of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pitu-
itary, then becomes a new endocrine structure called a corpus
luteum. The corpus luteum secretes progesterone as well as
estradiol-17β.
The placenta—the organ responsible for nutrient and
waste exchange between the fetus and mother—is also an en-
docrine gland that secretes large amounts of estrogens and
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Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

316 Chapter Eleven

progesterone. In addition, it secretes a number of polypeptide
and protein hormones that are similar to some hormones se-
creted by the anterior pituitary. These hormones include human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is similar to LH, and so-
matomammotropin, which is similar in action to both growth
hormone and prolactin. The physiology of the placenta and
other aspects of reproductive endocrinology are considered in
chapter 20.
Test Yourself Before You Continue
1. Describe the structure of the endocrine pancreas. Which cells
secrete insulin and which secrete glucagon?
2. Describe how insulin and glucagon secretion are affected by
eating and by fasting and explain the actions of these two
hormones.
3. Describe the location of the pineal gland and discuss the possible
functions of melatonin.
4. Describe the location and function of the thymus.
5. Explain how the gonadal and placental hormones are categorized
and list the hormones secreted by each gland.
Autocrine and Paracrine Regulation
Many regulatory molecules produced throughout the body act within
the organs that produce them.These molecules may regulate different
cells within one tissue, or they may be produced within one tissue
and regulate a different tissue within the same organ.
Thus far in this text, two types of regulatory molecules
have been considered—neurotransmitters in chapter 7 and hor-
mones in the present chapter. These two classes of regulatory
molecules cannot be defined simply by differences in chemical
structure, since on this basis the same molecule (such as norepi-
nephrine) could be included in both categories; rather, they must
be defined by function. Neurotransmitters are released by axons,
travel across a narrow synaptic cleft, and affect a postsynaptic
cell. Hormones are secreted into the blood by an endocrine
gland and, through transport in the blood, influence the activi-
ties of one or more target organs.
There are yet other classes of regulatory molecules. These
molecules are distinguished by the fact that they are produced in
many different organs and are active within the organ in which
they are produced. Molecules of this type are called autocrine
regulators if they are produced and act within the same tissue of
an organ. They are called paracrine regulators if they are pro-
duced within one tissue and regulate a different tissue of the
same organ (table 11.9). In the following discussion, for the sake
of simplicity and because the same chemical can function as an
autocrine or a paracrine regulator, the term autocrine will be
used in a generic sense to refer to both types of local regulation.
Examples of Autocrine Regulation
Many autocrine regulatory molecules are also known as cy-
tokines, particularly if they regulate different cells of the immune
system, and as growth factors if they promote growth and cell di-
vision in any organ. This distinction is somewhat blurred, how-
ever, because some cytokines may also function as growth factors.
Cytokines produced by lymphocytes (the type of white blood cell
involved in specific immunity—see chapter 15) are also known as
lymphokines, and the specific molecules involved are called inter-
leukins. The terminology can be confusing because new regula-
tory molecules, and new functions for previously named
regulatory molecules, are being discovered at a rapid pace. As de-
scribed in chapter 15, cytokines secreted by macrophages (phago-
cytic cells found in connective tissues) and lymphocytes stimulate
proliferation of specific cells involved in the immune response.
Neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor, guide re-
generating peripheral neurons that have been injured (chapter 7).
Nitric oxide, which can function as a neurotransmitter in mem-
ory processes (chapters 7 and 8) and in other functions, is also
produced by the endothelium of blood vessels. In this context, it
is a paracrine regulator because it diffuses to the smooth muscle
layer of the blood vessel and promotes relaxation, leading to di-
lation of the blood vessel. In this action, nitric oxide functions

Table 11.9 Examples of Autocrine and Paracrine Regulators

Autocrine or Paracrine Regulator
Insulin-like growth factors (somatomedins)
Nitric oxide
Endothelins
Platelet-derived growth factor
Epidermal growth factors
Neurotrophins
Bradykinin
Interleukins (cytokines)
Prostaglandins
TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha)
Major Sites of Production Major Actions
Many organs, particularly the liver and cartilages Growth and cell division
Endothelium of blood vessels; neurons; macrophages Dilation of blood vessels; neural messenger; antibacterial agent
Endothelium of blood vessels; other organs Constriction of blood vessels; other effects
Platelets; macrophages; vascular smooth muscle cells Cell division within blood vessels
Epidermal tissues Cell division in wound healing
Schwann cells; neurons Regeneration of peripheral nerves
Endothelium of blood vessels Dilation of blood vessels
Macrophages; lymphocytes Regulation of immune system
Many tissues Wide variety (see text)
Macrophages; adipocytes Wide variety
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
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Hormones
Endocrine Glands
as the paracrine regulator previously known as endothelium-
derived relaxation factor. Neural and paracrine regulation inter-
act in this case, since autonomic axons that release acetylcholine
in blood vessels cause dilation by stimulating the synthesis of
nitric oxide in those vessels (see chapter 20, fig. 20.23).
The endothelium of blood vessels also produces other
paracrine regulators. These include the endothelins (specifically
endothelin-1 in humans), which directly promote vasoconstriction,
and bradykinin, which promotes vasodilation. These regulatory
molecules are thus very important in the control of blood flow and
blood pressure. They are also involved in the development of ath-
erosclerosis, the leading cause of heart disease and stroke (see
chapter 13). In addition, endothelin-1 is produced by the epithe-
lium of the airways and may be important in the embryological de-
velopment and function of the respiratory system.
All autocrine regulators control gene expression in their
target cells to some degree. This is very clearly the case with the
various growth factors. These include platelet-derived growth
factor, epidermal growth factor, and the insulin-like growth fac-
tors that stimulate cell division and proliferation of their target
cells. Regulators in the last group interact with the endocrine
system in a number of ways, as will be described in chapter 19.
Prostaglandins
The most diverse group of autocrine regulators are the
prostaglandins. These twenty-carbon-long fatty acids contain a
five-membered carbon ring. Prostaglandins are members of a
family called the eicosanoids (from the Greek eicosa = twenty),
Arachidonic acid
CO
Lipoxygenase
Leukotrienes
PGI2
Inflammation
Antiplatelet
Bronchoconstriction; aggregation
vasoconstriction;
capillary permeability Vasodilation
■ Figure 11.34 The formation of leukotrienes and prostaglandins. The actions of these autocrine regulators (PG = prostaglandin; TX = thromboxane)
are summarized.
Text © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2003
317
which are molecules derived from the precursor arachidonic
acid. Upon stimulation by hormones or other agents, arachi-
donic acid is released from phospholipids in the plasma mem-
brane and may then enter one of two possible metabolic
pathways. In one case, the arachidonic acid is converted by the
enzyme cyclooxygenase into a prostaglandin, which can then be
changed by other enzymes into other prostaglandins. In the
other case, arachidonic acid is converted by the enzyme lipoxy-
genase into leukotrienes, which are eicosanoids that are closely
related to the prostaglandins (fig. 11.34).
Prostaglandins are produced in almost every organ and
have been implicated in a wide variety of regulatory functions.
The study of prostaglandins can be confusing because of the di-
versity of their actions, and because different prostaglandins
may exert antagonistic effects in some tissues. For example, the
smooth muscle of blood vessels relaxes (producing vasodilation)
in response to prostaglandin E2 (abbreviated PGE2) and PGF2α;
these effects promote reddening and heat during an inflamma-
tion reaction. In the smooth muscles of the bronchioles (airways
of the lungs), however, PGF2α stimulates contraction, contribut-
ing to the symptoms of asthma.
The antagonistic effects of prostaglandins on blood clot-
ting make good physiological sense. Blood platelets, which are
required for blood clotting, produce thromboxane A 2 . This
prostaglandin promotes clotting by stimulating platelet aggrega-
tion and vasoconstriction. The endothelial cells of blood vessels,
by contrast, produce a different prostaglandin, known as PGI2 or
prostacyclin, whose effects are the opposite—it inhibits platelet
aggregation and causes vasodilation. These antagonistic effects
Phospholipids of
plasma membrane
OH
Cyclooxygenase PGG2
PGH2
PGE2 PGF2α TXA2
Smooth muscle Smooth muscle Platelet
relaxation contraction aggregation
Vasodilation Vasoconstriction Vasoconstriction
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
318
ensure that, while clotting is promoted, the clots will not nor-
mally form on the walls of intact blood vessels.
Examples of Prostaglandin Actions
Some of the regulatory functions proposed for prostaglandins in
different systems of the body are as listed here:
1. Immune system. Prostaglandins promote many aspects of
the inflammatory process, including the development of
pain and fever. Drugs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis
help to alleviate these symptoms.
2. Reproductive system. Prostaglandins may play a role in
ovulation and corpus luteum function in the ovaries and in
contraction of the uterus. Excessive production of PGE2
and PGI2 may be involved in premature labor,
endometriosis, dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps),
and other gynecological disorders.
3. Digestive system. The stomach and intestines produce
prostaglandins, which are believed to inhibit gastric
secretions and influence intestinal motility and fluid
absorption. Since prostaglandins inhibit gastric secretion,
drugs that suppress prostaglandin production may make a
patient more susceptible to peptic ulcers.
4. Respiratory system. Some prostaglandins cause
constriction whereas others cause dilation of blood vessels
in the lungs and of bronchiolar smooth muscle. The
leukotrienes are potent bronchoconstrictors, and these
compounds, together with PGF2α, may cause respiratory
distress and contribute to bronchoconstriction in asthma.
5. Circulatory system. Some prostaglandins are
vasoconstrictors and others are vasodilators. Thromboxane
A2, a vasoconstrictor, and prostacyclin, a vasodilator, play
a role in blood clotting, as previously described. In a fetus,
PGE2 is believed to promote dilation of the ductus
arteriosus—a short vessel that connects the pulmonary
artery with the aorta. After birth, the ductus arteriosus
normally closes as a result of a rise in blood oxygen when
the baby breathes. If the ductus remains patent (open),
however, it can be closed by the administration of drugs
that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis.
6. Urinary system. Prostaglandins are produced in the renal
medulla and cause vasodilation, resulting in increased
renal blood flow and increased excretion of water and
electrolytes in the urine.
Inhibitors of Prostaglandin Synthesis
Aspirin is the most widely used member of a class of drugs
known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Other members of this class are indomethacin and ibuprofen.
These drugs produce their effects because they specifically in-
hibit the cyclooxygenase enzyme that is needed for prostaglandin
synthesis. Through this action, the drugs inhibit inflammation but
produce some unwanted side effects, including gastric bleeding,
possible kidney problems, and prolonged clotting time.
It is now known that there are two isoenzyme forms
(chapter 4) of cyclooxygenase. The type I isoform (COX1) is
Text © The McGraw−Hill
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Chapter Eleven
produced constitutively (that is, in a constant fashion) by cells of
the stomach and kidneys and by blood platelets, which are cell
fragments involved in blood clotting (see chapter 13). The type
II isoform of the enzyme (COX2) is induced in a number of cells
in response to cytokines involved in inflammation, and the
prostaglandins produced by this isoenzyme promote the inflam-
matory condition.
The two isoforms of cyclooxygenase are thus quite dis-
tinct. The COX1 isoform is produced continuously by a gene on
chromosome 9 and is required for the normal, physiological
functioning of different organs, for platelet aggregation in blood
clotting, and for the health of the gastric mucosa. The produc-
tion of the COX2 isoform (by a gene on chromosome 1), is kept
at a low level until it is stimulated during an inflammation. In-
terestingly, the ability of the glucocorticoids (such as hydrocor-
tisone) to inhibit inflammation has been shown to be due to their
ability to inhibit the COX2 isoenzyme.
When aspirin and indomethacin inhibit the COX1 isoen-
zyme, they reduce the synthesis of prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGE2
in the gastric mucosa. This is believed to result in the stomach ir-
ritation caused by these NSAIDs. Indeed, inhibition of the COX1
isoenzyme may cause serious gastrointestinal and renal toxicity
in long-term use. This has spurred research into the development
of next-generation NSAIDs that more selectively inhibit the
COX2 isoenzyme. These newer COX2-selective drugs, including
celecoxib and rofecoxib, (for example, Celebrex and Vioxx) thus
inhibit inflammation while producing fewer negative side effects
in the gastric mucosa.
There is, however, one important benefit derived from the
inhibition of the type I isoenzyme by aspirin. The type I isoen-
zyme is the form of cyclooxygenase present in blood platelets,
where it is needed for the production of thromboxane A2. Since
this prostaglandin is needed for platelet aggregation, inhibition
of its synthesis by aspirin reduces the ability of the blood to clot.
While this can have negative consequences in some circum-
stances, low doses of aspirin have been shown to significantly
reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by reducing platelet
function. It should be noted that this beneficial effect is pro-
duced by lower doses of aspirin than are commonly taken to re-
duce inflammation.
Test Yourself Before You Continue
1. Explain the nature of autocrine regulation. How does it differ
from regulation by hormones and neurotransmitters?
2. List some of the paracrine regulators produced by blood vessels
and describe their actions. Also, identify specific growth factors
and describe their actions.
3. Describe the chemical nature of prostaglandins. List some of the
different forms of prostaglandins and describe their actions.
4. Explain the significance of the isoenzymatic forms of
cyclooxygenase in the action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
INTERACTIONS
HPer Links of the Endocrine System with Other Body Systems
Integumentary System
• The skin helps to protect the body from
pathogens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 446)
• The skin produces vitamin D3, which acts
as a prehormone . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 625)
Skeletal System
• Bones support and protect the pituitary
gland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 299)
• Bones store calcium, which is needed for
the action of many hormones . . . .(p. 623)
• Anabolic hormones, including growth
hormone, stimulate bone
development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 622)
• Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin
regulate calcium deposition and resorption
in bones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 624)
• Sex hormones help to maintain bone mass
in adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 625)
Muscular System
• Anabolic hormones promote muscle
growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 609)
• Insulin stimulates the uptake of blood
glucose into muscles . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 613)
• The catabolism of muscle glycogen and
proteins is promoted by several
hormones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 609)
Nervous System
• The hypothalamus secretes hormones that
control the anterior pituitary . . . .(p. 301)
• The hypothalamus produces the hormones
released by the posterior
pituitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 301)
• Sympathetic nerves stimulate the
secretions of the adrenal
medulla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 307)
• Parasympathetic nerves stimulate the
secretions of the pancreatic
islets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 613)
• Neurons stimulate the secretion of
melatonin from the pineal gland, which in
turn regulates parts of the brain . .(p. 314)
• Sex hormones from the gonads regulate
the hypothalamus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 304)
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Circulatory System Digestive System
• The blood transports oxygen, nutrients, • The GI tract provides nutrients to the
and regulatory molecules to endocrine body organs, including those of the
glands and removes wastes . . . . . .(p. 366) endocrine system . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 561)
• The blood transports hormones from • Hormones of the stomach and small
endocrine glands to target cells . . .(p. 286) intestine help to coordinate the activities of
• Epinephrine and norepinephrine from the different regions of the GI tract . .(p. 563)
adrenal medulla stimulate the • Hormones from adipose tissue contribute
heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 408) to the sensation of hunger . . . . . . .(p. 607)
Immune System Reproductive System
• The immune system protects against • Gonadal hormones help to regulate the
infections that could damage endocrine secretions of the anterior
glands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 446) pituitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 640)
• Autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic • Pituitary hormones regulate the ovarian
islets causes type I diabetes cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 656)
mellitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 616) • Testicular androgens regulate the male
• Hormones from the thymus help to accessory sex organs . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 644)
regulate lymphocytes . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 315) • Ovarian hormones regulate the uterus
• Adrenal corticosteroids have a suppressive during the menstrual cycle . . . . . . .(p. 660)
• Oxytocin plays an essential role in labor
effect on the immune system . . . . .(p. 462)
and delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 675)
• The placenta secretes several hormones
Respiratory System
that influence the course of
• The lungs provide oxygen for transport by pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 673)
the blood and eliminate carbon • Several hormones are needed for lactation
dioxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 480) in a nursing mother . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 678)
• Thyroxine and epinephrine stimulate the
rate of cell respiration in the
body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 609)
• Epinephrine promotes bronchodilation,
reducing airway resistance . . . . . . .(p. 492)
Urinary System
• The kidneys eliminate metabolic wastes
produced by body organs, including
endocrine glands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 524)
• The kidneys release renin, which
participates in the renin-angiotensin-
aldosterone system . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 545)
• The kidneys secrete erythropoietin, which
serves as a hormone that regulates red
blood cell production . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 371)
• Antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, and
atrial natriuretic hormone regulate kidney
functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(p. 416)
319
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
320
Summary
Endocrine Glands and Hormones 286
I. Hormones are chemicals that are
secreted into the blood by endocrine
glands.
A. The chemical classes of hormones
include amines, polypeptides,
glycoproteins, and steroids.
B. Nonpolar hormones, which can
pass through the plasma
membrane of their target cells, are
called lipophilic hormones.
II. Precursors of active hormones may be
classified as either prohormones or
prehormones.
A. Prohormones are relatively
inactive precursor molecules
made in the endocrine cells.
B. Prehormones are the normal
secretions of an endocrine gland
that must be converted to other
derivatives by target cells in order
to be active.
III. Hormones can interact in permissive,
synergistic, or antagonistic ways.
IV. The effects of a hormone in the body
depend on its concentration.
A. Abnormally high amounts of a
hormone can result in atypical
effects.
B. Target tissues can become
desensitized by high hormone
concentrations.
Pituitary Gland 299
Mechanisms of Hormone Action 292
I. The lipophilic hormones (steroids and
thyroid hormones) bind to nuclear
receptor proteins, which function as
ligand-dependent transcription factors.
A. Some steroid hormones bind to
cytoplasmic receptors, which then
move into the nucleus. Other
steroids and thyroxine bind to
receptors already in the nucleus.
B. Each receptor binds to both the
hormone and to a region of DNA
called a hormone-response element.
C. Two units of the nuclear receptor
are needed to bind to the
hormone-response element to
Text
activate a gene; as a result, the
gene is transcribed (makes
mRNA).
II. The polar hormones bind to receptors
located on the outer surface of the
plasma membrane. This activates
enzymes that enlist second-messenger
molecules.
A. Many hormones activate
adenylate cyclase when they bind
to their receptors. This enzyme
produces cyclic AMP (cAMP),
which activates protein kinase
enzymes within the cell
cytoplasm.
B. Other hormones may activate
phospholipase C when they bind
to their receptors. This leads to the
release of inositol triphosphate
(IP3), which stimulates the
endoplasmic reticulum to release
Ca2+ into the cytoplasm,
activating calmodulin.
C. The membrane receptors for
insulin and various growth factors
are tyrosine kinase enzymes that
are activated by binding to the
hormone. Once activated, the
receptor kinase phosphorylates
signaling molecules in the
cytoplasm that can have many
effects.
I. The pituitary gland secretes eight
hormones.
A. The anterior pituitary secretes
growth hormone, thyroid-
stimulating hormone,
adrenocorticotropic hormone,
follicle-stimulating hormone,
luteinizing hormone, and
prolactin.
B. The posterior pituitary releases
antidiuretic hormone (also called
vasopressin) and oxytocin, both of
which are produced in the
hypothalamus and transported to
the posterior pituitary by the
hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract.
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Chapter Eleven
II. The release of posterior pituitary
hormones is controlled by
neuroendocrine reflexes.
III. Secretions of the anterior pituitary are
controlled by hypothalamic hormones
that stimulate or inhibit these
secretions.
A. Hypothalamic hormones include
TRH, CRH, GnRH, PIH,
somatostatin, and a growth
hormone-releasing hormone
(GHRH).
B. These hormones are carried to the
anterior pituitary by the
hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal
system.
IV. Secretions of the anterior pituitary are
also regulated by the feedback (usually
negative feedback) exerted by target
gland hormones.
V. Higher brain centers, acting through
the hypothalamus, can influence
pituitary secretion.
Adrenal Glands 305
I. The adrenal cortex secretes
mineralocorticoids (mainly
aldosterone), glucocorticoids (mainly
cortisol), and sex steroids (primarily
weak androgens).
A. The glucocorticoids help to
regulate energy balance. They
also can inhibit inflammation and
suppress immune function.
B. The pituitary-adrenal axis is
stimulated by stress as part of the
general adaptation syndrome.
II. The adrenal medulla secretes
epinephrine and lesser amounts of
norepinephrine. These hormones
complement the action of the
sympathetic nervous system.
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands 308
I. The thyroid follicles secrete
tetraiodothyronine (T4, or thyroxine) and
lesser amounts of triiodothyronine (T3).
A. These hormones are formed
within the colloid of the thyroid
follicles.
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands:
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of
Hormones
Endocrine Glands
B. The parafollicular cells of the
thyroid secrete the hormone
calcitonin, which may act to lower
blood calcium levels.
II. The parathyroids are small structures
embedded in the thyroid gland. They
secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH),
which promotes a rise in blood calcium
levels.
Pancreas and Other Endocrine
Glands 312
I. Beta cells in the islets secrete insulin,
and alpha cells secrete glucagon.
A. Insulin lowers blood glucose and
stimulates the production of
glycogen, fat, and protein.
B. Glucagon raises blood glucose by
stimulating the breakdown of liver
glycogen. It also promotes
lipolysis and the formation of
ketone bodies.
C. The secretion of insulin is
stimulated by a rise in blood
glucose following meals. The
secretion of glucagon is
stimulated by a fall in blood
glucose during periods of fasting.
Review Activities
Test Your Knowledge of Terms and Facts
1. Which of these statements about
hypothalamic-releasing hormones is
true?
a. They are secreted into capillaries
in the median eminence.
b. They are transported by portal
veins to the anterior pituitary.
c. They stimulate the secretion of
specific hormones from the
anterior pituitary.
d. All of these are true.
2. The hormone primarily responsible for
setting the basal metabolic rate and for
promoting the maturation of the brain is
a. cortisol.
b. ACTH.
c. TSH.
d. thyroxine.
Text
II. The pineal gland, located on the roof
of the third ventricle of the brain,
secretes melatonin.
A. Melatonin secretion is regulated
by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of
the hypothalamus, which is the
major center for the control of
circadian rhythms.
B. Melatonin secretion is highest at
night, and this hormone has a
sleep-promoting effect. In many
species, it also has an
antigonadotropic effect and may
play a role in timing the onset of
puberty in humans, although this
is as yet unproven.
III. The thymus is the site of T cell
lymphocyte production and secretes a
number of hormones that may help to
regulate the immune system.
IV. The gastrointestinal tract secretes a
number of hormones that help to
regulate digestive functions.
V. The gonads secrete sex steroid
hormones.
A. Leydig cells in the interstitial
tissue of the testes secrete
testosterone and other androgens.
3. Which of these statements about the
adrenal cortex is true?
a. It is not innervated by nerve
fibers.
b. It secretes some androgens.
c. The zona glomerulosa secretes
aldosterone.
d. The zona fasciculata is stimulated
by ACTH.
e. All of these are true.
4. Which of these statements about the
hormone insulin is true?
a. It is secreted by alpha cells in the
islets of Langerhans.
b. It is secreted in response to a rise
in blood glucose.
c. It stimulates the production of
glycogen and fat.
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321
B. Granulosa cells of the ovarian
follicles secrete estrogen.
C. The corpus luteum of the ovaries
secretes progesterone, as well as
estrogen.
VI. The placenta secretes estrogen,
progesterone, and a variety of
polypeptide and protein hormones that
have actions similar to some anterior
pituitary hormones.
Autocrine and Paracrine
Regulation 316
I. Autocrine regulators are produced and
act within the same tissue of an organ,
whereas paracrine regulators are
produced within one tissue and
regulate a different tissue of the same
organ. Both types are local
regulators—they do not travel in the
blood.
II. Prostaglandins are special twenty-
carbon-long fatty acids produced by
many different organs. They usually
have regulatory functions within the
organ in which they are produced.
d. Both a and b are true.
e. Both b and c are true.
Match the hormone with the primary agent
that stimulates its secretion.
5. epinephrine a. TSH
6. thyroxine b. ACTH
7. corticosteroids c. growth hormone
8. ACTH d. sympathetic nerves
e. CRH
9. Steroid hormones are secreted by
a. the adrenal cortex.
b. the gonads.
c. the thyroid
d. both a and b.
e. both b and c.
 Fox: Human Physiology,
Eighth Edition
322
10. The secretion of which of these
hormones would be increased in a
person with endemic goiter?
a. TSH
b. thyroxine
c. triiodothyronine
d. all of these
11. Which of these hormones uses cAMP
as a second messenger?
a. testosterone
b. cortisol
c. insulin
d. epinephrine
12. Which of these terms best describes
the interactions of insulin and
glucagon?
a. synergistic
b. permissive
Test Your Understanding of Concepts and Principles
1. Explain how regulation of the
neurohypophysis and of the adrenal
medulla are related to the embryonic
origins of these organs.1
2. Explain the mechanism of action of
steroid hormones and thyroxine.
3. Explain why polar hormones cannot
regulate their target cells without using
second messengers. Also explain how
cyclic AMP is used as a second
messenger in hormone action.
4. Describe the sequence of events by
which a hormone can cause an increase
in the Ca2+ concentration within a
target cell. How can this increased
Test Your Ability to Analyze and Apply Your Knowledge
1. Brenda, your roommate, has been
having an awful time lately. She can’t
even muster enough energy to go out
on a date. She’s been putting on
weight, she’s always cold, and every
time she pops in the work-out video
she complains of weakness. When she
finally goes to the doctor, he finds her
to have a slow pulse and a low blood
pressure. Laboratory tests reveal that
her T4 is low and her TSH is high.
What is the matter with Brenda? Why
1Note: This question is answered in the chapter 11 Study Guide found on the Online Learning Center at www.mhhe.com/fox8.
11. Endocrine Glands: Text
Secretion and Action of
Hormones
c. antagonistic
d. cooperative
13. Which of these correctly describes the
role of inositol triphosphate in
hormone action?
a. It activates adenylate cyclase.
b. It stimulates the release of Ca2+
from the endoplasmic reticulum.
c. It activates protein kinase.
d. all of these
14. Which of these hormones may have a
primary role in many circadian
rhythms?
a. estradiol
b. insulin
c. adrenocorticotropic hormone
d. melatonin
Ca2+ affect the metabolism of the
target cell?
5. Explain the significance of the term
trophic with respect to the actions of
anterior pituitary hormones.
6. Suppose a drug blocks the conversion
of T4 to T3. Explain what the effects of
this drug would be on (a) TSH
secretion, (b) thyroxine secretion, and
(c) the size of the thyroid gland.
7. Explain why the anterior pituitary is
sometimes referred to as the “master
gland” and why this reference is
misleading.
are her symptoms typical of this
disorder, and what type of treatment
will the doctor most likely prescribe?
2. Your friend Bud has the talent to be a
star basketball center—if only he
weren’t five foot eight. Since you’re a
good friend, you start injecting him
with growth hormone as he sleeps each
night. You think this is a clever
strategy, but after a time you notice
that he hasn’t grown an inch. Instead,
his jaw and forehead seem to have
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Chapter Eleven
15. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
is secreted by
a. the anterior pituitary
b. the posterior pituitary
c. the placenta
d. the thymus
e. the pineal gland
16. What do insulin-like growth factors,
neurotrophins, nitric oxide, and
lymphokines have in common?
a. They are hormones.
b. They are autocrine or paracrine
regulators.
c. They are neurotransmitters.
d. They all use cAMP as a second
messenger.
e. They all use Ca2+ as a second
messenger.
8. Suppose a person’s immune system
made antibodies against insulin
receptor proteins. What effect might
this condition have on carbohydrate
and fat metabolism?
9. Explain how light affects the function
of the pineal gland. What is the
relationship between pineal gland
function and circadian rhythms?
10. Distinguish between endocrine and
autocrine/paracrine regulation. List
some of these autocrine/paracrine
regulators and describe their functions.
gotten disproportionately large and his
hands and feet are swollen. Explain
why the growth hormone didn’t make
Bud grow taller and why it had the
effect it did. What disease state do
these changes mimic?
3. You see your friend Joe for the first
time in over a year. When you last saw
him, he had been trying to bulk up by
working out daily at the gym, but he
was getting discouraged because his
progress seemed so slow. Now,
 Fox: Human Physiology, 11. Endocrine Glands: Text © The McGraw−Hill
Eighth Edition Secretion and Action of Companies, 2003
Hormones

Endocrine Glands 323

however, he’s very muscular. In a
frank discussion, he admits that he’s
been getting into trouble because he’s
become very aggressive. He also tells
you in strict confidence, that his testes
have gotten smaller and that he’s been
developing breasts! What might Joe be
doing to cause these changes? Explain
how these changes came about.
4. Distinguish between the steroid and
nonsteroid group of nuclear hormone
receptors. Explain the central role of
vitamin A in the actions of the
nonsteroid group of receptors.
5. Suppose, in an experiment, that you
incubate isolated rat testes with hCG.
What would be the effect, if any, of the
hCG on the testes? Explain your
answer. If there was an effect, discuss
its potential significance in research
and clinical settings.

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