USBT 601

Biochemistry

UNIT III

ENDOCRINOLOGY
 Reference

 Biochemistry by Satyanarayana and Chakrapani, 2013

 Hormones

 Chemical messengers transmitting information from one tissue to another

 Organic substances, produced in small amounts by specific tissues (endocrine

glands)

 Secreted into the blood stream to control the metabolic & biological activities
in the target cells

 Classified based on:

 Chemical nature – protein/peptide hormones, steroid hormones, amino

acid derivatives
 Mechanism of action – Group I & Group II
 Mechanism of hormones

 Based on location of receptors to which hormones bind & the signals used to
mediate their action
Group I hormones Group II hormones
 bind to intracellular receptors to  bind to cell surface (plasma
form receptor-hormone complexes membrane) receptors & stimulate
the release of certain molecules
 lipophilic in nature
(second messengers)
 mostly derivatives of cholesterol
(except T3 & T4)  hormones themselves are the first
messengers
 e.g. estrogens, androgens,
glucocorticoids, calcitriol
Refer Table 19.1 (pg. no. 429)
Mechanism of Group 1 hormones
Mechanism of Group 2 hormones
Major endocrine glands Types of stimuli
 Hypothalamus

 Hypothalamus is a specialized center in the brain that functions as a master

coordinator of hormonal action

 In response to the stimuli of central nervous system, hypothalamus liberates

certain releasing factors or hormones

 These factors stimulate or inhibit the release of corresponding tropic

hormones from the anterior pituitary
 Pituitary gland

 Pituitary gland or hypophysis is located below the hypothalamus of the brain

 Weighs 1 gram

 It consists of two distinct parts:

 Anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)

 Posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)
 Hypothalamus controls release of hormones from the pituitary gland in two
different ways
Hypothalamus & pituitary gland
Hypothalamus & pituitary gland
Anterior pituitary gland
Metabolic actions of growth hormone
Posterior pituitary gland
 Thyroid gland
 butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is
located on the trachea just inferior to
the larynx

 Follicular cells - produce the

glycoprotein thyroglobulin

 Central cavity (lumen) of the follicle

stores colloid – an amber-colored,
sticky material consisting of iodinated
thyroglobulin molecules

 Thyroid hormone is derived from this

iodinated thyroglobulin

 Parafollicular cells - produce calcitonin

 Synthesis of thyroid hormone

 Most released T4 & T3

immediately binds to thyroxine-
binding globulins (TBGs)

 Both T4 & T3 bind to target

tissue receptors

 T3 binds more avidly and is

about 10 times more active

 Most peripheral tissues have the

enzymes needed to convert T4 to
T3 by removing one iodine atom
 Calcitonin

 Polypeptide hormone released by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland

in response to a rise in blood Ca+2 levels

 No known physiological role in humans

 At pharmacological doses calcitonin has a bone-sparing effect and is given

therapeutically to patients to treat Paget’s disease & sometimes osteoporosis

 Calcitonin targets the skeleton & rapidly reduces blood Ca+2 levels
 Parathyroid gland

 tiny, yellow-brown glands

 usually four in number

 parathyroid cells secrete

parathyroid hormone
 Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

 protein hormone which controls calcium

balance in the blood

 Ca+2 homeostasis is essential for

transmission of nerve impulses, muscle
contraction, blood clotting, etc.
 Adrenal glands

 Pyramid-shaped organs
perched atop the kidneys

 Each adrenal gland is

structurally &
functionally two
endocrine glands
 Inner adrenal medulla -
nervous tissue
 Outer adrenal cortex -
glandular tissue
Adrenal gland hormones
Adrenal gland hormones under stress
 Pancreas

 Islets of Langerhans - produce

pancreatic hormones

 alpha (α) cells - synthesizes

glucagon
 beta (β) cells – synthesizes insulin

 Insulin & glucagon are intimately but

independently involved in regulating
blood glucose levels

 Their effects are antagonistic: glucagon

is a hyperglycemic hormone, whereas
insulin is a hypoglycemic hormone
Diabetes mellitus
 Female gonadal hormones - Estrogen

 Secreted by ovaries (follicles & CL), placenta, adrenal glands, breasts, fat cells

 Growth of fetal organs

 Growth & development of female reproductive tract

 Stimulates secondary sex characters

 Maternal tissue growth (breasts & uterus)
 Broadening of pelvis
 Axillary & pubic hair growth
 Female gonadal hormones - Estrogen

 At moderate levels, inhibits FSH &

LH secretion

 At high levels, induces FSH & LH

secretion

 Stimulates follicle development

 Initiates thickening of uterine lining

 Female gonadal hormones - Progesterone

 Secreted by CL & placenta

 Relaxes smooth muscles (inhibits uterine contractions)

 Stimulates thickening of endometrial lining

 Increases blood flow

 Induces formation of spiral arteries
 Increases glandular secretion
 Male gonadal hormones - Testosterone

 Secreted by Leydig/Interstitial cells

 Can be converted to dihydrotestosterone &

estrogen

 Growth & development of male

reproductive system
 Stimulates secondary sex characters
 Hair growth (body)
 Deepening of voice
 Growth of larynx (adam’s apple)
 Muscle & bone growth
 Placenta - hCG

 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

 Secreted by trophoblast

 Maintains CL

 Indicator of pregnancy