Endocrine System

Chemical Control

What are endocrine

hormones?

1. Chemical signals
from one cell to
remote target cells.
2. Chemicals for direct
cell-to-cell
communication.
3. Chemicals that cross
a gap between to
adjacent cells.

Messenger Molecules
Cells must communicate with one
another to coordinate cell processes
within tissues and to maintain
homeostasis.
Cell-to-cell communication is carried out
via messenger molecules.

Three types of
chemical
signals are
used for cellto-cell
communicatio
n.

Four methods of cell-to-cell communication

are found in the human body, ranging from
direct to remote communication.

A muscle cell needs to tell a neighboring

muscle cell to contract. This will be
accomplished by ___ communication:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Direct.
Synaptic.
Paracrine.
Endocrine.

When blood sugar is high, body cells must

be stimulated to take up sugar. This is
accomplished by ___ communication.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Direct.
Synaptic.
Paracrine.
Endocrine.

Aspirin helps relieve headaches

because it:
1. Inhibits
prostaglandin
synthesis.
2. Stimulates
prostaglandin
synthesis.

Endocrine hormones
Produced by endocrine (ductless) glands and
secreted into the bloodstream.
Endocrine hormones may affect a wide array of
target cells to produce multiple effects.
Two types: peptides (small proteins) and
steroids (lipids).

Hormones and Receptors

Peptide Hormones
Peptide hormones do not enter the cell
directly. These hormones bind to
receptor proteins in the cell membrane.
When the hormone binds with the
receptor protein, a secondary messenger
molecule initiates the cell response.
Because peptide hormones are water
soluble, they often produce fast
responses.

peptide or amino
acid-derived
2
Hormonereceptor binding
hormone
activates an enzyme that catalyzes
(first messenger)
the synthesis of a second messenger,
such as cyclic AMP

1The hormone binds to

a receptor on the plasma
membrane of a target cell

cyclic AMPsynthesizing
enzyme

(extracellular
fluid)

receptor

(cytoplasm)

ATP

active
enzyme
cyclic AMP

(second messenger)

product
4The activated enzymes
catalyze specific reactions

plasma membrane
inactive
enzyme

reactant

3
The second
messenger activates
other enzymes

nuclear
envelope

(nucleus)

Steroid Hormones
Steroid hormones enter through the cell
membrane and bind to receptors inside
of the target cell.
These hormones may directly stimulate
transcription of genes to make certain
proteins.
Because steroids work by triggering gene
activity, the response is slower than
peptide hormones.

steroid hormone

(extracellular
2 The hormone binds to a
fluid)
receptor in the nucleus or to
3The hormonereceptor
a receptor in the cytoplasm
that carries it into the nucleuscomplex binds to DNA and
causes RNA polymerase to
bind to a nearby promoter
1A steroid hormone
site for a specific gene
diffuses through the
plasma membrane

plasma
membrane

DNA

hormone receptor
ribosome

5 The mRNA leaves the

nucleus, then attaches to a
ribosome and directs the
synthesis of a specific protein
product

RNA polymerase

mRNA

gene

new protein

(cytoplasm)

4RNA polymerase catalyzes

the transcription of DNA into
messenger RNA (mRNA)

nuclear
envelope
(nucleus)

If receptors for a hormone were

blocked, the effect would be the same
as if:
1. More hormone was
added.
2. No hormone had
been released.
3. More receptors had
been added.
4. The receptors had
not been blocked.

Your doctor injects a hormone as a treatment

for a condition, and says it wont take effect
for at least 24 hours. What kind of hormone
was used?

1. Peptide
2. Steroid
3. Amino acid derived

W
O
R
K

How do endocrine hormones know

which cells are their target cells?

T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Role of the
Hypothalamus
The thalamus receives sensory
information, relays some to the
hypothalamus.
Hypothalamus monitors the body for
temperature, pH, other conditions.
Hypothalamus signals pituitary gland if
conditions need to be corrected.

Role of the Pituitary

The pituitary is the master gland that signals other
glands to produce their hormones when needed.
The anterior lobe of the pituitary receives signals from
the hypothalamus, and responds by sending out the
appropriate hormone to other endocrine glands.
The posterior pituitary receives oxytocin or
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the hypothalamus,
relays them to the body as necessary.

hypothalamus
1Neurosecretory cells of
the hypothalamus produce
oxytocin and ADH

1Neurosecretory cells
of the hypothalamus
produce releasing and
inhibiting hormones

Releasing
2
or inhibiting hormones
(green circles) are secreted into
capillaries feeding the anterior lobe
of the pituitary

2 Oxytocin and ADH

(blue triangles) are
secreted into the blood
via capillaries in the
posterior pituitary

blood flow
pituitary
(anterior lobe)
endocrine
cell

pituitary
(posterior lobe)

capillary
bed
3Endocrine cells of the
anterior pituitary secrete
hormones (red squares)
in response to releasing
hormones; the pituitary
hormones enter the
bloodstream

capillary
bed

blood
flow

Pituitary Hormones
Pituitary Hormone

Functions

Follicle-stimulating
hormone

Stimulates egg maturation in the ovary and release of sex

hormones.

Lutenizing hormone

Stimulates maturation of egg and of the corpus luteum

surrounding the egg, which affects female sex hormones and the
menstrual cycle.

Thyroid-stimulating
hormone

Stimulates the thyroid to release thyroxine.

Adrenocorticotropic
hormone

Causes the adrenal gland to release cortisol.

Melanocyte-stimulating Stimulates synthesis of skin pigments.

hormone
Growth hormone

Stimulates growth during infancy and puberty.

Antidiuretic hormone

Signals the kidney to conserve more water.

Oxytocin

Affects childbirth, lactation, and some behaviors.

Endocrine Hormones
Gland
Thyroid

Hormones

Functions

Thyroxine

Regulates metabolism

Calcitonin

Inhibits release of calcium from the bones

Parathyroids

Parathyroid hormone

Stimulates the release of calcium from the bones.

Islet cells (in

the pancreas)

Insulin

Decreases blood sugar by promoting uptake of glucose by cells.

Glucagon

Increases blood sugar by stimulating breakdown of glycogen in the liver.

Testes

Testosterone

Regulates sperm cell production and secondary sex characteristics.

Ovaries

Estrogen

Stimulates egg maturation, controls secondary sex characteristics.

Progesterone

Prepares the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.

Adrenal cortex

Epinephrine

Stimulates fight or flight response.

Adrenal
medulla

Glucocorticoids

Part of stress response, increase blood glucose levels and decrease

immune response.

Aldosterone

Regulates sodium content in the blood.

Testosterone (in both

sexes)

Adult body form (greater muscle mass), libido.

Melatonin

Sleep cycles, reproductive cycles in many mammals.

Pineal gland

 Use the table on the last slide to diagnose W

O
the following endocrine issues:
R
A patient who feels cold and listless all
the time.
A patient who is constantly keyed up
and nervous.
An elderly patient who is having
chronic trouble falling asleep at night.

K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Homeostasis and
Hormones
Examples:
Thyroid and temperature control
Thyroid, Parathyroid, and calcium
Pancreas and glucose control

 Knowing the following:

The thyroid produces thyroxine, which
increases metabolism.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone is
released by the pituitary.
Sketch a negative feedback loop that
controls body temperature regulation.

W
O
R
K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Temperature Control

 Knowing the following:

Calcitonin from the thyroid inhibits
calcium release from the bones.
Parathyroid hormone stimulates
release of calcium from the bones.
Sketch a negative feedback loop that
controls blood calcium level.

W
O
R
K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Blood Calcium

 Knowing that:
Insulin from the pancreas lowers blood
glucose by stimulating body cells to take
up glucose.
Glucagon from the pancreas increases
blood sugar by stimulating the liver to
break down glycogen into glucose.
Sketch a negative feedback loop that
controls blood sugar.

W
O
R
K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Blood Sugar Control

 Given this patient profile, can you make a

diagnosis?
Age 14
Gender Male
Exam: Normal weight, low blood pressure
Lab tests: High blood glucose, low levels of
insulin.

W
O
R
K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

 Now how about this patient?

Age 40
Gender Male
Exam: Obese, high blood pressure
Lab tests: High blood glucose, normal
levels of insulin.

W
O
R
K
T
O
G
E
T
H
E
R

Other hormone roles

Controlling sleep cycles (melatonin)
Controlling reproductive cycles
(melatonin, sex hormones)
Growth (growth hormone)
Responding to stress or emergencies
(epinephrine and other hormones)

Hormones Everywhere!
Many other organs besides the endocrine
glands produce hormones.
Kidneys produce several hormones that
regulate blood pressure, which is
essential for kidney function.
The digestive system produces several
hormones that regulate appetite.

The obese
mouse on the
left does not
produce enough
leptin, a
hormone
produced by fat
cells.
Low body fat stimulates leptin production,
which stimulates appetite. The mouse is obese
because its low leptin levels give it an
enormous appetite. Leptin injections return the
mouses weight to normal. Humans sometimes
have a leptin issue, too, but the problem is a
bad leptin receptor on body cells. Alas, leptin

Finally

Summarize the roles of the pituitary and

other endocrine glands in maintaining
homeostasis in the human body.