ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

HISTOLOGY
 PITUITARY GLAND
(HYPOPHYSIS)
Found in the hypophyseal fossa,
protected in the sella turcica of the
sphenoid bone
2 components are functionally
different and are of separate
embryological origins: the oral
(Rathke’s pouch) and neural ectoderm
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

 HORMONES
Growth hormone (GH, somatotropin)
Prolactin
Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

Control of hormone secretion is mediated

by specific releasing and inhibitory
hormones from the hypothalamus, with the
exception of prolactin which is under the
inhibitory control of dopamine
 Hypothalamic hormones are transferred to
the anterior pituitary via a system of portal
veins and capillary beds
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

PARS DISTALIS
Contains
endocrine cells
Serves as the
primary source of
hormones of the
anterior pituitary
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

PARS TUBERALIS
Surrounds the infundibulum and carries
portal veins of the hypophyseal portal
system
Does contain endocrine cells but only
plays a minor role
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)
 PARS INTERMEDIA
 A thin layer of tissue
found between the
anterior and posterior
lobes
 Rudimentary in humans
but play a role in the
synthesis and secretion
of melanocyte-
stimulating hormone
(MSH)
 Represents the vestigial
lumen of Rathke’s pouch
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

CHROMOPHILS
 Secrete hormones
 2 cell types divided according to their histological
staining:
 ACIDOPHILS
 Stain pink or orange

 Somatotrophs
– secrete GH
 Mammotrophs – secrete prolactin

 BASOPHILS
 Stain blue color

 Corticotrophs– secrete ACTH

 Thryotrophs – secrete TSH

 Gonadotrophs – secrete FSH and LH

 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

CHROMOPHOBES
Have no secretory function
Represent degranulated chromophils
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

 HORMONES
 Antidiuretic
hormone (ADH,
vasopressin)
 Oxytocin
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

Hormones are synthesized by

neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus

Supraoptic Paraventricul
nuclei ar nuclei
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

Hormones pass down the axons of these cells

into the pars nervosa

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal
tract
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

Hormones are stored in the terminal

parts of the axon

Herring bodies
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

Control of hormone secretion from the

posterior pituitary is via nerve impulses
from the hypothalamus

Neurosecretion
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

PARS NERVOSA
 Consists of:
Nonmyelinated axons of neurosecretory
cells, whose cell bodies remain in the
hypothalamus
Pituicytes, which are similar to neuroglial

cells of the CNS and act as supporting cells

for the axons of neurosecretory cells
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
(NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

 INFUNDIBULUM
 Connects the pars nervosa to the
hypothalamus
 It also carries axons of neurosecretory
cells
 THYROID
 Largest endocrine
gland
 Consists of a right and
left lobe connected by
an isthmus
 Located anterior to the
trachea, around the
level of the cricoid
cartilage
 THYROID
THYROID HORMONE
T3 contains 3 iodine molecules and is
the more potent form
T4 contains 4 iodine molecules
 THYROID
SYNTHESIS and STORAGE:

Thyroglobulin synthesis from amino acids occurs on rough

endoplasmic reticulum within follicular cells

Thyroglobulin is released into the colloid in the follicle where

iodination (catalyzed by thyroid peroxidase) of thyroglobulin
occurs

Formation of T3 and T4 on tyrosine residues of thyroglobulin

 THYROID
SECRETION of HORMONE:
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior
pituitary stimulates the release of thyroid hormone.

Endocytosis of colloid (containing iodinated thyroglobulin)

occurs

A lysosome fuses with the endocytosed vacuole, allowing for

lysosomal enzymes to cleave the hormone from thyroglobulin

T3 and T4 are secreted into the bloodstream

 THYROID
 THYROID FOLLICLES
 Site of synthesis, storage and release of
thyroid hormone
 Spherical structures that make up the thyroid
gland
 Consist of follicular cells surrounding a
lumen filled with colloid
 THYROID
 THYROID FOLLICLES
 Follicular cells
 Derived from the endoderm of the thyroglossal duct
 Histologically, during the synthesis of thyroglobulin, the
morphology of the cell appears as low cuboidal cells
 During the secretion of thyroid hormone, their morphology
changes to resemble taller cuboidal cells
 Their apical membranes (facing the colloid) contain thyroid
peroxidase, an enzyme that iodinates tyrosine residues of
thyroglobulin
 THYROID
 THYROID FOLLICLES
 COLLOID
 Fills the lumen of the thyroid follicle
 Consists of a viscous gel that primarily
contains iodinated thyroglobulin
 Also serves as a storage reserve for
thyroid hormone
 THYROID
 PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS (CLEAR CELLS)
 Derived from the endoderm of the ultimobranchial
body, a diverticulum of the fifth pharyngeal pouch
 Located at the periphery of thyroid follicles
 Histologically, their cytoplasm appears paler in color
 Secrete calcitonin, a hormone that plays an important
role in the regulation of calcium and phosphates -
suppresses bone resorption, by decreasing calcium
and phosphate release
 PARATHYROID
4 in number located
just posterior to the
thyroid gland
 Parathyroid
hormone (PTH)
plays an important
role in the
metabolism of
calcium
 PARATHYROID
PARATHYROID HORMONE
 Secreted by chief cells when calcium
levels fall
 OVERALL EFFECTS
 Increased serum calcium
 Decreased serum phosphate
 PARATHYROID
 PARATHYROID HORMONE
 ACTIONS of PTH include:
 BONE: increased resorption by stimulating
osteoblasts to release osteoclast activating factor
 KIDNEY: increased calcium resorption decreased
phosphate resorption
 DIGESTIVE TRACT: indirectly increases
absorption of dietary calcium by stimulating
vitamin D
 Activation of vitamin D in the kidney
 ADRENAL (SUPRARENAL)
GLANDS
 Located superior and
medial to the upper
pole of each kidney
 Consists of 2
components that
function independently
and have different
embryological origins
 ADRENAL (SUPRARENAL)
GLANDS
 ADRENAL
ZONA CORTEX ZONA ZONA
GLOMERULOSA FASCICULATA RETICULARIS
 Derived from• Secretes
• Secretes the mesodermal epithelium• Secretes androgens
mineralocorticoids glucocorticoids
from the
(Aldoseterone) which root of the dorsal
( cortisol) which playmesentery
• The androgens
produced are
are important in the a role in the considered weak
Divided
regulation of into 3 zones
regulation of general but they can be
electrolyte and water metabolism converted in
balance • Secretory cells are peripheral tissues
• Secretory cells are arranged in narrow to testosterone or
arranged in irregular, cords the estrone
ovoid clumps estrogen
• Secretory cells are
arranged in an
irregular network of
anastomosing cords
and clumps
 ADRENAL (SUPRARENAL)
GLANDS
 ADRENAL MEDULLA
 Derived from neuroectoderm (neural crest cells)
 Consists of chromaffin cells:
 Modified postganglionic sympathetic neurons that synthesize,
store and secrete cathecholamines
 There are 2 types of chromaffin cells: one produces

epinephrine (75%) and the other produces norepinephrine

(25%)
 Secretion of cathecholamines is stimulated by the
release of acetylcholine from preganglionic-type
sympathetic axons that form junctions on chromaffin
cells
 ENDOCRINE PANCREAS

› ISLETS
ALPHA of LANGERHANS
(A) CELLS BETA (B) CELLS
 Most
• Secrete
numerous
glucagon which in in the• tail of
Secrete the pancreas
insulin, which in
response to low levels of blood response to high levels of blood
 4 raises
glucose, Cellblood
types:
glucose glucose, lowers blood glucose
levels levels

DELTA (D) CELLS F CELLS

• Secrete somatostatin, an • Secrete pancreatic polypeptide
inhibitory hormone that inhibits
the release of numerous
hormones, including glucagon,
insulin and GH
 PINEAL GLAND (EPIPHYSIS
CEREBRI)
 A very small gland located along the roof
of the third ventricle
 It is contained within the pia mater and is
largest in early childhood
 It secretes the hormone melatonin
 PINEAL GLAND (EPIPHYSIS
CEREBRI)
 MELATONIN
Isproduced from serotonin
Circadian fluctuations
Antigonadotropic effect
 Has an inhibitory effect in hypothalamic
gonadotrophin-releasing hormones
Plays a role in the onset of puberty
 PINEAL GLAND (EPIPHYSIS
CEREBRI)
CELL TYPES
Pinealocytes
Produce
serotonin and
melatonin
Neuroglial cells
Act as support
cells to
pinealocytes