Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Control Mechanism

MR.IHSAN MOHSIN
BSN ,MPH, ACLS
INS KMU
Acknowleged: Marwan

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 THALAMUS

• The thalamus is a small structure within the brain located just

above the brain stem between the cerebral cortex and
the midbrain and has extensive nerve connections to both. The
main function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory
signals to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

• The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is part of the

limbic system.
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 HYPOTHALAMUS
• Controls the release of 8 major hormones by the
pituitary gland.
• Controls body temperature
• Control of food and water intake, hunger and thirst of
sexual behavior and reproduction control of daily
cycles in physiological state and behavior also known
as circadian rhythm
• Negotiation of emotional responses

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 HYPOTHALAMIC RELEASING
HORMONES
Eight releasing hormones are made in the
hypothalamus
 Thyrotropin -releasing hormone (TRH)
 Corticotropin -releasing hormone (CRH)
 Gonadotropin -releasing hormone (GnRH)
 Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
 Growth hormone-release inhibiting hormone (GHIH)
 Prolactin - releasing factor (PRF)
 Prolactin -inhibiting hormone (PIH)
 Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH)
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 GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE
HYPOTHALAMUS

1.Controls body temperature.

2. Controls the cardiovascular system.
3. Controls food intake & body weight.
4. Controls thirst & water balance.
5. Involved in sleep & wakefulness.
6. Involved in emotional reactions.
7. Involved in reactions to stress.
8. Controls ovarian secretions during ovarian cycle.
9. Controls testicular secretions.
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 ANTERIOR PITUITARY

 Is also called the Adenohypophysis

 Secretes tropic hormones in a pulsatile fashion

(episodic manner)

 Synthesizes various hormones in various

specific cell populations.

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 THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY
LOBE
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

 Master gland (adenohypophysis).

 Consists of 2 parts in adults:
1. Pars tuberalis … The pars tuberalis is part of the
anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and wraps the pituitary stalk in a
highly vascularized sheath.
2. Pars distalis … known as the anterior pituitary rounded portion & the
major endocrine part of the gland.
.Pars intermedia… Pars intermedia is the boundary between the
anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary. exists in fetus,
(no longer present in adults).
Pars intermedia 9
Pars intermedia

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 Gross View

Pars Nervosa The posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) is the posterior lobe of
the pituitary gland which is part of the endocrine system. The posterior pituitary is
not glandular as is the anterior pituitary. 11
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY
HORMONES

Each of anterior pituitary hormone is synthesized by

a cell population.
 Corticotropes - ACTH
 Lactotropes - Prolactin
 Somatotropes - GH
 Thyrotropes - Thyrotropin
 Gonadotropes - FSH, LH

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 ANTERIOR PITUITARY
HORMONES
Growth Hormone (GH, Somatotropin): primary
hormone responsible for regulating body growth, and is
important in metabolism.

Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH): stimulates

secretion of thyroid hormone & growth of thyroid gland.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): stimulates

cortisol secretion by the adrenal cortex & promotes
growth of adrenal cortex.
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 ANTERIOR PITUITARY
HORMONES
Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH): Females:
stimulates growth & development of ovarian follicles,
promotes secretion of estrogen by ovaries.
Males: required for sperm production
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): Females: responsible for
ovulation, formation of corpus luteum in the ovary, and
regulation of ovarian secretion of female sex hormones.
Males: stimulates cell in the testes to secrete testosterone
Prolactin: Females: stimulates breast development and
milk production. Males: involved in testicular function

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 Hypothalamic hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH)
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
(CRH)
Gonadrotropin-releasing hormone Stimulates release of FSH and LH
(GnRH)
Growth hormone-releasing
hormone (GHRH)
Growth hormone-inhibiting
hormone (GHIH)
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone
(PIH)
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone
(PIH)
Effects on the anterior
pituitary
Stimulates release of TSH
(thyrotropin) and Prolactin
Stimulates release of ACTH
(corticotropin)
(gonadotropins)
Stimulates release of growth
hormone
Inhibits release of growth
hormone
Stimulates release of Prolactin
Inhibits release of Prolactin
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 GROWTH HORMONE ACTIVITY
 Increases plasma free fatty acids (FFA) - source of
energy for muscle tissue.
 Growth hormone enhances the utilization of fat by
stimulating triglyceride breakdown and oxidation in
adipocytes. (a cell specialized for the storage of fat)
 Increases hepatic glucose output.

 Decreases insulin sensitivity in muscle.

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 GROWTH HORMONE ACTIVITY
Exerts its growth-promoting through interactions [mainly
induction of Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I)].
IGF-I synthesis is stimulated by GH
Major source of IGF-I is the liver; IGF-I is also locally produced
in other tissues.
Physiologic effects of growth hormones:
Direct effects: GH binding its receptor on target cells e.g.
fat cells have GH receptors, and GH stimulate them to break
down triglyceride and supresses their ability to take up and
accumulate circulating lipids .

Indirect effect: are medicated primarily by IGF- I hormone

secreted from the liver and other tissues in response to GH
stimulate proliferation of chondrocytes (cartilage cells)
resulting in bone growth. 17
 ENDOCRINE CONTROL:
THREE LEVELS OF
INTEGRATION

• Hypothalamic stimulation–from CNS

• Pituitary stimulation–from hypothalamic trophic Hs
• Endocrine gland stimulation–from pituitary trophic Hs

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ENDOCRINE CONTROL:
THREE LEVELS OF
INTEGRATION

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Figure 7-13: Hormones of the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary pathway
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY
Comprised of the endings of axons from cell bodies in the
hypothalamus (supraoptic and paraventricular).Axons pass from
the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary via the
hypothalamohypophysial tract. Posterior pituitary hormones are
synthesized in the cell bodies of neurons in the supraoptic and
paraventricular nuclei.
The supraoptic nucleus is a group of approximately 3,000 cells in the hypothalamus
responsible for producing anti-diuretic hormone, or vasopressin. Vasopressin
stimulates the body to raise blood pressure and retain water.

The paraventricular nucleus is another nucleus of the hypothalamus responsible for

secreting hormones into circulation. These hormones include vasopressin as well as
oxytocin, both known to be involved in pair-bonding behavior. Paraventricular
neurons also secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone, regulates hormone release from
the pituitary as well as thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

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 POSTERIOR PITUITARY

Hormones synthesized in the hypothalamus are

transported down the axons to the endings in the posterior
pituitary.

Hormones are stored in vesicles in the posterior pituitary

until release into the circulation.

Principal Hormones: Vasopressin & Oxytocin.

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SECRETION OF POSTERIOR
PITUITARY HORMONES

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Figure 7-12: Synthesis, storage, and release of posterior pituitary hormones
 OXYTOCIN

 Is synthesized as the originator hormone.

 Acts primarily on the mammary gland and uterus

 Increases contraction of smooth muscle of the vas

deferens.
 Secretion is increased during labor

 May also act to facilitate sperm transport in uterus

(non-pregnancy state).
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 POSTERIOR PITUITARY:
REGULATION OF OSMOLALITY

Plasma osmolality is monitored by osmoreceptors in the

hypothalamus.

Increases in plasma osmolality stimulates secretion of

vasopressin.

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 VASOPRESSIN (ADH)

Is also known as antiduretic hormone (ADH)

Participates in body water regulation (Water is lost

from lungs, sweat, feces and urine on a daily basis)

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 VASOPRESSIN (ADH)
SECRETION
Secretion is Stimulated by:
1.Large decreases in blood volume
2.Decreases in blood pressure
3.Pain, fear, trauma, and stress

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 THE MAIN POINT....

• If there is insufficient fluid in the extracellular space,

osmolarity increases, and water will begin to leave
cells.
• This is a bad thing to have happen, cells will not be
happy!
• One must regulate the amount of water in the body.

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 THE ROLE OF THE KIDNEY IN
WATER BALANCE

• The kidney removes about 170 liters/day of water from

the blood.
• 99% of this water is reabsorbed from the urine back
into the bloodstream.
• The kidney is an important site at which the water
content of the body is regulated.

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FEEDBACK CONTROL OF
ENDOCRINE SECRETION

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 NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
CONTROLS: LONG AND SHORT
LOOP REFLEXES

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 PATHOLOGIES: OVER OR
UNDER PRODUCTION

• “No bad hormones – just too much or too little"

• Exogenous medication
• Replaces & exceeds normal
• Cause atrophy of gland
• Hypersecretion: too much
• Tumors or cancer
• Grave's disease- thyroxin
• Hyposecretion: too little
• Goiter – thyroxin
• Diabetes – insulin
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THE END

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