ENDOCRINOLOGY

Endocrine System
• A network of ductless gland that secrete hormones directly into the blood
• “internal secretions"
• It is considered to be the regulatory system of the body

Types of glands
 Exocrine glands - have channels or ducts, which secrete chemicals such as saliva or sweat
 Endocrine glands - don’t have ducts. They secrete hormones directly into your bloodstream

HORMONE
• Greek word meaning “to spur on”
• serves as a chemical messenger in the body
• Chemical signals produced by specialized cells secreted into the blood stream & carried to a target tissue
Characteristics of hormones
1. Each hormone is produced by a specific tissue (gland)
2. Hormones are released directly from the tissue into the bloodstream and carried to the site of action
3. Each hormone acts at a specific site or sites (target cells) to induce certain characteristic biochemical changes

Patterns of Hormone Action

 Target cells or tissue: specific cells affected by a hormone
 Endocrine: circulated by blood to target cells
 Paracrine: Hormones that affect neighboring cells
 Autocrine: Hormones that act on the cells that secrete them

Mechanism of Action for LIPID-SOLUBLE or STEROID Endocrine hormones:

Lipid-Soluble Hormones
Aldosterone
Calcitriol
Testosterone
Estrogen
Progesterone
T3 & T4

Mechanism of Action for WATER-SOLUBLE Endocrine hormones

WATER-SOLUBLE Endocrine hormones:

Catecholamines Peptides/Proteins - Oxytocin

- Epinephrine - All Hypothalamic - ADH
- Norepinephrine releasing/inhibiting hormones Anterior Pituitary Hormones
 Growth hormone
TSH
ACTH
FSH
LH
Prolactin
MSH

Parathyroid Hormone
- Parathyroid Hormone
Pancreas Hormones
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Somatostatin
- Pancreatic polypeptide
- Calcitonin
CLASSES OF HORMONES

Classification by STRUCTURE

1. Peptides
 Synthesized and stored within the cell in the form of secretory granules and are cleaved as needed
 produce their effects on the outer surface of the cell
• WHY?
– they cannot cross the cell membrane due to their large molecular size
 They are water soluble: not bound to carrier protein
2. Steroids
 Are lipid molecule that have cholesterol as a basic precursor
 Primarily involved in the regulation of sexual development and characteristics
 Water insoluble: bound on the carrier protein
 testosterone and estrogen - affect development of sexual characteristics
 cortisol – involve in the complex regulation of overall metabolism
 aldosterone - responsible for fluid and electrolyte balance
3. Amino acids
 Intermediary between steroid and protein hormones
 T3 (triiodothyronine)and T4 (thyroxine) require carrier proteins
- Epinephrine and norepinephrine easily circulate unbound
4. Fatty acids
 Prostaglandins
– formed from arachidonic acid

Classification by TISSUE ORIGIN

HYPOTHALAMUS – the main neural center

 • The
Abbreviation Name Target Action

From the hypothalamus

GHRH Growth Hormone Releasing Anterior pituitary Stimulates release of

Hormone GH
GHIH Growth Hormone Inhibiting Anterior pituitary Inhibits release of GH
Hormone
TRH Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone Anterior Pituitary Stimulates release of
TSH and GH
GnRH Gonadotropin Releasing Anterior Pituitary Stimulates release of
Hormone LH and FSH
endocrine system and the nervous system are so closely associated that they are collectively called “neuroendocrine
system”
• The neural control centers in the brain control endocrine glands
• Also known as the master switchboard / master gland
• Suspended from the hypothalamus by a thin stalk (infundibulum) is the PITUITARY
GLAND (Hypophysis)
• Anterior pituitary gland – “adenohypophysis”
• Posterior pituitary gland – “neurohypophysis”
- does not synthesize hormones, however, it stores and releases two hormones produced by the
neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus:
o ADH
o Oxytocin
• The hypothalamus sends message to the pituitary gland, which in turn releases (releasing or inhibiting) hormone that
regulates body function.

Hormonal Feedback Mechanism

1. Negative Feedback
- an increased in the product decreases the activity of the system and the production rate
2. Positive Feedback
- an increased in the product also increases the activity of the system and the production rate
Example of NEGATIVE feedback mechanism

Example of POSITIVE feedback mechanism

PRH Prolactin Releasing Hormone Anterior Pituitary Stimulates release of
PRL
PIH Prolactin Inhibiting Hormone Anterior pituitary Inhibits release of PRL
(dopamine)
CRH Cortricotropin Releasing Anterior Pituitary Stimulates release of
Hormone ACTH

From the Anterior Pituitary (Tropic Hormones)

TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Thyroid Gland Stimulates secretion of
T3 and T4
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Adrenal Cortex Stimulates secretion of
glucocorticoids
FSH Follicle Stimulates Hormone Ovaries and Testes Regulates Oogenesis
and spermatogenesis

LH Luteinizing Hormones Ovaries and testes Causes ovulation and

release of testosterone

From the Anterior Pituitary (NOT Tropic Hormones)

PRL Prolactin Mammary Glands Stimulates production
of milk
hGH Human Growth Hormone Bones, muscles and Stimulates growth
(somatotropin) cells in general

From the Posterior Pituitary

OT Oxytocin Uterus and mammary Produces uterine
glands contractions and release
of milk
ADH Antidiuretic Hormone Kidneys and sweat Prevents dehydration
(vasopressin) glands

Abbv’n Name Target Action

From the Thyroid Gland

T4 Thyroxine Bone and general Increases metabolism
cells
T3 Triiodothyronine Bone and general Increases metabolism
cells

CT Calcitonin Bone and general Decreases blood calcium

From the Parathyrod Gland cells

PTH Parathyroid Hormone Bone, Kidneys, and Increases blood calcium

small intestine
From the Adrenal Medulla
EPI Epinepherine Blood vessels, liver, Increases blood glucose levels
(adrenaline) heart
NE Norepinephrine Blood vessels, liver, Increases blood glucose levels
(noradrenaline) heart
From the Adrenal Cortex
___ Mineralocorticoids Kidneys Allows retention of sodium and
(aldosterone) release of potassium; increases
BP
___ Glucocorticoids General body cells Increases blood glucose levels
(such as cortisol)
___ Androgens General body cells Stimulates onset of puberty

From the Pancreas

___ Glucagon Liver Increases blood glucose levels

___ Insulin Liver, muscle and Decreases blood glucose levels

general cells of the
body
___ Somatostatin Alpha and beta cells, Inhibits glucagon and insulin
adenohypophysis release and inhibits release of GH
___ Pancreatic polypeptide Delta cells Inhibits somatostatin and
pancreatic enzyme release

Abbv’n Name Target Action

From the Ovaries

___ Estrogen General cells of the Determines secondary sex
body characteristics
___ Progesterone Uterus Prepares the body for pregnancy;
involved in the menstrual cycle
___ Relaxin Pelvis and cervix Prepares the birth canal and cervix
dilation
___ Inhibin Anterior Pituitary Inhibits release of FSH

From the Testes

___ testosterone General body cells Determine secondary sex
characteristics and plays minor
role in spermatogenesis
___ Inhibin Anterior pituitary Inhibits release of FSH

From the Pineal gland

___ Melatonin General body cells Regulates the biological clock and
circadian rhythm
From the Kidneys
EPO Erythropoietin Bone Marrow Stimulates RBC formation
___ Calcitriol (vitamin D) Small intestines Increases Ca2+ absorption

From the Placenta

___ Estrogen Uterus Maintains pregnancy
___ Progesterone Endometrium of the Maintains pregnancy
uterus
hCG Human Chorionic Corpus luteum of Stimulates release of estrogen and
Gonadotropin the ovaries progesterone
hPL Human Placental Lactogen Mammary glands Prepares the mammary glands for
lactation

Abbv’n Name Target Action

From the Gastrointestinal Tract

___ Gastrin Chief (C) and Stimulates release of HCl, and
Parietal (P) cells of pepsinogen respectively
the stomach
GIP Glucose-dependent Beta cells of the Stimulates release of insulin
insulinotropic peptide pancreas
___ Secretin Pancreas and liver Stimulates production of buffers
from the pancrease and bile from
 the liver
CCK Cholecystokinin Pancreas and Stimulates relese of enzymes from
gallbladder the panceas and bile from the
gallbladder
Serotonin Stomach Stimulates stomach muscle
contraction

From the Heart

ANP Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Kidneys Causes loss of Na2+ and H2O
decreases BP
From Adipocytes
___ Adipokines General cells of the Is involved in anti-inflammatory
body responses and insulin sensitizing
for increased glucose intake

From General cells

PG Prostaglandins General cells of the Is involved in numerous tasks,
body including the inflammatory
response
LT Leukotrienes General cells of the Is involved in numerous tasks,
body including the inflammatory
response