Exercise 9.

2
A Simulation of the Negative Feedback Process of Hormones
Feedback circuits are at the root of most control mechanisms in physiology, and are
particularly prominent in the endocrine system. Negative feedback occurs when a
system shuts itself off by the condition it produces. Negative feedback tends to make a
system self-regulating; it can produce stability and reduce the effect of fluctuations. This
exercise will show how the negative feedback process occurs between the thyroid
stimulating hormone and the thyroxine.

Objective
to understand the relationship between two hormones in the body and the negative
feedback process involved
Materials
3 sheets of art paper
a pair of scissors
2 small boxes
a sheet of graphing paper
Results
The starting level for thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH is 5 and for thyroxine or T is 0.
For each TSH released, a T is also released. TSH increases to 6, T increases to 1; TSH
increases to 7, T increases to 2, and so on.
When the number of T reaches above 5, 1 TSH is removed. In this case when the levels
are T: 6 and TSH: 11, in the next step, the levels become T: 7 and TSH: 10. This
process continues and T increases to 8, TSH decreases to 9; T increases to 9. TSH
decreases to 8, and so on.
When the number of TSH is low, T is removed. The hormone levels become TSH: 5 and
T: 10. The levels of both TSH and T continue to decrease until the number of T reaches
below 5.
When the number of T is below 5, TSH is released. The hormone levels become T: 4
and TSH: 1. T continues to decrease while TSH continues to increase until it reaches
above 5 and T is again released. The levels then become TSH: 6 and T: 1. The values
then repeat.

Discussion
The starting level for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is 5 and for thyroxine (T) is 0.
For this part, the thyroxine level is low (0), causing the release of more thyroid
stimulating hormones. The levels reach 11 for TSH and 6 for T.
When the hypothalamus senses a high thyroxine level (above 5) and a high cellular
activity level, it signals the pituitary gland to stop releasing thyroid stimulating hormone.
In the exercise, the T level reaches 6 and the TSH level is 11. The thyroid stimulating
hormone level then decreases to 10 until it reaches below 5, and at this time the release
of thyroxine has also decreased. This is because when the pituitary gland stops
producing thyroid stimulating hormone, the thyroid gland also stops producing thyroxine.
In the exercise, when the T level reaches 4, TSH levels increase to 1. The explanation
for this is when the hypothalamus senses a low thyroxine level (below 5) and a low
cellular activity level, it sends signals to the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating
hormone. The thyroid stimulating hormone level continues to increase until the thyroid
gland releases enough thyroxine for cellular activity. The hormone levels repeat the
process and continually increase and decrease according to the needs of the system.
This ensures that homeostasis is maintained.
Conclusion
Based on the exercise, when the thyroxine and cellular activity levels are low, the
pituitary gland receives signals to release thyroid stimulating hormone. The thyroid
stimulating hormone then signals the thyroid gland to release thyroxine. When the
thyroxine and cellular activity levels are high, the pituitary gland receives signals to stop
releasing thyroid stimulating hormone. When thyroid stimulating hormone production is
stopped, thyroxine production also stops.
We can then infer from this exercise negative feedback is an important way that the
body maintains homeostasis, or a stable internal environment. Using negative feedback,
the endocrine system keeps thyroxine levels fairly constant, which, in turn, maintains
cellular activity levels.