Endocrine System

Harliansyah
Dept Biochemistry
University of YARSI
Hormones are chemical substances, involved in cell to cell communication,
that promote the maintenance of homeostasis.

Hormones are blood borne substances involved in regulating a variety of
processes.

The word hormone is derived from the Greek hormaein which means to excite
or to stir up.

The endocrinology is the branch of physiology concerned with the description
and characterization of processes involved in the regulation and integration of
cells and organ systems.

The Endocrine System forms an important communication system that serves to
Regulate, Integrate and Coordinate a variety of different physiological processes

The process that hormones regulate fall into four areas:
1. The digestion, utilization and storage of nutrient
2. Growth and development
3. Ion and water balance
4. Reproductive function

General Characteristics
Glands that secrete chemical
signals (hormones) into
circulatory system
Hormone characteristics
Produced in small
quantities
Secreted into intercellular
space
Transported some
distance in circulatory
system
Acts on target tissues
elsewhere in body
Regulate activities of body
structures
Ligands: more general term
for chemical signals
4 Classes of Hormones
1. Peptide/ Protein
2. Steroid
3. Amine
4. Eicosanoid
Protein/Peptide Hormones
Hydrophilic
Large
Can't fit through membrane
Second messenger mechanism of action
Most hormones
Example: Insulin
Steroid Hormones
Small
Hydrophobic/Lipophilic
Travel in blood w/carrier
Cytoplasmic or nuclear receptors
change protein synthesis
Example: estradiol

Amine
Synthesized from a single
amino acid
Melatonin from tryptophan
Thyroid hormone from tyrosine
Catecholamines (EPI, DA) from
tyrosine

Eicosanoid
Produced from 20-carbon fatty
acid, arachadonic acid
Produced in all cells except
RBCs
2nd messenger
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes
inflammation
Hormone + Receptor
Steroid
Hormone
Mechanism
Regulation of
Activities:
Comparison of
Endocrine and
Nervous
Systems
Endocrine: amplitude modulated
signals.
Amount of hormone determines
strength of signal
Onset within minutes of secretion of
hormone
Nervous: frequency-modulated
signals.
Frequency of action potentials
produced by neurons determines
strength of signal.
Onset within milliseconds
Two systems actually inseparable
Nervous system secretes
neurohormones into circulatory
system
Nervous system uses
neurotransmitters and
neuromodulators as ligands
Some parts of endocrine system
innervated directly by nervous
system
Intercellular Chemical
Signals
Hormones: type of intercellular signal. Produced by
cells of endocrine glands, enter circulatory system,
and affect distant cells; e.g., estrogen
Autocrine: released by cells and have a local effect
on same cell type from which chemical signals
released; e.g., prostaglandin
Paracrine: released by cells and affect other cell
types locally without being transported in blood; e.g.,
somatostatin
Pheromones: secreted into environment and modify
behavior and physiology; e.g., sex pheromones
Neurohormone: produced by neurons and function
like hormones; e.g., oxytocin
Neurotransmitter or neuromodulator: produced by
neurons and secreted into extracellular spaces by
presynaptic nerve terminals; travels short distances;
influences postsynaptic cells; e.g., acetylcholine.

Hypothalamus
GRH TRH CRH Dopamine PRF, PIF GnRH
GH TSH ACTH LPH -Endorphin PRL FSH LH MSH
Anterior pituitary
Growth of bone, body
tissues; carbohydrate
and protein
metabolism;
production of IGFs
Hyperglycemic
effects
Thyroid hormones
Liver
Thyroid
Adrenal cortex Mammary gland
Ovary
Testis
Corticosteroids
-Endorphin
Analgesia
Skin darkening
Testis
Cell
development,
lactation
Development of
follicles, estradiol
Growth of seminal
tubules and
spermatogenesis
Ovary
Ovulation,
corpus luteum,
progesterone
Interstitial cell
development,
testosterone
GH-Growth hormone, TSH-Thyrotropin, ACTH-Adrenocorticotropic hormone, LPH-Lipotropin,
MSH-Melanocyte stimulating hormone, PRL-Prolactin, FSH-Follicle stimulating hormone, LH-Luteinizing hormone
CNS
Limbic system
Hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary
Adrenal gland
Environmental stress
A single stressor (change in
temperature, noise, trauma)
Electrical-chemical signal
Electrical-chemical signal
Corticotropin releasing hormone
(CRH) in ng, t
1/2
minutes
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
in g, increased t
1/2

Cortisol in mg, t
1/2
hours

The glucocorticoid receptors in
different cells
Portal system
The corticotrophic
cells
Systemic effects
CRH-ACTH-Cortisol
CNS
Limbic system
Hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary
Target gland
Environmental or
internal signal
Electrical-chemical signal
Electrical-chemical signal
Releasing hormones (ng)
Anterior pituitary hormone (g)
Ultimate hormone (mg)
Systemic effects
The gonads, the thyroid gland,
the adrenal cortex
Hormonal cascade
Signal amplification
CNS
Limbic system
Hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary
Target gland
Releasing hormones
Anterior pituitary
hormones
Ultimate hormone
Systemic effects
Short feedback
loop
Long feedback
loop
Hormonal cascade
Negative feedback system
Control Pathways and
Feedback Loops
There are
three
types of
hormonal
control
pathways

Pathway Example
Stimulus
Low blood
glucose
Receptor
protein
Pancreas
secretes
glucagon ( )
Endocrine
cell
Blood
vessel
Liver
Target
effectors
Response
Pathway Example
Stimulus Suckling
Sensory
neuron
Hypothalamus/
posterior pituitary
Neurosecretory
cell
Blood
vessel
Posterior pituitary
secretes oxytocin
( )
Target
effectors
Smooth muscle
in breast
Response Milk release
Pathway Example
Stimulus
Hypothalamic
neurohormone
released in
response to
neural and
hormonal
signals
Sensory
neuron
Hypothalamus
secretes prolactin-
releasing
hormone ( )
Neurosecretory
cell
Blood
vessel
Anterior
pituitary
secretes
prolactin ( )
Endocrine
cell
Blood
vessel
Target
effectors
Response
Mammary glands
Milk production
(c) Simple neuroendocrine pathway
(b) Simple neurohormone pathway
(a) Simple endocrine pathway
Hypothalamus
Glycogen
breakdown,
glucose release
into blood
Figure 45.2ac