Endocrine Physiology

What is endocrinology?

Endocrinology =
Intercellular Chemical Communication
Endocrinology is about communication
systems & information transfer.

What are endocrine systems for?

Endocrine Functions
Maintain Internal Homeostasis

Support Cell Growth

Coordinate Development
Coordinate Reproduction
Facilitate Responses to External Stimuli

What is a hormone?
A molecule that functions as a message within an organism;
its only function is to convey information.
Hormone is a chemical substance that is secreted into the
internal body fluid by one cell or a group of cells and exerts a
physiological control effect on other cells of the body and
active in very minute quantity.
Many hormones are secreted by special glands, such as
thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Hormones
are essential for every activity of life, including the processes
of digestion, metabolism, growth, reproduction, and mood
control.

What is a hormone receptor?

Hormone Receptors are cellular proteins
that bind with high affinity to hormones &
are altered in shape & function by
binding; they exist in limited numbers.
Binding to hormone is noncovalent &
reversible.
Hormone binding will alter binding to
other cellular proteins & may activate
any receptor protein enzyme actions.

Hormone Receptors and Their Activation

The first step of a hormones action is to bind to specific
receptors at the target cell. Cells that lack receptors for the
hormones do not respond. Receptors for some hormones
are located on the target cell membrane, whereas other
hormone receptors are located in the cytoplasm or the
nucleus. When the hormone combines with its receptor,
this usually initiates a cascade of reactions in the cell

The locations for the different types of hormone receptors are generally the
following:
1.In or on the surface of the cell membrane. The membrane receptors are specific
mostly for the protein, peptide, and catecholamine hormones.
2. In the cell cytoplasm. The primary receptors for the different steroid hormones
are found mainly in the cytoplasm.
3. In the cell nucleus. The receptors for the thyroid hormones are found in the
nucleus..

Hormones travel via the

bloodstream to target cells
The endocrine system broadcasts its
hormonal messages to essentially all
cells by secretion into blood and
extracellular fluid. Like a radio
broadcast, it requires a receiver to get
the message - in the case of endocrine
messages, cells must bear a receptor
for the hormone being broadcast in
order to respond.

A cell is a target because is has a specific

receptor for the hormone
Most hormones circulate in blood, coming into contact with essentially
all cells. However, a given hormone usually affects only a limited
number of cells, which are called target cells. A target cell responds
to a hormone because it bears receptors for the hormone.

Types of cell-to-cell signaling

Classic endocrine hormones
travel via bloodstream to
target cells; neurohormones
are released via synapses and
travel via the bloostream;
paracrine hormones act on
adjacent cells and autocrine
hormones are released and
act on the cell that secreted
them. Also, intracrine
/autocrine hormones act
within the cell that produces
them.

Response vs. distance traveled

Endocrine action: the hormone is distributed in blood and binds to
distant target cells.
Paracrine action: the hormone acts locally by diffusing from its
source to target cells in the neighborhood.
Autocrine action: the hormone acts on the same cell that produced
it.

Types of hormones
Hormones are categorized into three
structural groups, with members of each
group having many properties in
common:
Peptides and proteins
Amino acid derivatives
Steroids

Chemical Structure and Synthesis

of Hormones
1. Proteins and polypeptides, including hormones secreted by the anterior and
posterior pituitary gland, the pancreas (insulin and glucagon), the parathyroid
gland (parathyroid hormone), and many others.
2. Steroids secreted by the adrenal cortex (cortisol and aldosterone), the ovaries
(estrogen and progesterone), the testes (testosterone), and the placenta
(estrogen and progesterone).

3. Derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine, secreted by the thyroid (thyroxine and
triiodothyronine) and the adrenal medullae (epinephrine and norepinephrine).

Gland

Hormones

Hypothalamus Thyrotrophic-releasing hormone

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone
Growth hormone-releasing
hormone
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Dopamine or prolactin inhibiting
factor

Anterior
pituitary

Growth hormone

Functions

Chemical
structure

Stimulates secretion of
thyroid stimulating hormone
and prolactin
Causes the release of
adrenocorticotropic hormone
Causes the release of growth
hormone
Causes the release of
luteinizing hormone and
follicle stimulating hormone.
Inhibits release of prolactin

Peptide

This hormone promotes

growth in childhood. For
adults, it helps to maintain
healthy muscle and bone
mass

Peptide

Gland

Hormones

Anterior Thyroid-stimulating
pituitary hormone

Functions

Chemical
structure

helps to regulate the body's thyroid,

which is crucial in maintaining a
healthy metabolism.

Peptide

promotes the production of cortisol,

Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) which helps to reduce stress, maintain
healthy blood pressure
It stimulates milk production
Prolactin
It stimulates the releasing of eggs in
Follicle-stimulating hormone women and helps ensure the normal
function of sperm production in men
Luteinizing hormone

In women, this hormone regulates

estrogen. In men, it regulates
testosterone.

Gland

Hormones

Functions

Chemical
structure

posterior
pituitary

Antidiuretic hormone(ADH) Also

called vasopressin

this hormone helps to

regulate water balance in the
body.

Peptide

Oxytocin

This hormone causes

pregnant women to start
having contractions at the
appropriate time and also
promotes milk flow in
nursing mothers

Thyroxine(T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3)

Increases the rates of

chemical reaction in most
cells thus increasing body
metabolic rate.

Calcitonin

Promotes deposition of Ca in Peptide

the bones and decreases
extracellular fluid Ca ion
concentration.

Thyroid

Amine

Gland

Hormones

Functions

Chemical
structure

Adrenal
cortex

Cortisol

It has multiple metabolic function for controlling

metabolism of proteins,carbohydrates and fats.
Also has anti-inflammatory effects.

Steroid

Aldosterone

Increase renal Na reabsorption,potassium

secretion and hydrogen ion secretion.

Norepinephrine,
epinephrine

Boost the supply of oxygen and glucose to the

brain and muscles

Amine

Promotes glucose entry in many cells and in this

way controls carbohydrate metabolism.

Peptide

Adrenal
medulla

pancreas Insulin ( Cells)

Glucagon ( Cells)
Parathyr Parathyroid
oid
hormone

Increases synthesis and release of glucose from

the liver into the body fluids
Controls serum Ca ion concentration by
increasing calcium absorption by the gut and
kidneys and releasing Ca from bones

Peptide

Gland

Hormones

Functions

Chemical
structure

Testes

Testosterone

Promotes
growth/development of male
reproductive system and
secondary sexual
characteristics

Steroid

Ovaries

Estrogens

Promotes
Steroid
growth/development of
female reproductive system,
female breasts and secondary
sexual characteristics

progesterone

Inhibit immune response,

Peptide
towards the fetus. Decrease
uterine smooth muscle
contractility, Inhibit lactation
Inhibit onset of labor.

Gastrin

Stimulates HCl secretion

Stomach

Peptide