INTERCELLULAR

COMMUNICATION
Dr.Mohammed Sharique Ahmed Quadri
Assistant prof. Physiology
Al Maarefa College
INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION
• Direct intercellular communication
– Gap junction
– Transient direct linkup of surface markers
• Indirect intercellular communication
– Through extracellular chemical messengers or
signal molecules
• Paracrine
• Neurotransmitters
• Hormones
• Neurohormones
Direct intercellular communication
Direct intercellular communication

(complementary surface markers)

Indirect intercellular communication

– extracellular chemical messengers or signal

molecules
• Paracrine

differs
• Neurotransmitters
• Hormones
• Neurohormones
–Paracrines
• Local chemical messengers
• Exert effect only on neighboring
cells in immediate environment of
secretion site
–Neurotransmitters
• Short-range chemical messengers
• Diffuse across narrow space to act
locally on adjoining target cell
(another neuron, a muscle, or a
gland)
 Hormones

• Long-range messengers
• Secreted into blood by endocrine glands in response to
appropriate signal
• Exert effect on target cells some distance away from
release site
– Neurohormones
• Hormones released into blood by neurosecretory
neurons
• Distributed through blood to distant target cells
 Hormones
• Two distinct groups of hormones based on
their solubility properties
– Hydrophilic hormones
• Highly water soluble
• Low lipid solubility
– Lipophilic hormones
• High lipid solubility
• Poorly soluble in water
–Extracellular chemical messengers
bring about cell responses primarily
by signal transduction

Process by which incoming signals are conveyed

to target cell’s interior
• Binding of extracellular messenger (first
messenger) to matching receptor brings about
desired intracellular response by either
– Opening or closing channels
– By activating receptor enzymes
– Activating second-messenger systems
• Activated by first messenger
• Relays message to intracellular proteins that carry out
dictated response
Opening of receptor-channel when an
extracellular messenger binds
Tyrosine kinase pathway.
Activation of
second
messenger
pathway via G-
Protein couples
receptors
Amplification of the initial signal by a second-messenger
pathway
• RECEPTORS AND THEIR REGULATION
The receptors on target tissues are not static. They
are dynamic and mobile and their number also
changes during the process of regulation.

Up Regulation of Receptors –
The number of receptors is increased on the target
tissue. This happens when there is less concentration
of ligand in the ECF

Down Regulation of Receptors

The number of receptors is decreased on the target
tissue. This happens when ligand concentration is
more in the ECF
 References
• Human physiology by Lauralee Sherwood,
seventh edition
• Text book physiology by Guyton &Hall,11th
edition
• Text book of physiology by Linda .s
contanzo,third edition

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