- Endocrine systems
- Properties of hormones
- Synthesized by specific tissues or glands
- Secreted into the bloodstream (travels here to the site of action)
- Changes activities of target tissues or organs
- Actions are caused by the hormone binding to receptors
Chemical types and general functions
Amines - small molecules derived from amino acids (eg Epinephrine and norepinephrine from tyrosine)
Prostaglandins - cyclic unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids
- Perform a variety of functions: induce labor, treat asthma, reduce stomach acidity
Steroid hormones - synthesized from cholesterol (testosterone, estrogen)
Peptide and protein hormones - largest and most complex group (insulin)
Hormone's effects last from minutes to days
Regulation of secretion
Neurohormones - nervous system innervates endocrine tissues, affects hormone secretion
Feed-forward - secretion is not affected by the hormone or its effects
Feed-back - can be negative or positive - secretion is affected by the hormone or its affects
Neuroendocrine systems
Neurosecretory cells (specializations)
Larger diameter of vessicles (secretory: 100-400 nm, synaptic: 30-60 nm)
Use fast axonal transport only
Form a neurohemal organ (where the nerve ending terminates on a bed of capillaries)
Hypothalamic control of anterior pituitary gland
Uses releasing and release inhibiting hormones (table 9-2)
Hormones are released at the median eminence into the portal vessels to the anterior pituitary
Very low concentrations are needed because of the direct route between the two
CRH (corticotropin releasing hormone) causes the release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
Hormones released from the Anterior Pituitary (Adenohypophysis)
Growth hormone (GH) / Somatotropin
Prolactin (PRL)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Hormone released from the intermediate lobe of the Pituitary (pars intermedia)
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
Hormone released from the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) / vasopressin
Oxytocin
Synthesized in the hypothalamus, travel down axons in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituitary where they are released
Hormones are cleaved to their active form when they are released into the blood
Cellular mechanisms of hormonal action (9-8)
Lipid-soluble hormones (and cytoplasmic receptors) (9-9)
Transport via blood
- Bound to carrier proteins
- Increases plasma concentration of hormones (steroid and thyroid)
Dissociation and diffusion across the membranes
Formation of hormone - receptor complexes (removes inhibitor)
Complexes move into nucleus
Complexes bind to DNA, alter the transcription rates
Effects are slow but last hours to days
Lipid-insoluble hormones (and intracellular signaling) (9-11)
Types of second-messenger signaling
- Cyclic nucleotide phosphates (cNMP's)
- Inositol phospholipids (IP3 and DAG)
- Ca2+ ions
Steps in second-messenger signaling systems
- Ligand (hormone) binds to a receptor linked to a transducer protein
- Transducer protein (G-protein) activates an amplifier (enzyme)
- Amplifier (enzyme) creates the active second messenger
- Second messenger binds to an internal regulator
- Regulators cause effectors to perform an action which leads to a cell response (step 5 can be repeated several times before the final cell response)
You are responsible for knowing how each of the general steps relates to specific pathways (figs 9-12, 9-15, 9-19; pgs 314-327)
Diversity of Responses to a single second-messenger is determined by
- Types of receptors
- Compartmentalization of receptors, amplifiers, effectors, etc.
- Different isoforms of an effector (eg - different isoforms of PKA)
- Helper proteins (which may help the amplifier link to the substrate, etc.)
Prostaglandins - exception to the rule
Lipid soluble, but bind to cell surface receptors
Use second-messenger signaling
Physiological Effects of Hormones
Metabolic and Developmental Hormones
Adrenal Gland
- Medulla (see chapter 8)
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
Cortex
Stimulated by ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
Synthesizes three groups of hormones
- Reproductive hormones
- Mineralocorticoids (kidney function)
- Glucocorticoids (cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone)
Negative feedback on CRH in hypothalamus
Stress increases ACTH®
glucocorticoids
gluconeogenesis in liver
use of fat stores
¯
muscle uptake of glucose and amino acids (useful in starvation conditions)
Thyroid hormones (lipid-soluble)
- Stimulated by TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
- Two types: 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine and thyroxine
Requires iodine for synthesis
Negative feedback to TRH (TSH releasing hormone)
Sensitizes liver, kidney, heart, nervous system, and skeletal muscle to epinephrine
Increases metabolic rate
Works with growth hormone in development to
protein synthesis
¯
iodine at these times causes a condition known as cretinism
¯
iodine causes goiter (because of an increase in TSH which stimulates growth of the thyroid gland)
Insulin and glucagon
- Insulin
Secreted by b
-cells in islets of Langerhans
Release is stimulated by
in plasma glucose, glucagon, growth hormone, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), epinephrine, or
levels of amino acids
glucose uptake into cells
glycogenesis (
glycogen stores)
lipogenesis (
fat stores)
uptake of amino acids, and synthesis into protein
Diabetes (disease state)
- Type I - decrease in b
-cell mass
- Type II - defective insulin receptors
- Causes hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and increased levels of ketone bodies
Glucagon
Secreted by a
-cells of the pancreas
Stimulated by ¯
plasma glucose
glycogenolysis, lipolysis, and gluconeogenesis
Growth Hormone (GH)
- Regulated by growth hormone releasing hormone (GRH) and growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GIH/somatostatin)
GIH and GRH are regulated by blood glucose levels
stored fat and fatty acid uptake in muscle (conserves the glycogen stores in muscle)
plasma glucose levels
gluconeogenesis and fatty acid utilization
¯
glucose uptake (except for the nervous system) and therefore glucose utilization
stimulates insulin secretion (directly and via feedback)
stimulates RNA and protein synthesis
stimulates production of insulin-like growth factors
abnormalities/disease states
gigantism -
GH before puberty
acromegaly -
GH after puberty
dwarfism - ¯
GH during childhood and adolesence
Water and Electrolyte balance
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH/ Vasopressin)
- Stimulated by high blood osmolality
- Increases water absorption in the kidney
- Has positive effects on release of ACTH and TSH
Mineralocorticoids (eg aldosterone)
-
sodium reabsorption
- stimulated by angiotensin II and high plasma K
- negatively feeds back onto CRH and ACTH secreting cells
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
- Decreases Na (and therefore water) reabsorption
- Released by the atrium of the heart (in response to high venous pressures)
Parathyroid hormone (PTH / parathormone)
- Secreted by the parathyroid glands in response to low plasma Ca2+
- Increases plasma Ca2+ three ways
- Removes calcium from the bone
- Increases reabsorption from the kidneys
- Increases absorption from the intestines
Decreases plasma phosphate levels
Calcitrol (steroid-like substance from vitamin D) - similar to PTH in action
Calcitonin
- Secreted by the thyroid in response to high plasma Ca2+
- Decreases plasma Ca2+ by replacing Ca2+ in the bone
- Increases plasma phosphate levels
- No direct feedback between PTH and calcitonin: both rely completely on plasma Ca2+ levels
Reproductive Hormones
Steroid sex hormones in males
- FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) - stimulates Sertoli cells
- Spermatogenesis
- Synthesize androgen-binding protein
- Synthesize inhibin
Androgens (testosterone)
Secreted by Leydig cells
Negative feedback to hypothalamus (GnRH) - inhibin has negative feedback on GnRH as well
Responsible for primary and secondary sex characteristics
Promotes general growth and protein synthesis (reason for larger muscles)
Causes aggressive behaviors and sex drive
Steroid sex hormones in females
- Testosterone - sex drive in females (women in their 20's and 30's produce more testosterone than estrogen)
- Estrogens
Secreted by maturing follicle and placenta
Responsible for primary and secondary sex characteristics
Regulatory role in reproductive cycle
FSH - stimulates development of follicles
LH - Luteinizing hormone
LH surge causes final maturation and rupture of follicle/s
Causes the development of ruptured follicle into corpus luteum
Progesterone
Secreted by the corpus luteum during later half of cycle and for the first 1/3 of pregnancy
Secreted by the placenta during the last 2/3 of pregnancy
Prepares the endometrial lining for pregnancy and helps maintain pregnancy
CG - chorionic gonadotropin
Secreted by the placenta about one day after implantation (3-5 days after fertilization)
Maintains corpus luteum so that it will continue to produce progesterone
Parturition and Lactation
- Oxytocin
Stimulated by cervical distension and suckling
Causes the contraction of smooth muscle in mammary glands and the uterus
Prolactin
Stimulated by suckling
Causes the synthesis of milk
Hormonal Action in Invertebrates - insects
Required for molts and maturation from larva to adult
Five major hormones
Prothoracicotropic Hormone (PTTH)
- Produced by the neurosecretory cells in the brain
- Stimulates the prothoracic gland to produce a
-Ecdysone
Ecdysone -
- Produced by prothoracic gland and ovarian follicle
- Increases RNA, protein, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum synthesis
- Promotes secretion of new cuticle; induces molting
Juvenile Hormone
- Produced by corpora allata (similar to anterior pituitary)
- In larva stage, promotes larval structures and inhibits metamorphosis
- In adult, stimulates synthesis and uptake of yolk proteins; activates ovarian follicles and sex accessory glands
Eclosion Hormone
- Produced by neurosecretory cells in brain
- Causes adult to emerge from pupa/ cocoon
Bursicon -
- Produced by neurosecretory cells in brain and nerve cord
- Promotes cuticle development; hardens cuticle after new molts