Histology: Endocrine Flashcards
Endocrine Glands
Secrete into bloodstream (no ducts)
- Pituitary Gland
- Pineal Gland
- Thyroid Gland
- Parathyroid Gland
- Adrenal Glands
- Testes/Ovaries
Diffuse neuroendocrine system
- Scattered, hormone producing cells within organs (pancreatic islets, enteroendocrine cells in gut)
Hypothalamus & Pituitary Gland
“Master regulators of endocrine system”
- Hypothalamus regulates pituitary gland
- Pituitary secretions regulate other endocrine glands
Examples:
- Blood pressure
- Body Temp
- Fluid/Electrolyte Balance
- Body Weight
- Appetite
- Reproductive System
Pituitary Gland
below hypothalamus
-
Anterior Lobe (adenohypophysis)
- __Glandular epithelium
- Three Regions:
- Pars Distalis
- Pars Intermedia
- Pars Tuberalis (wraps around infundibulum, attached to hypothalamus)
-
Posterior lobe (neuohypophysis)
- __Neurosecretory tissue
- Two Regions:
- Infundibular Stalk
- Pars Nervosa
Development of Pituitary Gland
Anterior Lobe:
- Derives from ectoderm from oropharynx roof (Rathke’s Pouch)
Posterior Lobe:
- Neuroectoderm from floor 3rd ventricle
Regulation of Pituitary Gland (via Hypothalamus)
Neurosecretory Cells
- Produce and secrete releasing and inhibitory hormones and act on cells in pars distalis (anterior lobe)
Paraventricular Nucleus***
- Produce oxytocin
Supraoptic Nucleus***
- Produce anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
***Axons project through infundibular stalk to posterior lobe (pars nervosa)
- Hormones accumulate here and will be released from posterior pituitary when appropriately stimulated
Blood Supply to Pituitary Gland
-
Hypophysial arteries from internal carotid artery
- Superior Hypohysial a. supples upper portions: pars tuberalis, median eminence (floor hypothalamus), infundibulum
-
Inferior Hypophysial a.
- Supples pars nervosa
- *****No direct arterial supply to pars distalis
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal Portal System
- Carries hypothalamic neuroendocrine secretions (from neurosecretory cells)
-
Primary Capillary Plexus picks up inhibitory/releasing hormones
- Fenestrated/Sinusoidal
-
Hypophyseal Portal Veins travel along pars tuberalis from primary capillary plexus to secondary capillary plexus
- __Surrounds pars distalis
-
Primary Capillary Plexus picks up inhibitory/releasing hormones
- Blood leaves pituitary gland via hypophyseal veins
Pars Distalis
- Main portion of anterior lobe (75%)
- 3 Cell Types:
- Acidiphils (bright pink)
- Basophils (purple)
-
Chromophobes
- Either undifferentiated stem cells (haven’t yet formed acidiphils or basophils) or recently degranulated cells
Acidophils
Somatotrophs
- 50% Cells in anterior lobe
-
Secrete Growth Hormone (GH)
- Acts on growth plates/skeletal muscle
- Stimulated by GHRH and Ghrelin (coordinates growth with meal consumption)
- Inhibited by somatostatin
Lactotrophs
- Secrete prolactin
- Acts on mammary glands during pregnancy (stimulates milk production)
- Stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone and vasoactive inhibitory peptide
- Inhibited by dopamine
Basophils
Corticotrophs
- Produce precursor of adrenocorticotropic hormone (POMC)
- POMC cleaved to form ACTH
- Stimulated by CRH
- Inhibited by Cortisol
- Results in release of cortisol from adrenal cortex
Gondaotrophs
- Secrete FSH and LH
- Stimulated by GnRH
Thyrotrophs (least populous cell type)
- Secrete thyroid stimulating hormone
- Stimulated by TRH
- Inhibited by somatostatin
Pars Intermedia
- Between pars distalis and posterior lobe
- Unclear function
- Contains colloid-filled cysts
- Remnants of Rathke’s Pouch
- Contains basophils and chromophobes
- Basophils here secrete POMC (cleaved differently into Melanocye Stimulating Hormone & beta-endorphin)
Pars Tuberalis
- Surrounds infundibular stalk
- Contains vessles of hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system
Pituitary Adenoma
- Benign, slow-growing
- Affect on somatotroph:
- Growth hormone secreting tumor
- In children –> Gigantism (longer bones)
- In adults –> Acromegaly (thicker bones)
- Usually in forehead/jaw, hands/feet
- Affect on corticotroph:
-
Cushing’s Disease
- Overproduction of ACTH, too much cortisol
-
Cushing’s Disease
- Affect on Lactotrophs
-
Prolactinomas
- Milk production in non-lactating females
- Amenorrhea
- Erectile dysfunction
- Infertility
-
Prolactinomas
Posterior Pituitary
- Not a true endocrine gland
-
Contains unmyelinated axons of secretory neurons
- Cell bodies exist in suproptic and paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus
-
Pituicytes
- __Glial cells in postioter pituitary
- Support axons
NB: neurosecreotry bodies/Herring Bodies (dilations of axon terminals)
- Storing hormones released from posterior pituitary
- In close association with fenestrated capillaries
-
Two Hormones:
-
ADH (vasopressin)
- Produced in supraoptic nucleus
- Released in response to low blood volume, or increased osmolality
- Acts on aquaporin channels of collecting ducts to promote water reabsorption
- Can stimulate vascular smooth muscle contraction at high concentrations
-
Oxytocin
- Produced in paraventricular nucleus
- Released in responsed to distenstion cervix/vagina during childbirth or nipple stimulation
- Stimulates contraction of uterine smooth muscle or myoepithelial cells in mammary gland to faciliate milk ejection
-
ADH (vasopressin)
Adrenal Gland
Adrenal Cortex
- From intermediate mesoderm
- Produces steroid hormones
- Three regions:
- Zona glomerulosa
- Zona fasciculata
- Zona reticularis
Adrenal Medulla
- From neural crest cells
- Produces catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)