Mod8-Obj4&5: 6 Hormones of the endocrine system (control and function) Flashcards
The endocrine system is a three-tiered axis
Involves the release of hormones from the hypothalamus (hypothalamic releasing and release inhibiting hormones), the pituitary gland (anterior and posterior) and hormones releasing from various target hormones
Posterior pituitary hormones
The hypothalamas synthesis two hormones that are transported in vesicles down the axons of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituirary where they are released into the blood stream
- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- Oxytocin
Release of antidiuretic hormones (ADH)
ADH is a peptide hormone that is released from the posterior pituitary in response to changes in the solute concentration of blood plasma.
Changes in osmolarity are detected by…
Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus
If solute conc of blood plasma is high, ADH will be synthesised and released as follows:
- Osmoreceptors are depolarised and transmit impulses to hypothalamic neurons to “turn on” the synthesis ADH
- The ADH is packaged into vesicles in the hypothalamus and transported along the nerve axons (hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract) to the posterior pituitary)
- Conduction of action potentials to nerve terminals in the posterior pituitary causes the release of ADH into the blood stream, where it can be transported to the kidneys.
(Release of ADH may also be triggered by low blood pressure (baroreceptor reflex), haemmorrhage, drugs and diuretics and inhibited by alcohol
Effect of ADH on urine formation
Once at the kidneys, ADH promotes the reabsoption of water, thus decreasing urine output. By keeping water in the body, which is reabsored into the blood stream, solutes are ‘diluted’, resulting in a decrease in solute concentration of blood plasma
Hyposecretion of ADH
Damage to the cells in the hypothalamus that produce ADH by head injury, can result in decrease in the amount of ADH synthesised and released
Hyposecretion of ADH: Diabetes insipidus
A disorder that results from the insufficient secretion of ADH and results in excessive urination (polyuria) due to water not being absorbed by the kidney.
-Treatment involves daily administration of ADH
Hypersecretion of ADH: Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)
Is a condition that results when too much ADH is secreted.
-Can be a result of a tumour, head injury or after neurosurgery.
SIADH results in excessive water retention which can cause weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, high blood pressure and fatigue
-Treatment involves water restriction and use of diuretics (promots urine formation and water loss)
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is released from the posterior pituitary and regulated by positive feedback in response to uterine contraction during childbirth and contraction of the mammary lobules of the breast during breastfeeding
During breastfeeding
- Suckling action of the infant stimulates nerve endings
- Neural pathways carry the stimulus to the hypothalamus (producing oxytocin)
- Oxytocin is transported in vesicles down the axons of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituitary
- Depolarisation of the axon terminals in the posterior pituitary causes the release of oxytocin into the blood stream
- Oxytocin then stimulates the contraction of the mammary lobules in the breast (causing milk let down)
- As the infant recieves milk, it will continue the suckling action, which continues to stimulate the hypothalamus and the synthesis and release of oxytocin in a positive feedback loop
Anterior pituitary hormones
The anterior pituitary synthesises and releases seven hormones under the control of the hypothalamic release and release inhibiting hormones
- ) Growth hormone (GH)
- ) Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- ) Andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- ) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- ) Luentinizing hormone (LH)
- ) Prolactin (PL)
- ) Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
Anterior pituitary hormones activate…
The second messenger cAMP (except GH) at their target organs. TSH, ACTH, FSH and LH are all tropic hormones, which are hormones that regulate the secretory action of another endocrine gland
Growth hormone (GH)
- Secreted by the anterior pituitary and controlled by two hormones (transported from the hypothalamus along the hypophyseal portal system)
1. ) Growth hormone releasing horme (GH-RH) stimulate secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary
2. ) Growth release-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin) inhibit secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary
Secretion of GH across the lifespan
Highest level of GH secretion occurs during adolescence and is decreased in the elderly
GH effects growth and metabolism
- The liver is the primary target of growth hormone. GH affects liver metabolism and induces the production of another endocrine hormone. IGF-1 increases bone and cartilage growth
- Stimulates cell division in bone and skeletal muscle for growth and maintenance of body tissues
- Promotes protein synthesis and fat usages
Hyposecretion of GH in children
May be as a result of a defect in the release of GH-RH or somatostatin from the hypothalamus, or a failure of the anterior pituitary. Genetic link, a brain tumour in the pituitary gland, an absent pituitary gland or a head injury are potential causes of pituitary dwarfism in children
Hyposecretion of GH in infants
Reduced rate of growth
- Treatment may involve the administration of GH or drugs to induce GH secretion.
- Admistration would be required every 3-7 days, depending on the extent
Hyposecretion of GH in adults
May occur after surgery for the removal of a pituitary tumour or a traumatic head injury.
- Link between deficient GH and cardiovascular complications
- May exhibit a decrease in body mass and bone density
- Treatment involves GH replacement therapy
Hypersecretion of GH
Commonly due to the presence of a tumour that prevents the release of somatostatin from the hypothalamus. The secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary is not regulated properly by the hypothalamus, resulting in excess being released in the blood stream.
-Stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1, increasing soft and bony tissue growth in the body
Hyersecretion of GH in childhood
Rapid growth occurs resulting in pituitary gigantism
-If left untreates, usually results in cardiovascular complications that can be fatal
Hypersecretion of GH in adults
- acromegaly,* as a result of a tumour
- Increase in the size of hands and feet over several years, enlargement of the brow and mandible.
- Will continue to develop including skin tags, increase in the size of body organs, deepening voice, enlargement of the tongue and sleep apnea.
- Treatment involves surgical removal of tumour and suppression of GH secretion from anterior pituitay using a synthetic (artificial) form of somatiostatin
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
Synthesis and secreted by the anterior pituitary.
- Secretion of ACTH is stimulated by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus (daily rhythm)
- CRH peak early just before waking, but may be altered by external/internal changes (fever).
Secretion of ACTH into the blood stream stimulates the adrenal gland to release…
- Corticosteroid hormones (glucocorticoids, i.e. cortisol) from the adrenal cortex
- Small amounts of aldosterone (mineralcorticoids) from the adrenal cortex
(controlled by negative feedback, whereby cortisol acts on the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus to reduce the secretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary and the release of CRH from the hypothalamus)
Hypersecretion of ACTH
hypersecretion of hormones from the adrenal gland (cortisol, adrenaline, aldosterone) which have a range of physiological effects
Gonadotrophins
The anterior pituirary synthesis and secretes two gonadotrophins into the blood stream:
- Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Lutenizing hormone (LH)
Stimulated by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Gonadotrophins (FSH)
Protein hormone that stimulates gamete production in males and females.
- In women, FSH promotes development of follicles in the ovaries and in combination with LH, the secretion of estrogen (prominant in the ovarian cycle)
- In males, FSH stimulates the maturation of sperm in the testes. +Inhibited by inhibin, a hormone released by the testes and ovaries
Gonadotrophins (LH)
Promotes the production of gonadal hormones
- -Estrogen and progesterone* in females (required for ovulation)
- Testosterone in males (maturation of sperm)
Prolactin
Peptide hormone synthesised in lactotropes in the anterior pituitary
- Secretion is normally inhibited by dopamine which is released by the hypothalamus.
- Release is stimulates in response to prolactin releasing factors and thyrotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus
Positive feedback of prolactin
The level of prolactin circulating in the blood slowly begins to rise towards the end of pregnancy due to estrogen.
- The release of prolactin (anterior pituitary) is continued by the stimulus of an infant suckling the nipple
- Causing a positive feedback loop the continues the secretion of prolaction, allowing lactation to occur
Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Produced in the anterior pituitary and secreted in response to the release of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus
- TSH stimulates the normal development and secretory activity of the thyroid gland (secretes its own hormones)
- Rise in T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) in blood levels inhibit the release of TRH (hypothalamus) and TSH (anterior pituitary) via negative feedback
Thyroid Gland
Located at the front of the neck
- secretes T3 and T4 (thyroid hormone) from specialised cells called follicular cells
- The follicular cells perform all the functions required to secrete thyroid hormones, including trapping iodine, which has a role in synthesis of thyroid hormones.
- Parafollicular cells secrete calcitonin