Hormones
Mediator molecules that are released in one part of the body but that can regulate the activity of cells in other areas.
Functions of hormones
What do hormones regulate?
Chemical composition and volume of the internal environment.
Metabolism and energy balance
Contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle fibres
Glandular secretions
Some immune activity
Nervous vs. Endocrine: Mediator molecules
Nervous: neurotransmitters released locally in response to nerve impulse
Endocrime: hormones delivered to tissue throughout the body by blood
Nervous vs Endocrine: site of mediator action
Nervous: close to site of release; at synapse; binds to receptor in postsynaptic membrane
Endocrine: potentially far from site of release; binds to receptor in or on target cells
Nervous vs Endocrine: types of target cells
Nervous: Muscle cells, glands, neurons
Endocrine: cells throughout the body that affect metabolism, regulate growth and development, and influence reproduction
Nervous vs. Endocrine: time to onset of action
Nervous: usually within miliseconds
Endocrine: seconds to hours or days
Nervous vs. Endocrine: duration of action
Nervous: generally brief
Endocrine: generally longer (seconds to days)
Exocrine Glands
Epithelial cell(s) that secrete their products into ducts which carry them into body cavities, lumen, or outside of the body.
ex. sebaceous, mucous and digestive glands
Endocrine Glands:
Epithelial cell(s) that secrete hormones into the surrounding interstitial fluid.
The hormones diffuse into capillaries and are carried to the target cells.
ex. pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pineal glands
Organs/tissue that secrete hormones but that aren’t exclusively endocrine
Hypothalamus Thymus Pancreas Ovaries/testes Kidneys Stomach Liver Small Intestine Skin Heart Adipose tissue Placenta
How many receptors/target-cell?
2000-100000
Down regulation
When a substance (like a hormone) is present in excess, the number of receptors may decrease
ex. insulin resistance
Up regulation
When the amount of a substance (like a hormone) is deficient, more receptors for that hormone are created, making the target tissue more sensitive.
Paracrine hormones
Act on neighbouring cells
Autocrine hormones
Act on the cell that secretes them
Two broad classes of hormones:
Lipid and water soluble
Three types of lipid soluble hormones
Transporter proteins (hormone)
For lipid soluble hormones that can’t circulate freely in blood plasma.
Three types of water soluble hormones
Permissive Effect
Hormone A arrives. Weak effect.
Hormone B arrives; doesn’t act directly on target, but strengthens effect of A.
ex. epinephrine breaking down triglycerides with the help of T3/T4
Synergystic Effect
Two hormones acting together have a greater or more more extensive effect than either alone. (FSH and estrogens –> oocyte development)
Antagonistic effect
Two hormones doing the opposite thing.
Insulin stimulates glycogenesis
Glucagon stimulates glycogenelysis
Activity of Lipid Soluble Hormones