HORMONES
General Features of endocrine system
1. Endocrine glands are ductless
2. Endocrine glands have a rich supply of blood.
3. Hormones, produced by the endocrine glands are secreted into the
bloodstream.
4. Hormones travel in the blood to target cells close by or far away from
point of secretion.
5. Hormones receptors are specific binding sites on the target cell.
What are hormones?
Hormones are organic chemical messengers produced and
secreted by endocrine cells into the bloodstream. Hormones regulate,
integrate and control a wide range of physiologic functions.
Target Cells
Target cells refer to cells that contain specific receptors (binding sites)
for a particular hormone. Once a hormone binds to receptors on a
target cell, a series of cellular events unfold that eventually impact gene
expression and protein synthesis.
Hormone Receptors
Hormone receptors are binding sites on the target cell (either on the
surface or in the cytoplasm or nucleus of the target cell) that are
activated only when specific hormones bind to them.
If a hormone does not/cannot bind to its receptor, then no physiologic
effect results.
Growth hormone regulates cell growth by binding to growth
hormone receptors on target cells.
Types of Hormones
Steroid Hormones
○ These are all derived from cholesterol.
○ Examples: testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, mineralicoids,
glucocorticoids.
○ Steroids can cross the plasma membrane!
Protein Hormones
○ These are made of amino acids.
○ Examples: Insulin, hypothalamus-signaling hormones.
○ Protein hormones cannot cross the plasma membrane!
Chemical Structure of Hormones
○ Two general classes of hormones: water soluble and lipid soluble.
○ Water soluble (polar): proteins, glycoproteins, polypeptides, amino acid
derivatives.
○ Lipid soluble (nonpolar): steroids, amino acid derivatives, fatty acids.
○ Different classes have different mechanisms of action, different modes
of transport through the body, and differing stability in the circulation.
Example of water soluble hormones
○ Proteins: growth hormone, prolactin, insulin
○ Glycoproteins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone
(LH) , thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
○ Polypeptides: arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, somatostatin
○ Amino acid derivatives: epinephrine, melatonin
Example of Lipid soluble hormones
○ Steroids: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone,
glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids
○ Amino acid derivatives: Thyroid hormones (T3, T4)
○ Fatty acids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes
Steroid Hormones
○ Steroid hormones are produced by the gonads and adrenal cortex.
○ Thyroid hormones are not steroids, but will be categorized with
steroids for simplicity.
○ Steroid hormones are made from cholesterol in the smooth
endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of endocrine cells.
○ Steroid hormones cannot be stored in vesicles in the endocrine cells
that produce them. As soon as steroid hormones are produced, they
diffuse out of the endocrine cell and enter the bloodstream.
○ Steroid hormones are lipid soluble and their receptors are located
inside their target cell.
Peptide Hormones
○ Peptide hormones are composed of chains on amino acids.
○ Like most proteins, peptide hormones are synthesized on ribosomes of
the (rough) endoplasmic reticulum of endocrine cells.
○ Peptide hormones can be stored in vesicles in endocrine cells until
they are needed at some later point.
○ Peptide hormones do not readily pass through cell membranes (lipid
bilayers) and they are referred to as water soluble.
○ Receptors for peptide hormones are found on the cell surface of their
target cells.
Some General Actions of Hormones
○ Hormones cause cells to change.
○ Hormones can result in changes in gene expression (DNA-RNA-
Protein).
○ Hormones can result in enzyme cascades which control our
metabolism.
○ Hormones drive our reproductive systems.
Some Specific Actions of Hormones
○ Fetal development and differentiation
○ Cell growth and cancer
○ Metabolism
○ Cardiovascular function
○ Renal function
○ Skeletal function
○ Reproductive function
○ Immune function
○ Central nervous system function
What determines the size of hormone effects?
1) The amount of hormone in the circulation (reaching the target tissue)
● the more hormone, the greater the effect
2) The presence and number of receptors for that hormone on the target
tissue.
● no receptor, no response
● some receptors, some response
● many receptors, higher response
How do you regulate hormone levels?
○ Hormones are generally not secreted at a constant rate.
○ Regulation of hormone levels involves:
● regulation of hormone production
● regulation of hormone secretion (often a separate step)
● sometimes, regulation of hormone metabolism
Patterns of hormone secretion
There are three basic patterns of secretion: pulsatile,
acute, and cyclic.
○ Pulsatile: relatively constant level of hormone, over a long period
○ Acute: rapid increase in hormone level for a short time in response to a
stimulus
○ Cyclic: hormone increases and decreases in a constant pattern
Mechanism of Hormone Action
○ For hormones to act on a cell, that cell must have a receptor for that
hormone.
○ Receptors bind the hormone, resulting in a biological response.
○ Receptors are found only in target tissues for that hormone.
○ Receptors are very specific (they only bind a specific hormone, not all
hormones)
○ Receptors have high affinity for their hormone (bind hormone at very
low hormone concentration).
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