 Endo 3

 HORMONES OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY

 Posterior pituitary hormones are:
 1. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin
 2. Oxytocin.
 Source of Secretion of Posterior
 Pituitary Hormones
 Actually, the posterior pituitary does not secrete
any hormone. ADH and oxytocin are synthe-
sized in the hypothalamus. From hypothalamus,
these two hormones are transported to the pos-
terior pituitary through the nerve fibers of hy-
pothalamo-hypophyseal tract . In the posterior
pituitary, these hormones are stored at the
nerve endings. Whenever, the impulses from hy-
pothalamus reach the posterior pituitary,
these hormones are released from the nerve end-
ings into the circulation. Hence, these
two hormones are called neurohormones.
 ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE
 Chemistry and Half-life
 Antidiuretic hormone is a polypeptide containing 9 amino acids. Its
half-life is 18 to 20 minutes.
 Actions
 Antidiuretic hormone has two actions:
 1. Retention of water
 2. Vasopressor action.
 1. Retention of water
 Major function of ADH is retention
of water by acting on kidneys. It in-
creases the facultative reabsorp-
tion of water from distal convoluted
tubule and collecting duct in
the kidneys . In the absence of
ADH, the distal convoluted tubule
and collecting duct are totally im-
permeable to water. So, reabsorp-
tion of water does not occur in the
renal tubules and dilute urine is ex-
creted. This leads to loss of large
amount of water through urine. This
condition is called diabetes in-
sipidus and the excretion of large
amount of water is called diuresis.
 2. Vasopressor action
 In large amount, ADH shows vasoconstrictor action. Particularly,
causes constriction of the arteries in all parts of the body. Due to
vasoconstriction, the blood pressure increases. ADH acts on blood
vessels through V1A receptors. However, the amount of ADH re-
quired to cause the vasopressor effect is greater than the amount
required to cause the antidiuretic effect.
 Regulation of Secretion
 ADH secretion depends upon the volume of body fluid and the
osmolarity of the body fluids. Potent stimulants for ADH secretion
are:
 1. Decrease in the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume
 ///OXYTOCIN
 Source of Secretion
 Oxytocin is secreted mainly by paraven-
tricular nucleus of hypothalamus. It is also
secreted by supraoptic nucleus in small
quantity and it is transported from hypo-
thalamus to posterior pituitary through the
nerve fibers of hypothalamo-hypophyseal
tract. In the posterior pituitary, the oxytocin
is stored in the nerve endings of hypotha-
lamo-hypophyseal tract. When suitable
stimuli reach the posterior pituitary from
hypothalamus, oxytocin is released into the
blood. Oxytocin is secreted in both males
and females.
 Chemistry and Half-life
 Oxytocin is a polypeptide having 9 amino
acids. It has a half-life of about 6 minutes.
 Actions in Females
 In females, oxytocin acts on mam-
mary glands and uterus.
 Action of oxytocin on mammary
glands
 Oxytocin causes ejection of milk
from the mammary glands. Ducts of
the mammary glands are lined by
myoepithelial cells. Oxytocin causes
contraction of the myoepithelial cells
and flow of milk from alveoli of
mammary glands to the exterior
through duct system and nipple. The
process by which the milk is ejected
from alveoli of mammary glands is
called milk ejection reflex .
 Action on uterus
 Oxytocin acts on pregnant
uterus and also non-pregnant
uterus.
 On pregnant uterus
 Oxytocin causes contraction of
uterus and helps in the expulsion
of fetus. During the later stages
of pregnancy, the number of re-
ceptors for oxytocin increases in
the wall of the uterus. Because
of this, the uterus becomes more
sensitive to oxytocin.
• Oxytocin secretion increases during labor. At the onset of
labor, the cervix dilates and the fetus descends through the
birth canal. During the movement of fetus through cervix, the
receptors on the cervix are stimulated and start discharging
large number of impulses. These impulses are carried to the
paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of hypothalamus by the
somatic afferent nerve fibers. Now, these two hypothalamic
nuclei secrete large quantity of oxytocin, which enhances
labor by causing contraction of uterus
 On non-pregnant uterus
 The action of oxytocin on non-pregnant uterus is to facilitate the
transport of sperms through female genital tract up to the fallop-
ian tube, by producing the uterine contraction during sexual
intercourse.
 Action in Males
 In males, the release of oxytocin increases during ejaculation. It
facilitates release of sperm into urethra by causing contraction of
smooth muscle fibers in reproductive tract, particularly
vas deferens.
 HYPERACTIVITY OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY
 Gigantism
 Gigantism is the pituitary disorder characterized by excess growth of the
body. The subjects look like the giants with average height of about 7 to
8 feet.
 Causes
 Gigantism is due to hypersecretion of GH in childhood or in pre-adult life.
Hypersecretion of GH is because of tumor of acidophil cells in the ante-
rior pituitary.
 Acromegaly
 Acromegaly is the disorder characterized by the enlargement, thickening
and broadening of bones, particularly in the extremities of the body.
 Causes
 Acromegaly is due to hypersecretion of GH in adults. Hypersecretion of
GH is because of tumor of acidophil cells in the anterior pituitary.
 HYPOACTIVITY OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY
 Diabetes Insipidus
 Diabetes insipidus is a posterior pituitary disorder characterized by excess excre-
tion of water through urine.
 Causes
 This disorder develops due to the deficiency of ADH, which occurs in the follow-
ing conditions:
 i. Lesion (injury) or degeneration of supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of hy-
pothalamus
 ii. Lesion in hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract
 iii. Atrophy of posterior pituitary
 iv. Inability of renal tubules to give response to ADH hormone. Such condition is
called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus .
 Signs and symptoms
 i. Polyuria: Excretion of large quantity of dilute urine, with increased frequency
of voiding is called polyuria.
 ii. Polydipsia: Intake of excess water is called polydipsia.
 iii. Dehydration: