Homeostasis and the Endocrine System 2

Dr Terri Meehan-Andrews School of Human Bioscience AS2 Room 3.07 Email: t.meehan-andrews@latrobe.edu.au

Aims and Objectives

Text reference: Chapter 16. The Endocrine System. The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus

Describe the structural and functional relationships

between the hypothalamus and a) the anterior and b) the

posterior pituitary gland

For thyroid hormone describe: actions, synthesis

(briefly), hormonal stimulation of synthesis and secretion

and negative feedback control involving hypothalamic and pituitary hormones

Hypothalamus
Regulates a wide variety of physiological processes: maintenance of body temperature, water balance, sleeping feeding Via the autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system. Its endocrine functions are mediated by the pituitary gland.
Figure 16.6

Pituitary Gland
Pituitary gland
two-lobed organ that secretes eight major hormones Connected to hypothalamus via infundibulum

Posterior pituitary (neural tissue)

Receives, stores, and releases hormones from the hypothalamus

Anterior pituitary, made up of glandular tissue

Synthesizes and secretes a number of hormones

Posterior Pituitary
Neural tissue

Connection: hypothalamic hypophyseal tract

Two hormones are synthesized in the hypothalamus in cell bodies of

neurons
Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) Hormones travel down axons of tract into the posterior pituitary stored in axon terminals released into circulation when stimulated

Relationships of the Posterior pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

1 Hypothalamic neurons synthesize oxytocin and ADH. 2 Oxytocin and ADH are transported along the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituitary. 3 Oxytocin and ADH are stored in axon terminals in the posterior pituitary. 4 Oxytocin and ADH are released into the blood when hypothalamic neurons fire. Figure 16.5

Paraventricular nucleus Supraoptic nucleus Optic chiasma Infundibulum (connecting stalk) Hypothalamichypophyseal tract Axon terminals Posterior lobe of pituitary

Hypothalamus

Inferior hypophyseal artery

Oxytocin ADH

Pituitary Pituitary
Oxytocin
Breast - hormonal trigger for milk ejection or let down Uterus - Strong stimulant of uterine contraction

Anti diuretic hormone

Stimulates the Kidney tubules to reabsorb water (less urine formed)

Anterior Pituitary
Glandular tissue Connection (vascular) hypophyseal portal system Manufactures, stores and secretes 6 different hormones (all proteins) Tropic hormones hormones that regulate the secretion and growth of other endocrine glands

Anterior Pituitary
Stimulus
Hypothalamus (releasing hormone) Hypophyseal portal system Anterior pituitary tropic H (2) Blood stream (circulation) Endocrine organ growth, hormone production and secretion

Relationships of the Anterior pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

Hypothalamus 1 When appropriately stimulated, hypothalamic neurons secrete releasing and inhibiting hormones into the primary capillary plexus.

Hypothalamic neuron cell bodies

Superior hypophyseal artery

Hypophyseal portal system Primary capillary plexus Hypophyseal portal veins Secondary capillary plexus
Anterior lobe of pituitary

Hypothalamic hormones travel through the portal veins to the anterior pituitary where they stimulate or inhibit release of hormones from the anterior pituitary.

TSH, FSH, LH, ACTH, GH, PRL

Anterior pituitary hormones are secreted into the secondary capillary plexus. Figure 16.5b

Anterior Pituitary
Six hormones
Growth hormone Stimulates growth and metabolism Prolactin stimulates milk production by the breasts The tropic hormones (stimulate the secretion of other hormones): Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

release of glucocorticoids (cortisol) from the adrenal cortex

Gonadotrophins Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicular development Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates testosterone synthesis and production

Hypothalamus is a key integration centre of the brain Understand all of the connections
Anterior Pituitary
Signals via the nervous system

Posterior Pituitary

Thyroid Gland

The largest endocrine gland, located in the anterior neck, consists of two lateral lobes connected by a median tissue mass called the isthmus Composed of follicles that produce the glycoprotein thyroglobulin Colloid (thyroglobulin + iodine) fills the lumen of the follicles and is the precursor of thyroid hormone Other endocrine cells, the parafollicular cells, produce the hormone calcitonin

Thyroid Hormone
Thyroid hormone the bodys major metabolic hormone Consists of two closely related iodine-containing compounds T4 thyroxine; has two tyrosine molecules plus four bound iodine atoms Converted to T3 at target tissue

T3 triiodothyronine; has two tyrosines with three bound iodine atoms Biologically active form

Thyroid Hormone
T4 and T3 are carried in plasma bound bind to
thyroxine-binding globulins (TBGs) produced by

the liver
Protects from metabolism and excretion

Mechanisms of activity are similar to steroids

Revise signaling

Stress

Metabolic Rate

Temperature

Thyroid Hormone
Glucose oxidation Metabolic rate Heat production Regulating tissue growth CNS Development Mental alertness Reflexes

Hypothalamus

Thyroid Releasing hormone

Thyroid stimulating hormone

Negative feedback loop

Thyroid produce and secrete thyroid hormones

T3 and T4

Pathology
If levels of T3/T4 were low, what would happen to the levels of TRH and TSH? Why? What do you think would be symptoms for hypothryoidism (low T3/T4 levels)