Endocrine Seeley's

Principles of Chemical Communication
1. The four classes of chemical messengers are autocrine, paracrine, neurotransmitter, and endocrine.
2. Endocrine chemical messengers are called hormones.
Characteristics of the Endocrine System
1. The endocrine system includes glands and specialized endocrine cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
2. A hormone is a chemical messenger that is secreted into the blood, travels to a distant target tissue, and binds to
specific receptors to produce a coordinated set of events in that target tissue.
Hormones
Chemical Nature of Hormones
1. There are two chemical categories of hormones: lipid-soluble and water-soluble.
2. Lipid-soluble hormones include steroids, thyroid hormones, and some fatty acid derivatives.
■ Most lipid-soluble hormones are transported bound to binding proteins. Thus, their half-life extends from minutes to
weeks.
■ Lipid-soluble hormones are removed from the circulation by conjugation to sulfate or glucuronic acid, which then
allows them to beexcreted in the bile.
3. Water-soluble hormones include proteins, peptides, and amino acid derivatives.
■ Water-soluble hormones circulate freely in the blood.
■ Proteases degrade protein and peptide hormones in the circulation; the breakdown products are then excreted in the
urine. However, some water-soluble hormones have chemical modifications,
Control of Hormone Secretion
Stimulation of Hormone Release
Three types of stimuli result in hormone secretion: humoral, neural, and hormonal.
1. Humoral stimulation is exhibited by hormones that are sensitive to circulating blood levels of certain molecules, such
as glucose or calcium.
2. Neural stimuli cause hormone secretion in direct response to action potentials in neurons, as occurs during stress or
exercise. Hormones from the hypothalamus that cause the release of other hormones are called releasing hormones.
3. Hormonal stimulation of other hormone secretion is common in the endocrine system. Hormones from the anterior
pituitary that stimulate hormones from other endocrine glands are called tropic hormones.
Inhibition of Hormone Release
Although the stimulus of hormone secretion is important, inhibition is equally important.
1. Humoral substances can inhibit the secretion of hormones.
2. Neural stimuli can prevent hormone secretion.
3. Inhibiting hormones prevent hormone release.
Regulation of Hormone Levels in the Blood
Two processes regulate the overall blood levels of hormones: negative feedback and positive feedback.
1. Negative feedback prevents further hormone secretion once a set point is achieved.
2. Positive feedback is a self-promoting system whereby the stimulation of hormone secretion increases over time.
Hormone Receptors and Mechanisms of Action
Classes of Receptors
The two groups of hormones each have their own class of receptors.
1. Lipid-soluble hormones bind to nuclear receptors located inside the nucleus of the target cell.
2. Water-soluble hormones bind to membrane-bound receptors, which are integral membrane proteins.
Action of Nuclear Receptors
1. Nuclear receptors have portions that allow them to bind to the DNA in the nucleus once the hormone is bound.
■ The hormone-receptor complex activates genes, which in turn

activate the DNA to produce mRNA.
■ The mRNA increases the synthesis of certain proteins that produce

the target cell’s response.
2. Nuclear receptors cannot respond immediately, because it takes time to produce the mRNA and the protein.
Membrane-Bound Receptors and Signal Amplification
1. Membrane-bound receptors activate a cascade of events once the hormone binds.
2. Some membrane-bound receptors are associated with membrane proteins called G proteins.
■ Hormone binds to a membrane-bound receptor, and G proteins are activated.
■ The α subunit of the G protein binds to ion channels and causes them to open or change the rate of synthesis of
intracellular mediators, such as cAMP, cGMP, IP3, and DAG.
3. Intracellular enzymes can be activated directly, which in turn causes the synthesis of intracellular mediators, such as
cGMP, or adds a phosphate group to intracellular enzymes, which alters their activity.
4. Second-messenger systems act rapidly, because they act on already existing enzymes to amplify the signal.

Endocrine Seeley's

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Endocrine Seeley's

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Endocrine Seeley's

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Principles of Chemical Communication

2. Endocrine chemical messengers are called hormones.

Characteristics of the Endocrine System

Chemical Nature of Hormones

1. There are two chemical categories of hormones: lipid-soluble and water-soluble.

3. Water-soluble hormones include proteins, peptides, and amino acid derivatives.

■ Water-soluble hormones circulate freely in the blood.

Control of Hormone Secretion

Stimulation of Hormone Release

Inhibition of Hormone Release

Although the stimulus of hormone secretion is important, inhibition is equally important.

1. Humoral substances can inhibit the secretion of hormones.

2. Neural stimuli can prevent hormone secretion.

3. Inhibiting hormones prevent hormone release.

Regulation of Hormone Levels in the Blood

Hormone Receptors and Mechanisms of Action

■ The hormone-receptor complex activates genes, which in turn

■ The mRNA increases the synthesis of certain proteins that produce

Membrane-Bound Receptors and Signal Amplification

1. Membrane-bound receptors activate a cascade of events once the hormone binds.

■ Hormone binds to a membrane-bound receptor, and G proteins are activated.

You might also like