ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

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Endrocrine System:

Endocrine system concems the synthesis, secretion & function of hormones and disorder
due to hypo or hyperactivity of hormone.
A hormone is a chemical substance which has diverse molecular structure, released from
endocrine glands and co ordinate the activity of many different cells.
Example: Thyroxine, Aldosterone.
Endrocrine Gland:

Hypothalamus

Adrenal Cortex

Pituitary

Islets of Langerhans of pancreas

Thyroid

Ovary or testis

Parathyroid

Chemical Nature:

Proteins and Polypeptides: Hormones secreted by the anterior & posterior pituitary
gland, the pancreas, the parathyroid gland.

Steroid Hormone: Hormone secreted by adrenal cortex, ovaries, testes.

Derivatives of amino acid: Tyrosine secreted by the thyroid.

The pituitary gland is very small gland also known as hypophysis.

It is situated within a bony cavity at the base of the brain known as sella turcica.

It is divided into two parts.

1. Another pituitary or adenohyposphysis.
2. Posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis.

Between these two lies a small zone avascular called pars intermedia.
Hormones of Plant pituitary:

Growth Hormone (GH)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Folic stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

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Posterior Pituitary: It secretes two hormones.

(i) ADH
(ii) Oxytocin
(i) ADH: ADH is a peptide consisting of nine amino acids.
Function: Its two primary functions are to increase water reabsorption in the body and
to increase blood pressure.

ADH increases the water permeability of distal tubule and collecting duct cells in
the kidney, thus allowing water reabsorption and excretion of concentrated urine.
This occur through insertion of water channels (Aquaporin-2) into the apical
membrane of epithelial cells.

It also occurs vasoconstriction, which in turn increases arterial blood pressure.

(ii) Oxytocin: It is secreted by paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus.

Function: It increases the contraction of pregnant uterus and helps in delivery of the
fetus from uterus.
In the lactating mammary gland, it causes secretion of milk.
Thyroid Gland: The thyroid gland composed of two lobes and connected with the
isthmus. The thyroid gland is situated on the anterior side of the neck around the trachea.
The thyroid gland is composed of follicles that synthesizes thyroid hormones. The
follicles are lined by a single layer of epithelial cell. The inside of the cell are filled with a
protein rich substance known as colloid. Colloid contain a protein called thyroglobulin.
The thyroid gland secrete three hormones.
(i)

Thyroxine (T4)

(ii)

Triiodothyronine (T3)

(iii)

Calcitonin

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Steps of Synthesis of Thyroxin:

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1) Thyroglobulin synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and entre the colloid in the
lumen of the thyroid follicle.
2) A sodium-iodide pump (Na/L) pumps iodide activity into the cell. This iodide enters the
follicular lumen from the cytoplasm.
3) In the colloid, iodide (1) is oxidized to iodide (10) by an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase.
4) Iodine (10) is very reactive and iodinates the tyrosine molecule and form monoiodotyrosine,
diiodotyrosine.
5) In conjugation adjacent tyrosyl residues are paired together to form T3, T4. Conjugation
between DIT & MIT produces T3. Conjugation between two DIT molecules produces T4.
6) The thyroglobulin with iodinated compound are stored within the follicular lumen as colloid.

Proteolysis by various proteases liberates thyroxin and triiodothyronine molecules, which enter
the blood.
1) Thyroxine increases the basal metabolic rate of almost all tissues of body. It increases the
BMR by increasing the oxygen consumption of the tissue. In hyperthyroidism the BMR
increases by about 60 100% below
2) Thyroid hormone is essential for the development of brain during fetal life & first few years
of post natal life.
It also essential for maintenance of normal function of central nervous system.
3) Thyroxine increases the heart rate and force of construction of heart.
4) Thyroid hormones helps in normal growth and skeletal maturation.
Regulation: The thyroid stimulating hormone of anterior pituitary stimulates thyroxine
secretion. Thyroxine is turn decreases the secretion of TSH. TSH production is suppressed when
the T4 levels are high, and increases when the level is low. The TSH production is modulated by
thyrotropin releasing hormone, which is produced by the hypothalamus.

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Function:

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It increases plasma calcium level by acting on bones, kidney, and intestine. It causes
resorption of calcium from the bones & renal tubules and absorption from intestine.

Increases phosphate excretion by kidney.

And decreases blood phosphate level.

Regulation of Secretion:
1) Plasma calcium level = when plasma calcium level is high, secretion of PTH is decreased.
Calcium gets deposited in bone.
When plasma calcium is low, PTH secretion is increased and calcium is released from bone.
2) Increase plasma phosphate level stimulate parathhormone secretion.
3) 1.25 dihydrocholecalciferol decreases parathhormone secetion.
Function of Aldosterone:
1. Aldosterone increases absorption of Sodium and secretion of potassium by the cells of
collecting tubule and distal tubule.
2. Aldosterone also causes excretion of hydrogen ion by the cells of collecting tubule.
3. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of sodium chloride and secretion of potassium by
sweat gland, salivary gland. It also increases sodium absorption by the intestine.
Regulation of aldosterone secretion: Aldosterone secretion increases by
1. Increased K+ ion concentration in the extracellular fluid.
2. Increased activity of renin angiotensin system.
3. Increased sodium ion concentration in the extracellular fluid slightly decreases aldosterone
secretion.
4. ACTH from the ant. Pituitary gland is necessary for aldosterone secretion.
Cortisol: Steroidal hormone secreted by adrenal gland.
Function of Cortisol: 1) Metabolic Function
a) Increases blood glucose concentration
b) Increases breakdown of Proteins and lipids.

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

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2) Permissive Effects Presence of cortisol facilitate the action of other hormones. Potentiates
the vascular reactivity to maintain blood pressure. Facilitates the lipolytic effect of
catecholamine and glucagon
3) Anti-inflammatory effect by stabilizing lysosomal membrane.
4) Has anti-allergic & immunosuppressive effects.
Regulation of Cortisol:
It is regulated by CRH-ACTH-cortisol feedback mechanism.
CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone) increases ACTH and ACTH increases cortisol
secretion.
Increase cortisol level inhibit release of CRH & ACTH.
Any kind of stress & hypoglycemia increases cortisol level.
Hyposecretion & Hypersecretion
Growth hormones: Excess secretion of growth hormone causes two clinical condition.
(i)

Gigantism & Acromegaly

(ii)

Dwarfism

Gigantism: If hypersecretion of growth hormones occur before puberty, the person becomes
very tall, more than 7-8 feet. The limbs are longer. The person develops pituitary diabetes
mellitus. The cause is tumour of pituitary diabetes mellitus. This cause is tumour of pituitary
gland.
Dwarfism: Decreased secretion of growth hormone in childhood leads to dwarfism. The height
of the person is about 3 feet. There is proportionate development of different parts of body.
They have normal activity & reproductive function.
Acromegaly: It is due to hypersecretion of GH in adult after pituitary. Cause is tumour of
anterior pituitary.
The features are protrusion of supraorbital ridges, broadening of nose, protrusion of
supraorbital ridges, broadening of nose, protrusion of lower jaw. There is enlargement of hands
& feets. The mellitus, hypertension, headache.

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

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Thyroid Hormone: Increased secretion of thyroid hormone is called hyperthyroidism.

Graves disease: It is an autoimmune disease. Antibodies are produced against TSH. This results
in hypersecretion of thyroid hormones.
The symptoms are intolerance to heat, increased sweating, decreased body weight, diarrhea,
nervousness, fatigue, insomnia, disturbance in menstruation, Hypertension, Cardiac failure
Hypothyroidism: Decreased secretion of thyroid hormone is called hypothyroidism. In adult it is
known as myxedema, in children cretinism.
Causes: Autoimmune disorder, Iodine deficiency
Clinical Feature: Weight gain, cold intolerance, Low pitched voice, poor hearing, and slurred speech,
none pitting edema of skin, of hands & feet and eyelids, constipation.
Cretinism: The hypothyroidism in children is called cretinism. The child is short with mental retardation
Goitre: It means enlargement of thyroid gland & seen in both hypo & hyperthyroidism.
Cushing Syndrome: It occurs due to hypersecretion of glucocorticoids. The features are
Moon Face
Due to fat accumulation & retention of water & salt.
Buffalo Hump
Fat deposited on the back of neck & shoulder.
Pot Belly
Due to accumulation of fat in upper abdomen.
Additions Disease: Due to decreased secretion of adrenocortical hormone there is pigmentation of
mucous membrane & skin, muscular weakness, hypotension, hypoglycemia, nausea, vomiting diarrhea.

Md. Asif Hasan niloy

Pharmacy 3rd semester (24 Batch)