Lecture #20 Date _______

◆ Chapter 45 ~
Chemical Signals in
Animals
 Regulatory systems
◆ Hormone~ chemical signal secreted into
body fluids (blood) communicating
regulatory messages
◆ Target cells~ body cells that respond to
hormones
◆ Endocrine system/glands~ hormone
secreting system/glands (ductless);
exocrine glands secrete chemicals
(sweat, mucus, enzymes) through ducts
◆ Neurosecretory cells~ actual cells that
secrete hormones
◆ Feedback mechanisms ~ negative and
positive
Local regulators: cells adjacent to or near point of secretion

◆ Growth factors ~
proteins for cell proliferation
◆ Nitric oxide (NO) ~
neurotransmitter; cell destruction; vessel
dilation
◆ Prostaglandins ~
modified fatty acids secreted by placenta and
immune system; also found in semen
Mode of Action: Chemical Signaling
◆ 1- Plasma membrane reception
• signal-transduction pathways (neurotransmitters, growth factors, most
hormones)
◆ 2- Cell nucleus reception
• steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, some local regulators
 Vertebrate Endocrine System
◆ Tropic hormones ~
a hormone that has another
endocrine gland as a target
◆ Hypothalamus~pituitary
◆ Pituitary gland
◆ Pineal gland
◆ Thyroid gland
◆ Parathyroid glands
◆ Thymus
◆ Adrenal glands
◆ Pancreas
◆ Gonads (ovary, testis)
 The hypothalamus & pituitary, I
◆ Releasing and inhibiting hormones
◆ Anterior pituitary:
◆ Growth (GH)~bones
√gigantism/dwarfism
√acromegaly
◆ Prolactin (PRL)~mammary glands;
milk production
◆ Follicle-stimulating (FSH) &
◆ Luteinizing (LH)~ovaries/testes
◆ Thyroid-stimulating (TSH)~ thyroid
◆ Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)~
adrenal cortex
◆ Melanocyte-stimulating (MSH)
◆ Endorphins~natural ‘opiates’; brain
pain receptors
 The pituitary, II

◆ The posterior pituitary:

◆ Oxytocin~
uterine and mammary gland
cell contraction
◆ Antidiuretic (ADH)~
retention of water by kidneys
 The pineal, thyroid, & parathyroid
◆ Melatonin~ pineal gland;
biological rhythms
◆ Thyroid hormones:
Calcitonin~
lowers blood calcium
Thyroxine~
metabolic processes
◆ Parathyroid (PTH)~
raises blood calcium
 The pancreas
◆ Islets of Langerhans
◆ Alpha cells:
•glucagon~ raises blood glucose levels
◆ Beta cells:
•insulin~ lowers blood glucose levels
◆ Type I diabetes mellitus
(insulin-dependent; autoimmune
disorder)
◆ Type II diabetes mellitus
(non-insulin-dependent; reduced
responsiveness in insulin targets)
 The adrenal glands
◆ Adrenal medulla (catecholamines): •epinephrine & norepinephrine~
increase basal metabolic rate (blood glucose and pressure)
◆ Adrenal cortex (corticosteroids): •glucocorticoids (cortisol)~ raise blood
glucose •mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)~ reabsorption of Na+ and K+
 The gonads
◆ Steroid hormones:
precursor is cholesterol
◆ androgens
(testosterone)~ sperm formation;
male secondary sex characteristics;
gonadotropin
◆ estrogens QuickTimeª and a
Cinepak decompressor
(estradiol)~uterine lining growth; are needed to see this picture.
female secondary sex
characteristics; gonadotropin
◆ progestins
(progesterone)~uterine lining
growth
Steroid Hormone Action

QuickTimeª and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.