Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by endocrine glands and circulated in the bloodstream to regulate physiological functions in target cells. There are several types of hormones based on their site of production and target cells, including endocrine hormones, autocrine hormones, and paracrine hormones. The major endocrine glands that produce hormones are the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and gonads. Hormones can also be classified based on their chemical structure as peptides, steroids, amino acid derivatives, or other types. Additionally, hormones are classified based on their mechanism of action as either intracellular receptors or surface receptors, with each type utilizing different pathways to elicit physiological

2.  Hormones are organic substances, produced
in small amounts by specific tissues
(endocrine glands), secreted into the blood
stream to control the metabolic and
biological activities in the target cells.
 Hormones may be regarded as the chemical
messengers involved in the transmission of
information from one tissue to another and
cell to cell.

3.  Endocrine hormones:
 produced by ductless endocrine glands
 mix to blood
 have target organs
 e.g. TH, LH, FSH
 Autocrine hormones:
 act on the same cells where they are synthesized.
e.g. interleukin-2
 Paracrine hormones:
 act on the cells adjacent/close to the cells from
where they are synthesized e.g. prostaglandins

4.  Neurotransmitters:
 released by nerve cells and usually act on the
adjacent cells. e.g. Catecholamines

5.  Hypothalamus
 Pituitary
 Thyroid
 Adrenal
 Gonads: Ovaries & Testes

6. 1. BASED ON CHEMICAL NATURE:
Peptide hormones : Insulin
Glucagon
ADH
Oxytocin
Steroid hormones: Sex hormones
Glucocorticoids
Mineralocorticoids
Amino acid derivatives: Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Thyroid hormones

12. Two divisions:
 Anterior pituitary
(adenohypophysis)
 Posterior pituitary
(neurohypophysis)
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Sits in hypophyseal fossa: depression in sella turcica of
sphenoid bone
Pituitary secretes 9 hormones
The Pituitary
1. TSH
2. ACTH
3. FSH
4. LH
5. GH
6. PRL
7. MSH
8. ADH (antidiuretic hormone), or vasopressin
9. Oxytocin
_________________________________________________________________
The first four are “tropic”
hormones, they regulate the
function of other hormones
________

13. 2. BASED ON MECHANISM OF ACTION
GROUP I: intracellular receptor (Lipophilic)
▪ Hormones bind to intracellular receptors (HRE in DNA)
to form receptor hormone complexes to carry out the
biochemical functions. They are derivatives of
cholesterol, lipophilic in nature and possess long half
lives.

14. GROUP II: surface receptor (Hydrophilic)
 These hormones bind to cell surface receptors and
stimulate the release of second messengers which in
turn perform the biochemical function. They are
hydrophilic in nature and possess short half lives.

15. Hormones bind with HRE in DNA
 Estrogens
 Progestins
 Androgens
 Glucocorticoids
 Mineralocorticoids
 Calcitriol
 Thyroid Hormones

16. (a)The second messenger is cAMP
 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
 Leuteinzing Hormone (LH)
 Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
 Chorionic gonadotropins (hCG)
 β Endorphins & Enkephalins
 Anti diuretic hormone (ADH)
 Glucagon
 Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
 Calcitonin
 Epinephrine
 Nor-epinephrine

17. (b)The second messenger is cGMP
 Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)
 Nitric oxide (NO)
(c)The second messenger is phosphotidyl
inositol/calcium (or both)
 Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)
 Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
 Gastrin
 Cholecystokinin (CCK)

18. (d)The second messenger is unknown/
unsettled (Kinase/Phosphatase cascade)
 Insulin
 Growth hormone (GH)
 Prolactin (PRL)
 Oxytocin
 Somatomedins (Insulin like growth factor) (IGF-
I, IGF-II)

19. Group I Hormones
 Lipophilic in nature → cross plasma membrane by
diffusion
 Act through intracellular receptors located either in
cytosol or nucleus
 Duration of action is hours to days
 Hormone first binds with receptor → forms HR-
complex → binds with the specific region on the DNA
called hormone responsive element (HRE) → causes
increased expression of specific genes →
transcription → translation → production of specific
proteins → carries biochemical action of hormone

20. HORMONE RESPONSE ELEMENT (HRE):-
 Specific sequence present in DNA which binds HR
complex during lipophilic hormone action
 HRE hormone specific
RESULT:-
 Binding of HR complex to HRE → transcription →
mRNA → Translation (specific protein) →
Biochemical response

21. STRUCTURE OF RECEPTOR MOLECULES
 Large, integral membrane proteins with
specificity & high affinity for hormones.
 Hormone & receptor binding is reversible.
 Initiate response without entering the cell.
 Rapid response/ shorter duration of action
(seconds to hours).
 Mediate effect through second messengers.

22. GROUP II HORMONES
 These hormones are considered as first
messenger
 Hormone binds to surface receptors
 Carry the action through mediatory molecules
(second messengers)
 Hormones → First messenger → Second
messenger → Activation of protein kinase →
phosphorylation of enzyme → biochemical
action.

23.  Cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cAMP)
consists of adenine, ribose & a phosphate.
 Adenylate cyclase converts ATP to cAMP
 cAMP is a second messenger for majority of
polypeptide hormones
 cAMP binds with protein kinase and activates it to
carry out the phosphorylation for the biochemical
action of hormone
 cAMP degrades to 5’ AMP by phosphodiasterase

26. Figure 18.3 G Proteins and Hormone
Activity

27. Figure 18.8 Feedback control of
Endocrine Secretion

28.  Similarities between neural and endocrine
pathways

29. (a) Humoral: in response to changing levels of
ions or nutrients in the blood
(b) Neural: stimulation by nerves
(c) Hormonal: stimulation received from
other hormones
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