Endocrine System
The endocrine system is an integrated system of small organs which involve the release of extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and plays a part also in mood. The field of medicine that deals with disorders of endocrine glands is endocrinology, a branch of the wider field of internal medicine.
List of endocrine glands and their hormones
A. Hypothalamus
a. Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
--Stimulates FSH and LH secretion by pituitary
b. Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH)
--Stimulates TSH secretion by pituitary
c. Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)
--Stimulates ACTH secretion by pituitary
d. Prolactin Inhibiting Factor (PIF)
--Inhibits prolactin secretion by pituitary
e. Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Release Inhibitory Hormone (MIF) --
Inhibits MSH secretion by pituitary
f. Somatostatin (SST)
--Inhibits GH secretion by pituitary
h. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) --
Stimulates GH secretion by pituitary
B. Posterior Pituitary
a. Oxytocin (OT)
--Stimulates milk letdown; uterine contractions
b. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
i. Also called Vasopressin (AVP)
--Increases renal water absorption; vasoconstriction
C. Anterior Pituitary
a. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
i. Also called follitropin
--Female: Increases ovarian follicular growth
and estradiol synthesis
--Male: Initiates spermatogenesis
b. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
i. Also called lutropin
--Female: Ovulation; Corpus luteum (CL) formation;
Ovarian Steroidogenesis
--Male: Testicular androgen synthesis
c. Prolactin (PRL)
--Milk synthesis; Progesterone synthesis
in C.L. of some species
d. Thyroid Stimulating Homone (TSH)
--Stimulates Thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion
e. Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
i. Also called Corticotropin
--Stimulates Adrenal Steroidogenenesis
f. Growth Hormone (GH)
i. Also called somatotropin (ST)
--Stimulates hepatic somatomedin biosynthesis
D. Thyroid
a. Thyroxine (T4)
--Increase growth; differentiation; calorigenesis
b. Triiodothryonine (T3)
--Same as Thyroxine
c. Calcitonin (CT)
--Decrease blood calcium
E. Adrenal Cortex
a. Glucocorticoids
i. Cortisol
ii. Corticosterone
--Stimulate carbohydrate metabolism; sympathetic function
b. Mineralocorticoids
i. Aldosterone
--Increase sodium retention
F. Adrenal Medulla
a. Epinephrine
i. Classically called Adrenalin
--Modulate effects on nerve, muscles, cellular secretions,
and metabolism
b. Norepinephrine
i. Classically called Noradrenalin
--Similar to Epinephrine
G. Ovary
a. Estradiol (E2)
--Stimulates female sexual development and behavior
i. Produced by follicle
b. Progesterone (P or P4)
--Stimulate uterine and mammary gland growth; maternal behavior
i. Produced by Corpus Luteum and Follicle
c. Relaxin
--Relaxation of pubic symphysis and dilation of uterine cervix
i. Produced by Corpus Luteum
d. Inhibin and Activin
--Regulate FSH release
i. Produced by follicle
H. Placenta
a. Chorionic Gondadotropin (CG)
--CL progesterone synthesis
b. Placental Lactogen (PL)
--Immunoprotection; fetal growth and development; mammary development
c. Female Sex Steroid Hormones
I. Testis
a. Testosterone (T or T4)
--Male sexual development and behavior
b. Inhibin and Activin
--Regulate FSH secretion by pituitary
c. Mullerian Inhibiting Factor (MIF)
Also MRF, AMH, AMF, MIH etc.
--Mullerian duct regression
J. Pineal
a. Melatonin
--Regulates seasonal breeders
K. Thymus
a. Thymosin and Thymopoetin
--Stimulates proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes
L. Pancreas
a. Insulin
--Decreases blood glucose; stimulates protein, glycogen,
and fat synthesis
b. Glucagon
--Increases blood glucose; stimulates gluconeogenesis,
lipolysis, and glycogenolysis
c. Somatostatin (SST)
--Inhibits secretion of other pancreatic islet hormones
d. Pancreatic Polypeptide (PP)
--Modulates secretion of other pancreatic islet hormones
M. Gastrointestinal Tract
a. Gastrin
--Increases HCl secretion by stomach
b. Secretin
--Stimulates pancreatic acinar cell fluid (bicarbonate) secretion
c. Cholecystokinin (CCK)
--Stimulates pancreatic acinar cell enzyme secretion;
gall bladder contractions
d. Gastric Inhibitory peptide (GIP)
--Decreases HCl secretion by stomach
--Increases insulin secretion
e. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
--Stimulates intestinal secretion of electrolytes;
smooth muscle relaxation
f. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
--Increases insulin secretion
g. Motilin
--Stimulates gastric acid secretion
h. Neurotensin (NT)
--Enteric neruotransmitter
i. Substance P (SP)
--Enteric neruotransmitter
j. Gastrin Releasing peptide (GRP)
--Stimulates Gastrin secretion and acid secretion
N. Parathryroid Gland
a. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
--Increase blood calcium
--Decreases blood phosphate
--Activates vitamin D
O. Skin, Liver, Kidney
a. Vitamin D3
--Increases blood Calcium; intestinal and renal calcium absorption
P. Liver
a. Angiotensin II (AII)
--Stimulates vasoconstriction; aldosterone secretion; and thrist
Q. Kidney
a. Erythropoietin (EP)
--Increases erythropoiesis
b. Renin
--Initiates Angiotensin II from liver
c. Vitamin D
--Increases blood Calcium; intestinal and renal calcium absorption
R. Most all Tissues (Eicosinoids)
a. Prostaglandins (PGF2alpha and PGE2)
--Luteolysis, Vasoconstriction, Ovulation (PGF2alpha) --
Vasodilation, Ovulation (PGE2)
b. Prostacyclins (PGI2)
--Decrease Platelet Aggregation
c. Thromboxanes (TXA2)
--Increase Platelet Aggregation
d. Leukotrienes (LTE4)
--Vasoconstriction and permeability
S. Various Tissues (Growth Factors)
a. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
--Stimulates epithelial cell profliferation
b. Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)
--Stimulates fibroblast proliferation
c. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)
--Neurite development
d. Somatomedins or
--Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF-I, II)
--Cellular growth and development; Initiation of lactation; etc.
T. Heart
a. Atrial Natriuretic factor (ANF)
--Stimulates renal salt and water diuresis
U. Various neural tissues (Misc.)
a. Endorphins and Enkephalins
--Endogenous opiates
--Neuromodulators
V. Adipose tissue
a. Leptin
--Regulates Fat Deposition