Outline

Hypothalamus & Pituitary

What are hormones?

Embryological origins of anterior &
posterior pituitary
Posterior pituitary hormones:
Vasopressin
Oxytocin

Anterior pituitary hormones

Hormones

Neurotransmitters

Development of the Pituitary:

Anterior & posterior pituitary
derive from embryologically
distinct tissues

Different series of hormone

secretion events in anterior
& posterior pituitary

Posterior Pituitary Hormones

Oxytocin
Vasopressin

Roles of Oxytocin

Secretion & Action

of Oxytocin

Oxytocin acts on smooth muscle to cause contraction

Oxytocin R Gq pathway
Milk letdown reflex
Uterine smooth muscle contraction during and after childbirth
Drugs to stimulate uterine smooth muscle contractions:
Oxytocin (pitocin)
Ergometrine
To inhibit uterine smooth muscle contractions (delay preterm labor):
Oxytocin R antagonist (atosiban)
2 adrenergic R agonists (e.g. salbutamol, short acting 2 agonist also
used for asthma)
How do 2 adrenergic R agonists inhibit contraction?
dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
Also administer gluococorticoids to promote lung development of neonate

Other roles of Oxytocin

Social interactions, bonding
Pair bonding, mother-infant bonding, maternal behavior
Empathy
Trust
Altruistic behavior within a group, generosity
Defensive aggression to members outside the group
Fear response
Weight regulation and obesity

Vasopressin

Vasopressin-secreting
neuron and its
regulation.

Vasopressin & Oxytocin:

Structurally similar 9
amino acid peptides

Vasopressin & Oxytocin

are synthesized as
pre-pro-hormones

Vasopressin & Oxytocin are

synthesized in the cell bodies
in the hypothalamus, and
transported to release site in
posterior pituitary

Transport &
processing of
posterior
pituitary
hormones

Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Some targets of
anterior pituitary
hormones

Anterior pituitary

Posterior pituitary

There are specific

types of hormonesecreting cells in the
anterior pituitary.
Each of them secretes
a different hormones.

GH

Signaling Through the Anterior Pituitary

Hypothalamus

PRF (Prolactin
Releasing
Factor)

Dopamine
GHRH
(Growth
Hormone
Releasing
Hormone)

Anterior
Pituitary

Anterior
Pituitary
Hormone

Target
Tissue

Lactotrophs
(Mammotrophs)

PL
(Prolactin)

Breast

Somatotrophs

GH
(Growth
Hormone)
(Somatotropin)

Liver

Final Hormone &

Effect

Hypothalamus

Anterior Pituitary
Hormone

Target
Tissue

ACTH
(Adrenocorticotropic
Hormone)

Adrenal
Cortex

LH
(Lutenizing
Hormone)

Gonads

F: stimulate
ovulation
M: regulate
testosterone
gamete production
estrogen

Skin

skin pigmentation

CRH
(Corticotropin
Releasing
Hormone)

Corticotrophs

Insulin-like growth
Factors (IGF-1)
(somatomedins)

GnRH
(Gonadotropin
Releasing
Hormone)

Gonadotrophs

Thyrotrophs

TSH
(Thyroid
Stimulating
Hormone)

Thyroid

Melanotrophs

T3 & T4
basal metabolic rate
O2 and fuel utilization,
development

Dopamine

Final Hormone &

Effect
Cortisol
catabolic reactions

FSH
(Follicle Stimulating
Hormone)

Growth, especially
bones

Somatostatin
TRH
(Thyrotropin
Releasing
Hormone)

Anterior
Pituitary

F: milk production,
lactation
M: testosterone

Signaling Through the Anterior Pituitary

MSH
(Melanocyte
Stimulating
Hormone

Summary

Posterior & anterior pituitary are embryologically different tissues

Hormone relay systems are different:

Posterior pituitary: hormone synthesized in hypothalamus & released
into blood in posterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary: releasing/inhibiting hormone synthesized in
hypothalamus, released into primary plexus, regulates release of
anterior pituitary hormone, released into blood, regulates release of final
hormone in target tissue

Vasopressin: high blood osmolality triggers release; promotes H20

absorption in kidney collecting duct

Oxytocin: promotes milk letdown reflex, contractions during

childbirth

There are many anterior pituitary hormones (prolactin, growth hormone,

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),
gonadotropins (LH, FSH)), which are produced in different anterior pituitary
cells.

Growth hormone released in response to GHRH (inhibited by

somatostatin); causes release of IGF-1 from liver to stimulate bone &
tissue growth

Prolactin released in response to suckling (inhibited by dopamine);

causes milk production

ACTH released in response to CRH (stimulated by stress); causes

cortisol synthesis; increases glucose, metabolic fuels

Thyroid stimulating hormone released in response to TRH; causes

synthesis of thyroid hormones T3 & T4; increases basal metabolic rate

FSH & LH released in response to GnRH; causes synthesis of

reproductive hormones

Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone under tonic inhibition by dopamine;

causes skin pigmentation