Dela Cruz, Albert Bryan R.

BSMT - 1 | March 7, 2022

Human Histology (MED 3)

Activity #7
Endocrine System

 Using the same format, do the following activities:

1. What is the difference between steroid hormones and peptide hormones in terms
of their chemical composition and their effect on tissues?
 There are two categories a hormone can be classified according to its structure,
the steroid hormone and the lipid hormone. A steroid hormone is lipid
synthesized from cholesterol. These hormones share a structure of four organic
rings and are hydrophobic, meaning it is water-fearing. They are lipid-soluble
and can readily pass into their target cells. These hormones bind to receptors
associated with DNA, which causes gene to be transcribed. It also alters
metabolism in various ways. Examples of steroid hormones are testosterone
and estradiol, which are important for sexual development. The second
category is the peptide hormone. These hormones are chains derived from
amino acids, specifically from three to two hundred amino acids. These type of
hormones are hydrophilic or water-loving, making them unable to pass into
their target cells. This results for them binding to receptors at the cell surface.
Examples of these hormones are oxytocin that increases uterine contractions
during labor of pregnant women and insulin that regulates blood glucose levels.

2. What are the secretory cells of the adenohypophysis? Tabulate the hormones,
target organs and cite its effect on the target organs.
Adenohypophysis
Secretory cells Hormones Target organs Effect/s
stimulates growth of
Growth hormone Most of the
Somatotrope bones, muscles, and
(GH) tissues
organs
milk production in
Ovaries and
Mammotrope or lactating women and
Prolactin mammary glands
lactotrope increased response of
of females
follicle
Thyroid stimulating regulates thyroid gland
Thyrotrope Thyroid gland
hormone (TSH) secretions
Gonadotrope Luteinizing Ovaries and testes promotes ovulation and
hormone (LH) progesterone
production; sperm
production and
 testosterone synthesis
Follicles in ovaries; follicle maturation and
Follicle stimulating
seminiferous estrogen secretion;
hormone (FSH)
tubules sperm production
Adrenocorticotropin increased glucocorticoid
Corticotrope Adrenal cortex
(ACTH) hormone secretion

3. What are the secretions of the posterior pituitary? Cite its target organs and its
specific effect on these organs?
Posterior pituitary
Secretions Target organs Effect/s
conserves water (less water
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) Kidneys
is loss)
increases uterine
Oxytocin Uterus
contractions during labor

4. What are the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland and parathyroid gland? What
are the effects?
Thyroid gland Parathyroid gland
Hormone Effects Hormone Effects
secreted when
regulates metabolic blood Ca2+ levels
Thyroid hormones Parathyroid
rates and is needed are low (osteoclasts
(T3 and T4) hormone (PTH)
for growth break down bone
matrix)
secreted when blood
Ca2+ levels
Calcitonin are high (osteoclasts
don’t break down
bone matrix)

5. What are glucocorticoids? What are mineralocorticoids?

 In the adrenal cortex, there are key steroid hormones present, the
glucocorticoids and the mineralocorticoids. The glucocorticoids, from its name
itself, helps in regulating glucose metabolism. Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol,
also increase fat and protein breakdown and convert those into useable energy.
It also helps in combating stress and reducing inflammatory and immune
responses. On the other hand, mineralocorticoids helps in reabsorption of
sodium by the kidney which also helps in retaining water. It also helps in
excretion of potassium into the urine, lowering blood levels of potassium.
Therefore, mineralocorticoids like aldosterone help in maintaining blood
electrolyte balance.
6. Draw and label the histology of the following:
 Adenohypophysis

 Thyroid gland

 Parathyroid gland
 Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans