Biology investigatory project

Function and effect or influence of hormones on the human body

──────────────────────────────────────

Vikrant Kumar Mishra

Roll no. - 15609690
Class 12th A (Science)
2021-2022
Army Public School
 Certificate
This is to certify that the work entered in this biology
investigatory project is the work of Mr. Vikrant Kumar Mishra of
class 12 science roll no. 15609690 has satisfactorily completed
the required investigatory project as per guidelines of CBSE for
the academic year 2021- 2022.

Internal examiner external examiner principal

signature
 Acknowledgment

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to my

biology teacher Mrs. Sangeeta Sharma for providing her invaluable
guidance, support and suggestions throughout the course of the project. I
would also like to extend my gratitude to the Principal Mrs Vipanjot
Sehdeva who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project
on the topic ‘‘Function and effect or influence of hormones on the human
body‘’ which also helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to know
about so many new things. Secondly, I would like to thank my parents and
friends who helped me a lot in finishing this project within the limited time.
The project work has not only enhanced my knowledge but has also given
me a new point of view of things around us and nature.
 Index
Sl no. content Page no
1 introduction 1
2 the hypothalamic-pituitary axis 3
3 The function of the anterior pituitary 4
4 The function of the posterior pituitary 6
5 Symptoms of hormone imbalance 8
6 Causes of hormone imbalance 9
7 Measures for controlling hormone 10
naturally

8 Foods to avoid in balancing your 11

hormones

9 Significance of the study 12

10 Bibliography 13
Introduction
➔Glands:
A gland is a group of cells in an animal's body that synthesises
substances (such as hormones) for release into the bloodstream
(endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface
(exocrine gland) or simply, Glands are organs that secrete hormones
the “chemical messengers” of the body.

➔ Hormones:
Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted directly into
the blood, which carries them to organs and tissues of the body to
exert their functions. There are many types of hormones that act on
different aspects of bodily functions and processes. Some of these
include Development, growth, control, coordination or feedback,
etc.It may be classified as either proteins or steroids. All of the
hormones in the human body, except the sex hormones and those
from the adrenal cortex, are proteins or protein derivatives.

● Mechanism of hormone: Action Hormones are carried by the

blood throughout the entire body, yet they affect only certain cells.
The specific cells that respond to a given hormone have receptor
sites for that hormone. This is sort of a lock-and-key mechanism. If
the key fits the lock, then the door will open. If a hormone fits the
receptor site, then there will be an effect. If a hormone and a receptor
site do not match, then there is no reaction. All the cells that have
receptor sites for a given hormone make up the target tissue for that
hormone. In some cases, the target tissue is localised in a single
gland or organ. In other cases, the target tissue is diffuse and
scattered throughout the body so that many areas are affected.
Hormones bring about their characteristic effects on target cells by
modifying cellular activity.
Protein hormones react with receptors on the surface of the cell, and
the sequence of events that results in hormone action is relatively
rapid. Steroid hormones typically react with receptor sites inside a
cell. Because this method of action actually involves the synthesis of
proteins, it is relatively slow.
● Control of Hormone Action:

Hormones are very potent substances, which means that very small
amounts of a hormone may have profound effects on metabolic
processes. Because of their potency, hormone secretion must be
regulated within very narrow limits in order to maintain homeostasis in
the body. Many hormones are controlled by some form of a negative
feedback mechanism. In this type of system, a concentration of a
gland is sensitive to the substance that it regulates. A negative
feedback system causes a reversal of increases and decreases in
body conditions in order to maintain a state of stability or
homeostasis. Some endocrine glands secrete hormones in response
to other hormones. The hormones that cause the secretion of other
hormones are called tropic hormones. A hormone from gland A
causes gland B to secrete its hormone. A third method of regulating
hormone secretion is direct nervous stimulation. A nerve stimulus
causes gland A to secrete its hormone.
 The Hypothalamic-Pituitary
Axis
The interaction between the hypothalamus and pituitary (called the
hypothalamic-pituitary axis) is a feedback control system. The
hypothalamus receives input from virtually all other areas of the
central nervous system and uses it to provide input to the pituitary.
In response, the pituitary releases various hormones that stimulate
certain endocrine glands throughout the body. Changes in
circulating levels of hormones produced by these endocrine glands
are detected by the hypothalamus, which then increases or
decreases its stimulation of the pituitary to maintain homeostasis.
The hypothalamus modulates the activities of the anterior and
posterior lobes of the pituitary in different ways. Neurohormones
synthesised in the hypothalamus reach the anterior pituitary
(adenohypophysis) through a specialised portal vascular system
and regulate synthesis and release of the 6 major peptide hormones
of the anterior pituitary as well as growth and lactation. No direct
neural connection exists between the hypothalamus and the
anterior pituitary. In contrast, the posterior pituitary
(neurohypophysis) comprises axons originating from neuronal cell
bodies located in the hypothalamus. These axons serve as storage
sites for 2 peptide hormones, vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone)
and oxytocin, synthesised in the hypothalamus; these hormones act
in the periphery to regulate water balance, milk ejection, and uterine
contraction.
 The Function Of The Anterior
Pituitary
1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): ACTH is also known as
corticotropin. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the primary
stimulator of ACTH release. ACTH controls the production of another
hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands and
also regulates the release of adrenaline(Epinephrine), through the
negative-feedback mechanism. The effects of epinephrine or
‘emergency hormone’ are to prepare the body for the ‘fight or flight ’
response in times of stress, to take sudden action and it is developed
by ancestors for survival in the wild. It is released within 2-3 minutes of
an encounter in a stressful situation. Biological effects of adrenaline
surge increase the heart rate, increase blood pressure, expand the air
passages of the lungs, enlarge the pupil in the eye, redistributing blood
to the muscles, and alter the body’s metabolism, so as to maximise
blood glucose levels (primarily for the brain).

2. Somatotropin or Growth hormone (GH): GH stimulates somatic growth

and regulates metabolism. Growth hormone-releasing hormone
(GHRH) is the major stimulator and somatostatin is the major inhibitor
of the synthesis and release of GH. GH controls the synthesis of
insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, also called somatomedin-C), which
largely controls growth. Although IGF-1 is produced by many tissues,
the liver is the major source. A variant of IGF-1 is present in muscle,
where it plays a role in enhancing muscle strength. It is less under
control of GH than is the liver variant. The metabolic effects of GH are
biphasic. GH initially exerts insulin-like effects, increasing glucose
uptake in muscle and fat, stimulating amino acid uptake and protein
synthesis in liver and muscle, and inhibiting lipolysis in adipose tissue.
Several hours later, more profound anti–insulin-like metabolic effects
occur. They include inhibition of glucose uptake and use, causing
blood glucose and lipolysis to increase, which increases plasma-free
fatty acids. GH levels increase during fasting, maintaining blood
 glucose levels, and mobilising fat as an alternative metabolic fuel.
Production of GH decreases with ageing. Ghrelin, a hormone produced
in the fundus of the stomach, promotes GH release from the pituitary,
increases food intake, and improves memory.

3. Prolactin: Prolactin is produced in cells called lactotrophs that

constitute about 30% of the cells of the anterior pituitary. The pituitary
doubles in size during pregnancy, largely because of hyperplasia and
hypertrophy of lactotrophs. In humans, the major function of prolactin is
stimulating milk production. Also, prolactin release occurs during
sexual activity and stress. Prolactin may be a sensitive indicator of
pituitary dysfunction; prolactin is the hormone most frequently
produced in excess by pituitary tumours, and it may be one of the
hormones to become deficient from infiltrative disease or tumour
compression of the pituitary.

4. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): TSH regulates the structure and

function of the thyroid gland and stimulates the synthesis and release
of thyroid hormones. TSH synthesis and release are stimulated by the
hypothalamic hormone thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and
suppressed (by negative feedback) by circulating thyroid hormones.

5. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): LH

and FSH control the production of sex hormones. Synthesis and
release of LH and FSH are stimulated mainly by
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and suppressed by
oestrogen and testosterone. One factor controlling GnRH release is
kisspeptin, a hypothalamic peptide that is triggered by increased leptin
levels at puberty. Two gonadal hormones, activin and inhibin, affect
only FSH; activin is stimulative, and inhibin is inhibitory.
In women, LH and FSH stimulate ovarian follicular development and
ovulation.In men, FSH acts on Sertoli cells and is essential for
spermatogenesis; LH acts on Leydig cells of the testes to stimulate
testosterone biosynthesis.
 The function of the posterior pituitary
1. Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH): Vasopressin acts primarily to promote
water conservation by the kidneys by increasing the permeability of the distal
tubular epithelium to water. At high concentrations, vasopressin also causes
vasoconstriction. Like aldosterone, vasopressin plays an important role in
maintaining fluid homeostasis and vascular and cellular hydration. The main
stimulus for vasopressin release is increased osmotic pressure of water in the
body, which is sensed by osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus. A lack of
vasopressin causes central diabetes insipidus. An inability of the kidneys to
respond normally to vasopressin causes nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Removal of the pituitary gland usually does not result in permanent diabetes
insipidus because some of the remaining hypothalamic neurons produce small
amounts of vasopressin.

2. Oxytocin: Oxytocin has 2 major targets:

● Myoepithelial cells of the breast, which surround the alveoli of the mammary
gland
● Smooth muscle cells of the uterus.

Suckling stimulates the production of oxytocin, which causes the myoepithelial

cells to contract. This contraction causes milk to move from the alveoli to large
sinuses for ejection (ie, the milk letdown reflex of nursing mothers). Oxytocin
stimulates contraction of uterine smooth muscle cells, and uterine sensitivity to
oxytocin increases throughout pregnancy. However, plasma levels do not
increase sharply during parturition, and the role of oxytocin in the initiation of
labour is unclear.There is no recognized stimulus for oxytocin release in men,
although men have extremely low levels.
 Neurohormone Anterior Pituitary Hormones Effect
Affected

Corticotropin-releasing ACTH Stimulate

hormone

Dopamine Prolactin Inhibit

LH Inhibit
FSH Inhibit
TSH Inhibit

Gonadotropin-releasing LH Stimulate*
hormone FSH Stimulate*

Growth hormone-releasing GH Stimulate

hormone

Prolactin-releasing Prolactin Stimulate

hormone

Somatostatin GH Inhibit
TSH Inhibit

Thyrotropin-releasing TSH Stimulate

hormone Prolactin Stimulate
*Under physiologic conditions and when administered exogenously in intermittent
pulses. Continuous infusion inhibits the release of LH and FSH.

ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin);

FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; GH = growth hormone;
LH = luteinizing hormone; TSH = thyroid-stimulating
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
The symptoms of hormonal imbalance are experienced during puberty,
menstruation, pregnancy and post-partum, premenopausal and menopause.

● Frequent headaches or migraine

● Cravings for sweet
● Excess hair growth
● Acne or skin breakouts
● Feeling anxious and irritable
● Feeling fatigued quite often
● Irregularity in periods
● Mood swings
● Depression
● Urinary tract infections
● Water retention
● Changes in body temperature
● Weight gain
● Problem while sleeping
● Symptoms that may cause allergy
Causes of Hormone Imbalance
● Lack of good nutrition:Foods enriched with essential nutrients such as
vitamins and minerals are required by our body. Any imbalance in our diet
can cause hormonal imbalance. So, it is important for the healthy
functioning of our body.

● Adrenal exhaustion, stress and anxiety: adrenal glands help in

producing stress-fighting hormones, get impacted when our mind and body
is under constant stress. they get exhausted and become unable to
perform their part efficiently.

● Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and birth control pills: women

who undergo hormone replacement therapy or take birth control pills
regularly face challenges in balancing their hormones. Even after the
discontinuation of pills and HRT, the symptoms persist.

● Insulin or glandular imbalance :endocrine glands are responsible for

producing hormones. These glands are affected by various conditions such
as stress, crash dieting, diseases and various drugs.

● Drugs, stimulants and chemicals : Certain medications and stimulants

such as caffeine, toxins and hormones from pesticides in our food, air and
water can affect our oestrogen level. They may also interfere with our
natural hormone balance.

● Pregnancy and Post-partum : pregnancy impacts a woman’s hormones

the most. From mood swings to food cravings, it is difficult for a pregnant
woman to balance her hormones. It is important that before pregnancy,
during the pregnancy phase and after your child birth, you maintain good
health. This also helps in preventing your post- partum depression.
 Measures for controlling hormone
Naturally
Foods that help in balancing your hormones
● Essential fatty acids To maintain your hormonal balance, you should eat foods
that are enriched with essential fatty acids. Foods such as nuts, whole
grains, olive oil and omega-3 fish contain high amounts of fatty acids. So,
include them in your daily diet.

● Essential nutrients from plant sources: Plant sources like lentils, peas and
soybeans are good sources of oestrogen. These foods help in creating
hormonal balance in our body, hence, should be included in your diet.

● Green leafy vegetables: Green leafy vegetables not only provide numerous
health benefits but also helps in maintaining hormones. Add spinach, kale
and other green leafy vegetables in your diet and let your hormones stay
balanced.

● Cruciferous vegetables: if you are one of those who avoid green leafy
vegetables, then go for cruciferous vegetables. These vegetables include
cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

● Fibre enriched foods: Consuming foods that are rich in fibre are not only good
for our health but also helps in creating hormonal balance. They boost
good health and to get a sufficient dose of fibre, add loads of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains to your diet.

● Foods enriched with Omega 3: Foods rich in Omega 3 like fish oils provide a lot of
health benefits. From glowing skin to maintaining your hormonal balance,
these foods should be added to your diet.
Foods to avoid in balancing your hormones

• Avoid alcohol
• If you experience frequent challenges with hormonal imbalance, try to avoid
foods that are high in glycaemic. These are the sweetened foods and the
glycaemic index is high in pasta, sweet potato, corn and yam.
• Avoid eating refined carbohydrates like white pasta, white rice and white flour.
• Caffeine beverages should be avoided. So, try not to consume caffeinated
colas, coffee and other "energy" drinks. If you want, you may drink coffee but
keep a check on its intake.
• Animal fats store bad hormones like full-fat dairy and red meat.

Some healthy lifestyle tips that help in

maintaining hormones
• Sleep well and make sure you get a good night's sleep every night.
• Stress is your body's worst enemy. So, know the techniques that help in
managing stress. You can do yoga, meditation or deep breathing practices as
they help in combating stress and anxiety.
• Stay active. Work out regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Significance of the study

Health and phycological research has high value to society. It can provide
important information about behavioural trends and risk factors, outcomes of
treatment, or public health interventions.Hormones are small but mighty
chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and send critical
signals to all rhino organ systems. These signals affect many important
processes like growth and development, reproduction, metabolism and
behaviour. The goal of the behavioural and social sciences is to better
understand human behaviours and apply this understanding to improving the
quality of life for people. Because so many behaviours have an impact on health,
social and behavioural sciences are an important component of studying
individual and group health.Social and behavioural sciences are an important
component of studying individual and group health for having a healthy society.
 Bibliography
● https://en.wikipedia.org/
● Some definitions from National Institutes of Health.
● https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/
principles-of-endocrinology/overview-of-the-endocrine-system#v27411795
● https://www.healthline.com/health/acth-cosyntropin-stimulation-test
● https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/natural
-ways-to-balance-hormones/articleshow/21931854.cms