M4- Lesson 10: Endocrine System

and Chemical Messengers

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

Chemical messengers are involved in communication in
maintaining homeostasis in an animal’s body and in the
body’s response to various stimuli. One type of chemical
messenger is a hormone. Only those cells that have specific
receptors for a hormone can respond to that hormone.

The major endocrine glands of vertebrates include the

hypothalamus, pituitary, thymus, pancreas and gonads.
Various other tissues, however , such as the kidneys, heart,
digestive system, and placenta also secrete hormones.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

Endocrine System of Invertebrates

Neurosecretory Cells - specialized nerve cells capable of

synthesizing and secreting hormones.

Product - neurosecretions or neurosecretory hormones

which are discharged directly into the circulation and serve
as a crucial link between the nervous and endocrine
system.

Most of the chemicals functioning as hormones in

invertebrates are neurosecretions called neuropeptides
which: is produced by the secretory nervous tissue;
regulate many physiological processes

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

Insect physiologists discovered that molting and metamorphosis are
controlled by the interaction of two hormones:

Molting Hormone or Ecdysone - (produced by prothoracic gland)

controlled by PTTH (prothoracicotropic hormone). It acts directly as
a gene regulatory protein to set in motion changes that result in
molting. Favors growth differentation of adult structures.

Juvenile Hormone - (produced by corpora allata). Favors dev’t of

juvenile characteristics. Maintenance of larval or nymphal
characteristics during development.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

 Different Phyla and their Hormones:
Porifera (Sponges) – have no endocrine glands; also do not have
neurosecretory cells.

Cnidarians – nerve cells have growth promoting hormone that

stimulates budding, regeneration and growth. For example is hydra
(“Head regeneration”).

Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)- cells are found in the cerebral ganglion

and major nerve cords. The neuropeptides function in regeneration,
asexual reproduction and gonad maturation. Ex: Neurosecretory cells
in the scolex of tapeworms can control shedding of proglottids.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

 Nemerteans – the neuropeptide that this ganglia produces controls
gonadal development and water balance.

Nematodes – neurosecretory cells are associated with the central

nervous system. The neuropeptide that the nerve cell produces
controls ecdysis of the old cuticle.

Molluscs – the central nervous system of molluscs are filled with

neurosecretory cells. Neuropeptides produced from these cells help
regulate heart rate, kidney function and energy metabolism.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

 Annelids – same with their well developed circulatory system, nervous
system and large coelom, their endocrine system is also a well
developed system that is involved in morphogenesis, development,
growth, regeneration and gonadal maturation.

Arthropods – the endocrine system of complex arthropods like insects

and crustacean regulate growth, maturation and production.

In the endocrine system of Crustacean like crayfish, they control

functions such as ecdysis (molting), sex determination and color
changes.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

2 types of Glands of Vertebrates:
Exocrine Gland – Secrete Chemicals into ducts
that empty into body cavities or Surfaces
(mammary, Salivary and Sweat glands)

Endocrines Gland- have no ducts; Secrete

chemical messengers called hormones instead
directly into the tissue space next to each
endocrine cell.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

3 different aspects of Endocrinology
that relate to species differences:
• 1. Hormones (or neuropeptides) with the same
function in diff. species may not be chemically
identical.
• 2. Certain hormones are species-specific with
respect to their function; conversely, some
hormones produced in one species may be
completely functional in another species.
• 3. A hormone from one species may elicit a different
response in the same target cell or tissue of a
different species.
 In many fishes, amphibians and reptiles:

• Pineal Gland- produces melatonin; controls variations in skin

color. In Fishes and Amphibians, it is located near the skin,
functions to detect light and is commonly referred to as the
third eye.
• Pituitary Gland- produces prolactin; stimulates reproductive
migrations in animals, causes brooding behavior in fishes,
helps control water and salt balances, and is essential for
preparing certain saltwater fishes to enter freshwater during
spawning runs.
• Thyroid Gland- in the neck on the ventral side of the
pharynx in all vertebrates; shape varies among vertebrates:
may be a single structure (e.g. many fishes, reptiles and
some mammals) or it may have several lobes.
• - produces thyroxine (T4, contain 4 iodines) and
triiodothyronine (T3, contain 3 iodines) which control the
rate of metabolism, growth, and tissue differentiation in
vertebrates.
- in amphibians, they play an additional role in
metamorphosis (e.g. specifically timed changes in the
concentration of 3 hormones-prolactin, thyroxine and
triiodothyronine- control metamorphosis in the frog).
• Glucocorticoids (Cortisol) – regulates metabolism
and concentration of blood sugar.
-Defense responses to infection or Tissue injury.
• Aldosterone – Maintains concentration of solutes.
-Major role in maintaining the homeostasis of
extracellular fluid.
• Sex Hormones - Weak male hormones: Androgens,
lesser amounts of female hormones called
Estrogens.
B. Adrenal Medulla
• Under Neural Control.
• During stress, excitement or emergency, contributes to
the overall mobilization of the body through the
sympathetic nervous system.
• Responsible for the fight or flight responses.
• Neurosecretory cells : Epinephrine (adrenaline) and
Norepinephrine (noradreline) – control heart rate and
carbohydrate metabolism.
 Pancreas
• Functions both as an Exocrine (to secrete digestive
enzymes) and Endocrine gland.
• As Endocrine Gland – synthesizes, stores and secretes
hormones from clusters of cells called pancreatic cells.
• Pancreas contains 200,000 to 2,000,000 pancreatic islets
scattered throughout the gland.
• Each islet contains 4 special groups of cells: Alpha, Beta,
Delta and F cells.
 Gonads
• -Secrete hormones that help regulate reproductive
functions.
Males:
• Testes – secrete Testosterone (stimulate
spermatogenesis , growth and maintenance of male
sex organs, promotes development and maintenance
of sexual behavior and stimulates growth of facial and
pubic hair in humans, and also enlargement of larynx).
Female:
4 Major classes of Ovarian Hormones that help regulate female
reproductive organs:
Estrogen – regulate menstrual and estrus cycle ; development of
mammary glands and other female secondary sexual characteristics.
Progestins – also regulate menstrual and estrus cycle; Development of
mammary glands and formation of placenta during pregnancy.
Relaxin – softens the opening of the uterus at the time of delivery.

- Ovaries also produce Inhibin that inhibits the secretion of FSH.

 Hormones not produced by the
Endocrine Glands:
1.The Right Atrium - secretes Atrial Natriuretic Hormone
(Stimulates the kidneys to secrete salt and water in the
urine).
2. The Kidneys – Secrete Erythropoeitin (Stimulates the bone
marrow to produce red blood cells).
3. Adipose tissue, Liver, Stomach, Placenta and Small
Intestine also secrete hormones.
Learn More About Endocrine System by
Watching this Video

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

 Post Task
Choose 5 from these questions, answer them using Word.
1. Describe and correlate the structure and physiology of the
different organ system.
2. Categorize the different types of chemical messenger.
3. Cite six excretory / osmoregulatory structures that are found in
invertebrate and vertebrate animals.
4. Enumerate 5 strategies of different animals to obtain their food.
Explain each strategy.
5. Name 5 examples of asexual reproduction. Describe/ discuss each
of them.
6. Compare and contrast the different respiratory system found in
invertebrates and vertebrates

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION 2019

19
References
Miller , Stephen A. and John P. Harley, Zoology 10th ed . Boston: Mc – Graw
Hill Book company 2016
ekowidodo . lecture .ub.ac.id/files/2012/02/Animal-circulatory-system-
160309.ppt
https://www.edistribucion.es/anaya
educacion/.../UNIT.../2SC_24_5P_digestanimals.ppt
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-
diseases/digestive-system-how-it-woks
https://www.medicinenet.com/the digestion process organs and functions
/article.htm

•Disclaimer: Not all text in this module are original of the writer. Most of them
are
excerpt s from the references that are mentioned in this module.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION

2019