Endocrine Glands

Introduction
The endocrine system acts as biological functions regulating factor in
organisms. There are two types of glands in the vertebrate body known
as exocrine and endocrine glands.

Endocrine glands are ductless glands, whose special cells secrete

hormone which is directly poured into the blood stream and transported
to target organ through circulation for initiation of physiological
functions.

Exocrine glands are glands which pass their secretion along ducts to the
external surface of the body or released into the alimentary tract and
then to the exterior of the body, e.g., sweat gland, mammary glands, etc.
Differences between endocrine and exocrine glands:
Endocrine gland-
It is commonly known as ductless gland.
It secretes hormones.
Secretions reach the target organ via circulation.
After its origin, it dissociates from the surface epithelium and remains as separate organ e.g.,
pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, etc.

Exocrine gland-
It is commonly known as duct gland.
It secretes enzymes.
Secretions reach the target organ via duct system.
After its origin, it remains its connection with the surface epithelium by duct system e.g., liver,
sweat gland, exocrine pancreas, etc.
Classification of Endocrine Glands-
Vertebrate endocrine glands can be divided into different categories like

1. On the basis of location

a) Cranial endocrine glands: These endocrine glands are located in the head
region e.g., pituitary gland, pineal gland, hypothalamus.

b) Pharyngeal endocrine glands: These glands are

found in pharyngeal or neck region e.g.,
thyroid gland, parathyroid gland.

c) Abdominal endocrine glands: These glands are

located in the abdominal region e.g., pancreas,
adrenal, testis, ovary.
2. On basis of number
a) Unilateral endocrine glands: These are single in number. E.g.,
pituitary, pineal gland, pancreas.
b) Bilateral endocrine glands: These are paired in condition. E.g.,
thyroid, adrenal, parathyroid gland.

3. On the basis of secretion

a) Telecrine glands: Hormones are released by specialised
endocrine cells into the extracellular space and are thence
carried by blood to the distant target cells. E.g., thyroid gland,
Adrenal gland, pituitary gland, etc.
b) Paracrine glands: Hormones diffuse locally through the
interstitial fluid from the secretory cells to the adjacent target
cells. E.g., Islets of Langerhans, somatostatin is secreted from
delta cells, that reacts on adjacent alpha and beta cells.
Mixocrine gland- The gland which consists of both exocrine and endocrine parts are called
mixocrine or heterocrine glands. In pancreas, exocrine part is acini and endocrine part is islets
of langerhans.

Autocrine glands: Hormone acts on the same cell, where it is synthesized. Interleukin 2 is
synthesized by T – lymphocytes, that in turn stimulates proliferation of this particular cell.
 HORMONES

The term hormone is derived from a Greek word ‘hormaein’ meaning ‘I arouse
activity’. The term was coined by Starling (1905).

Definition
Baylis and Starling- Hormone was defined as a substance released by an endocrine
gland that is transported through the blood stream to distant organs or tissues
where it acts to regulate the functions of the target .

Guillemin-” Any substance released by a cell or group of cells and which acts through
receptors on another cell near or far, or on the same cell, regardless of the
singularity or ubiquity of the source and regardless of the means of conveyance,
blood stream, axoplasmic flow, or immediate intercellular space.”

Classification of Hormones-
1. According to chemical nature
a) Amine hormones: These are made up of amines. They are derived from the amino acid
tyrosine. These are hydrophillic in nature. E.g., thyroid hormones- thyroxin (T4) and
triiodothyronine(T3), Adrenaline and nor adrenaline.

b)Peptide hormones: These hormones are composed of few amino acid residues only and
present as simple linear chain e.g., oxytocin and vasopressin both consist of nine amino acid
residues only.

c) Protein hormones: These hormones are also made of amino acid residues which are much
more in numbers. They represent primary, secondary and tertiary configuration. E.g., insulin,
glucagon, STH, etc.

d) Glycoprotein hormones: These are glycoprotein in nature. They are conjugated to one or
more carbohydrate residues like mannose, galactose, fucose, etc. e.g., Luteinizing hormone(LH),
TSH, FSH, etc.

e) Steroid hormones: These are made up of lipids. They are hydrophobic, fat- soluble and are
derived from cholesterol.e.g., All the adrenal cortex hormones like glucocorticoids
(cortisol, corticosterone and cortisone) and mineral corticoids (aldosterone), sex hormones of
the gonads-androgens, etrogen and progesterone.

f) Eicosanoids hormones: These are derived from the 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid
arachidonate.e.g., prostaglandins, leukotrienes.
2. On the basis of mechanism of action

a) Group I hormones: These bind to intracellular receptors to form hormone-

receptor complexes (HRC), through which their biochemical functions are mediated.
These hormones are lipophilic in nature.They are transported bound to plasma
proteins and possess relatively longer half lives.e.g, estrogen, progesterone,
testosterone, T3, T4, etc.

b) Goup II hormones: These bind to cell surface (plasma membrane) receptors and
stimulate the release of certain molecules, which in turn perform the biochemical
functions.They are usually transported in free form and possess short half lives.

3. According to nature of action

a). Local hormones: also called tissue hormone, parahormone or paracrine are
those which reach the target cells located close to the secretory cells by diffusing
through the interstitial fluid instead of passing into blood e.g., testosterone has
paracrine actions in stimulating spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and
pancreatic somatostatin inhibits insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells

b). General hormones: These hormones are transported by circulation to the distal
target organ or tissue. E.g., insulin, thyroid hormone, etc.
4. On the basis of stimulation of endocrine glands

a) Tropic hormones: These hormones control the activity of other endocrine

glands, they stimulate them for secretion. E.g, hormones secreted by anterior
pituitary like TSH of pituitary stimulates secretion of thyroid gland.

b) Non-tropic hormone: These exert their effect on non endocrine target

tissues.e.g., thyroid hormone increases the O2 consumption rate and metabolic
activity of almost every cells.

Prohormone- are hormones which are synthesized as precursors and do not show
desired biological function unless they are processed to form the final product
e.g., insulin is secreted as a large polypeptide in the form of proinsulin molecule
which is enzymatically cleaved into insulin.
Differences between hormone and enzyme:

Hormones are secreted from endocrine gland. Enzymes are secreted

from exocrine gland.
Hormones are made up of proteins, amines or lipids. Enzymes are
chemically proteins.
Hormones reaches target organs via circulation. Enzymes reaches target
organ via duct system.
Hormones does not act as biocatalyst. Enzymes act as biocatalyst.
Hormones can not be stored. Enzyme can be stored.