M.

Prasad Naidu
MSc Medical Biochemistry, Ph.D,.
Tissue hormones
Local hormones
Act on the tissue on which they are produced
Short lived
Paracrine in nature
Eg: melatonin, renal hormones, eicosanoids
and opiate peptides
Pineal gland or epiphysis hormone
Tiny conical or pine-like organ
On the dorsal side of brain in vertebrates lying
deep in the groove b/n cerebellum and cerebral
hemispheres
Clock work gland
Sphincter of thought the minds valve
The seat of the rational soul
A neurological transducer : a system that converts
nerve type signal into an endocrine signal
Very well developed in children and shrinks after
the 7
th
year and reduced to a little knot after
puberty
Weighs less than a button

Pineal secretes a hormone melatonin
Melatonin inhibits the secretion of LH
Serotonin is the precursor under the influence of 2 enzymes
N-acetyl transferase (NAT)
Hydroxyindole-0-methyltransferase (HIOMT)
Pineal manufactures melatonin only in the night
It does not sit idle and converts Try into serotonin which
accumulates and stored in inactive form until night
Neurotransmitters like NEP NAT & HIOMT
Exposure to light slows while exposure to darkness
stimulates the production of melatonin
Pineal is under the control of sp.nerve cells found in
hypothalamus called supra chiasmatic nuclei (SCN)
SCN turns melatonin production on & off in the pineal by
directing the nightly increase in NAT
In humans, the glands rhythm may affect
the sleep cycle
Melatonin makes people drowsy (sleeping
aide)
Prevents cancer
Strengthens the immune system
This miracle hormone keeps a person using
it away from growing old
Melatonin production age
Regulates menstrual cycle in females
Regulates sperm production in males
Kidney secrets 2 hormones
1. Erythropoietin/Erythrocyte stimulating factor ESF
2. Renin
ESF: secretion is stimulated by androgens and cobalt
Initially secreted as inactive protein called Renal Erythropoietin
Factor (REF)
REF is like an enzyme converts plasma globulin into active
erythropoietin
Glycoprotein 8-12% hexose 60000
Lacks Met
Its activity is retarded by antibiotic actinomycin D and also by
proteolytic enzymes
ESF stimulates Bone marrow no.of proerythroblasts reticulocytes
(precursor of erythrocytes)
Stimulates the synthesis of a very large RNA ( 150S) by bone marrow
cells


Catalyzes the synthesis of angiotensins
Angiotensins vasoconstriction in kidneys
electrolyte & water retention in the body
This system renin-angiotensin system
renal pressure , plasma Na+ ,
angiotensins renin production

Eicosanoids
FA derivatives
Involved in reproductive function
In the inflammation
In fever & pain
In the formation of blood clots
In the regulation of blood pressure
In gastric acid secretion
Derived from Arachidonic acid
Also called signal molecules
3 types
1.Prostaglandins
2. Prostacyclins & thromboxanes
3. Leucotrienes
Von Euler 1935
Lipid soluble acidic substances
Semen is the richest source
Also found in Brain, spinal cord, thymus, lungs,
pancreas, kidneys, menstrual fluid and placenta
Resembles prostanoic acid
Hydroxy derivatives of poly unsaturated FAs
Can be divided into 9 groups (A to I)
PGE ether soluble , has a keto group at C9
PGF phosphate buffer soluble, a OH group at
C9
Half life 5 mins
Destroyed rapidly
High turn over rate
The most revolutionary therapeutic substances
Affects smooth muscles and bp
Often the activities of individual PGs oppose one
another
Eg: PGE2 dialates blood vessels and bronchi
PGF2 constricts
Contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles of the uterus especially at
the time of ovulation
This may be due to chelation of Ca
1ng/ml can cause contraction
Thus it resembles oxytocin
bp
lipolysis in AT conversion of ATP to cAMP
platelet aggregation
PGs have opposite effect on EP, NEP, glucagon, ACTH on the release of FAs
from AT
Affects CVS (behaves both pressor and depressor agents)
Appear to control the secretion of gastric HCl
Have some beneficial effect in the control of the acid-induced gastric ulcers
Effect on reproductive system- male fertility
Low PGs in human semen is related to infertility
Also involved in inflammatory reaction & pain
anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin , act by inhibitin the synthesis of PGs

TXAs and PGIs are structurally related both arise
from nascent PG
TXA2 was first isolated from platelets
PGI2 produced primarily in blood vessels
TXAs and PGIs displays a critical balance required
for the normal functioning in the body
TXA2 is a highly effective vasoconstrictor and
platelet aggregator
PGI2 is a potent vasodialator and inhibitor or
platelet aggregation
PGIs inhibits platelet aggregation
PGIs relaxes coronary arteries
PGIs lowers BP
TXAs stimulates platelet aggregation
TXAs constricts coronary arteries
TXAs raises BP
Precursor: Arachidonate
Enzyme : lipoxygenase
Cysteinyl-containing derivatives of arachidonic acid with a
series of 3 conjugated double bonds
Eg: LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4
Neutrophils make one class of LTs to alter mobility and act as
chemotactic agents
Mast cells make another class ( formerly known as slow-
reacting substances) which are responsible for bronchial
constriction and other anaphylactic allergic reactions
Over production of LTs cause asthamatic attacks and also
stimulates mucus secretion
3 families
Enkephalins : consist of 5-7 amino acids
Derived from proenkephalin
Isolated from extracts of brain & pituitary and exhibit morphine like
properties
Dynorphins: 10-17 AAs
Derived from prodynorphin
Endogenous compounds made in several locations
Major locations: brain, pituitary, adrenal medulla, and peptidergic
neurons
Endorphins: 16-27 AAs
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC)
Isolated from extracts of brain, pituitary & exhibit morphine like
properties
Social hormones
Smell signals
Species specific chemical substances
1982 survey in USA on taste & smell
Strong link b/n sex and smell
Odour which are released from animals into
the environment and evoke behavioural,
developmental and reproductive responses
Karlson & Luscher
Pheromones work on the other members of
the same species (hormones ?)
Pheromones are produced in glands and
discharged externally to influence other
members of the same species
Well known sex attractants
Chemically diverse group
AAs, Lipids, alcohols, org.acids
Female silk worm moth (Bombax mori)
secretes a sex-attractant which attracts male
moths
It is a long chain alcohol ( C
16
H
30
O)
With 2 double bonds C
10
& C
12

Insects also secrete alarm pheromones
Many of these are hydrocarbons, oxidized
hydrocarbons, terpenoid in nature
Eg: Tridecane, Heptan-2-one, Citronellal, -
pinene
Based on their function, 2 types
1. Releaser pheromones: stimulate specific patterns
of behaviour
Powerful sex-attractants, mark-territories or trails
They initiate alarm reactions or bring about
aggregation of individuals
2. Primer pheromones:
They trigger physiological changes in endocrine
activity esp related to sexual maturation, growth or
metamorphosis
In the honey bee colony, the Queen bee secretes Queen
substance which inhibits the growth of ovaries in the worker
bees.
The honey bee inject an alarm substance called 2- heptanone
in the body of the victim it stings
Synthetically produced restenol can give the right fragnance
to make love
Androstenone, a hormone found in perspiration from the
armpit and genitals is found more in men than women
Couplins are estrogen dependent fatty acids found in vaginal
secretions of some women
The testes form a steroid called priapol ( trivial name)