Hormones of the pituitary gland | Endocrine System

Hormones of the pituitary gland

The hormones vasopressin and oxytocin are stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and released into the blood. Vasopressin helps to regulate the fluid balance and can reduce the excretion of urine to a minimum if there is a lack of fluid. In women, oxytocin causes tension in the uterine muscles and helps in the development of contractions, which are important for the expulsion of a child. It also ensures the release of milk from the mother’s breast to the baby.

Tissue hormones

Tissues such as the heart or the gastrointestinal tract also have cells that can produce hormones. Some of them act as tissue hormones, which means that the place of production and the target structure are close together. They are usually transmitted paracrine, i.e. directly via the intercellular space to the neighbouring cell without entering the bloodstream.

The hormone produced by the heart muscle cells is called BNP, and when the ventricle is stretched more, it causes vasodilation in the body’s circulation. It is used in the diagnosis of heart failure. Increretins are the hormones of the stomach and have a very complex effect.

They are secreted during food intake and cause insulin secretion in the pancreas to distribute the absorbed carbohydrates, they also cause a feeling of satiety in the brain and slow down gastric emptying. There are a number of other tissue hormones that are essential for the body. These include inflammation mediators, which are important in the transmission of pain and can also trigger fever.

They are called prostaglandins. Also important are hormones that have a narrowing or dilating effect on the vascular system. They are mainly used to treat injuries and protect the body from excessive blood loss.

There are also other hormones present in the brain in addition to the already mentioned control circuit of the hypothalamus and hyphophysis. In the brain stem the hormone serotonin is produced, which has an effect on the state of mind, the transmission of jokes, the sex drive, the sleep rhythm and the body temperature. It also contributes to the local narrowing of blood vessels. However, the main amount of the body’s own serotonin is produced in cells of the intestine.