PS263 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Y Chromosome, Scrotum, Aromatization
Document Summary
Hormones are chemicals released into general circulate by endocrine system, have effect on target cells in other organs. Similar to neurotransmitters but target region can be far from where they"re released. 3 categories: amino acid derivatives, peptides and proteins (peptides are short chains of amino acids, proteins are long chains, steroids (synthesized from cholesterol) Pituitary: master gland, releases variety of tropic hormones, only anterior pituitary releases hormones, release of hormones is under control of the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus controls posterior pituitary through axons of neurons whose cell bodies lie in paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus and synthesize vasopressin and oxytocin. Stimulates or suppresses the release of other hormones. Gonadal hormones: estrogens, androgens, and progestins, gondotrophin release from anterior pituitary cycles every 28 days or so in women but remains stable in men. Differentiation of gonads occurs about 6 weeks after fertilization. At this time both have identical primordial gonads each with a medulla and a cortex.
