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Histology 12 – Endocrine system Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed
Endocrine system
• Endocrine system consists of pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal
glands.
• The secretory cells of endocrine glands are arranged as follicles (such as thyroid)
or cords or clumps around capillaries or sinusoids.
• These glands are ductless, the secretory cells release the hormones directly into
blood stream and reach their target organs.
The pituitary gland (hypophysis)
It is found at the base of the brain, is about ~1 cm in diameter, and has two
functional regions, the anterior and posterior lobes.
A. The anterior pituitary gland
• This region contains cords of epithelial cells, surrounded by a small amount of
supporting connective tissue, and fenestrated capillaries.
• These cells secrete hormone into the surrounding fenestrated capillaries in
response to signals from the hypothalamus. There are three types of endocrine
cell:
1- Acidophils are made up of 2 main types of cell, which each secrete one type of
peptide hormone, as follows.
• Somatotrophs (40– 50% of cells) secrete the growth hormone
(somatotropin), the main target of which is the chondrocytes in epithelial
growth plates.
• Mammotrophs (∼15%) secrete prolactin that stimulates milk - producing
tissue in the breast.
2- Basophils are made up of 3 main types of cell, which secrete glycoprotein
hormones, as follows.
• Corticotrophs (∼20%) secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which
targets the adrenal gland.
• Thyrotrophs (∼ 5%) secrete thyroid - stimulating hormone (TSH), which
targets the thyroid gland.
• Gonadotrophs (∼ 10%) secrete gonadotropins. These include
a- Follicle - stimulating hormone (FSH), which targets the follicular cells
of the ovaries (in women) or Sertoli cells of the testis (in men)
b- Luteinizing hormone (LH), which promotes ovulation in women, or
stimulates androgen release from the Leydig cells of testes in men.
3- Chromophobes: epithelial cells found in the anterior and intermediate lobes
of the pituitary which secrete melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
B. The posterior pituitary gland
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Histology 12 – Endocrine system Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed
• It contains non-myelinated axons, (neurosecretory cells), the cell bodies of
which are located in the hypothalamus, together with supporting glial cells
(pituicytes), which are similar to astrocytes, and fenestrated capillaries.
• The posterior pituitary only secretes 2 hormones.
a- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) acts on the kidney to regulate water
excretion and can also act as a vasoconstrictor. Its secretion is activated by
an increase in osmotic pressure in the blood.
b- Oxytocin acts on the uterus, causing the smooth muscle to contract during
labour, and on myoepithelial cells in the mammary gland to cause milk
secretion.
The pineal gland
• Is a small gland, 6–8 mm long, found close to the hypothalamus in the brain.
• consists mainly of pinealocytes (consist of a cell body with 4–6 processes
emerging) surrounded by connective tissue spaces
• It secretes the hormone melatonin and serotonin, which regulates the
circadian rhythms of the body. Secretions of this hormone at night cause a
hypnotic effect.
Thyroid gland
• It is located in the neck and contains two lobes (about 5 cm × 2.5 cm).
• It contains many thyroid follicles, which store colloid. Colloid is an inactive
precursor of thyroid hormone bound to a glycoprotein (thyroglobulin).
• Follicles are cavities surrounded by epithelial cells (follicular cells), which secrete
the hormone.
• Active follicular cells are columnar secrete 2 hormones
1- thyroxine (T4)
2- tri-iodothyronine (T3)
• The pituitary hormone, thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH), regulates their
release by indirect action.
• The lining epithelium also contains parafollicular (clear) cells. These cells secrete
calcitonin, which regulates blood calcium levels.
• Parafollicular cells are scattered among the follicular cells, and while they can be
recognized from their pale cytoplasm,
• In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid becomes enlarged and hyperactive, and the
follicles look smaller.
Parathyroid glands
• These consist of a pair of ovoid glands associated with the thyroid.
• Each gland is divided into lobules by connective tissue septa.
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Histology 12 – Endocrine system Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed
• The parathyroid contains two types of cells:
• Chief (or principal) cells: are small and pale, weakly eosinophilic staining, and
contain cytoplasmic granules. They secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH acts on
the epithelial cells in the kidney (renal tubule) and osteoclasts in bone to raise Ca+2
levels in the blood, by promoting bone resorption and increasing renal calcium
resorption.
• Oxyphil cells: contain abundant mitochondria, do not secrete PTH, but may
differentiate into chief cells.
Adrenal glands
• These are a pair of glands, one associated with each kidney.
• Each gland contains two main regions, an outer cortex and an inner medulla,
which contain different types of endocrine tissue.
Adrenal cortex
The cortex contains three regions which secrete different hormones, all of which are
based on cholesterol (steroid hormones): -
1- Zona glomerulosa (ZG): is the outermost zone of the adrenal cortex. It
secretes mineralocorticoids, which are important for fluid homeostasis (e.g.,
aldosterone, which regulates absorption/uptake of K+ and Na+ levels in the
kidney). The secretory cells are arranged in irregular ovoid clusters (glomeruli)
surrounded by trabeculae, which contain capillaries.
2- Zona fasciculata (ZF): is the middle zone of the adrenal cortex. It secretes
glucocorticoids, which are important for carbohydrate, protein, and lipid
metabolism (e.g., cortisol, which raises blood glucose and cellular synthesis of
glycogen). The pituitary hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
regulates cortisol secretion. The secretory cells are arranged in cords, often
one cell thick, surrounded by fine strands of supporting tissue.
3- Zona reticularis (ZR): is the innermost layer of the cortex. It secretes sex
hormones (androgens).
Adrenal medulla
• This region contains cells actively secrete peptide - based hormones, for
example, the catecholamines, norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and
epinephrine (adrenaline).
• The sympathetic nervous system controls secretion of these hormones. Their
targets are the adrenergic receptors in the heart, blood vessels, bronchioles,
visceral muscle, skeletal muscle, and in the liver, where they promote
glycolysis (breakdown of glycogen).