3
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_1
Chapter 1
Physiology of Endocrine System
and Related Metabolic Disorders
Anam Ahsan, Ajab Khan, Muhammad Asim Farooq, Muhammad Naveed,
Mirza Muhammad Faran Ashraf Baig, and Wen-xia Tian
Abstract Endocrine system is comprised of multiple glands. All of these glands
secrete different hormones into the body. Most of the body’s functions, i.e., metabolism, growth, development, electrolyte balance, and reproduction, are regulated by
these endocrine hormones. Numerous releasing and inhibitory hormones are
secreted by the hypothalamus which eventually stimulates the pituitary gland’s hormonal secretions. Some of these pituitary hormones act directly on the target organs,
while others act on organs situated in different regions of the body. Pituitary gland
secretes growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing
hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), prolactin, and oxytocin. Other endocrine
glands include thyroid gland (secreting thyroid hormone T3 and T4, calcitonin),
parathyroid gland (secreting parathyroid hormone), adrenal gland (secreting catecholamines, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens, and cortisol), pancreas
(secreting insulin and glucagon), gonads (secreting sex hormones), pineal gland
(secreting melatonin), and thymus gland (secreting thymosin hormone). Most of the
endocrine hormones are regulated by negative feedback mechanism. There are
many metabolic disorders associated with the over and under production of all these
hormonal secretions by different glands. In this chapter along with describing endoA. Ahsan · A. Khan · W.-x. Tian (*)
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University,
Taigu, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China
M. A. Farooq
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. Naveed
Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. M. Faran Ashraf Baig
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry
and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_1
Chapter 1
Physiology of Endocrine System
and Related Metabolic Disorders
Anam Ahsan, Ajab Khan, Muhammad Asim Farooq, Muhammad Naveed,
Mirza Muhammad Faran Ashraf Baig, and Wen-xia Tian
Abstract Endocrine system is comprised of multiple glands. All of these glands
secrete different hormones into the body. Most of the body’s functions, i.e., metabolism, growth, development, electrolyte balance, and reproduction, are regulated by
these endocrine hormones. Numerous releasing and inhibitory hormones are
secreted by the hypothalamus which eventually stimulates the pituitary gland’s hormonal secretions. Some of these pituitary hormones act directly on the target organs,
while others act on organs situated in different regions of the body. Pituitary gland
secretes growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing
hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), prolactin, and oxytocin. Other endocrine
glands include thyroid gland (secreting thyroid hormone T3 and T4, calcitonin),
parathyroid gland (secreting parathyroid hormone), adrenal gland (secreting catecholamines, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens, and cortisol), pancreas
(secreting insulin and glucagon), gonads (secreting sex hormones), pineal gland
(secreting melatonin), and thymus gland (secreting thymosin hormone). Most of the
endocrine hormones are regulated by negative feedback mechanism. There are
many metabolic disorders associated with the over and under production of all these
hormonal secretions by different glands. In this chapter along with describing endoA. Ahsan · A. Khan · W.-x. Tian (*)
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University,
Taigu, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China
M. A. Farooq
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. Naveed
Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. M. Faran Ashraf Baig
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry
and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China