Common Vertebrate Hormones

Hormone Structure Functions

Pituitary Hormones

uterine contraction, causes milk

ejection in lactating females,
polypeptide of 9 amino acids CYIQNCPLG
Oxytocin responds to suckling reflex and
(C's are disulfide bonded)
estradiol, lowers steroid synthesis in
testes

responds to osmoreceptor which

senses extracellular [Na+], blood
Vasopressin polypeptide of 9 amino acids CYFQNCPRG
pressure regulation, increases H2O
(antidiuretic hormone, ADH) (C's are disulfide bonded)
readsorption from distal tubules in
kidney

polypeptide = 13 amino acids

Melanocyte-stimulating
polypeptide = 18 amino acids pigmentation
hormones (MSH)
polypeptide = 12 amino acids

stimulates cells of adrenal gland to

Corticotropin
polypeptide = 39 amino acids increase steroid synthesis and
(adrenocorticotropin, ACTH)
secretion

polypeptide = 93 amino acids increases fatty acid release from

Lipotropin (LPH)
polypeptide = 60 amino acids adipocytes

Thyrotropin (thyroid- acts on thyroid follicle cells to

2 proteins: is 96 amino acids; is 112
stimulating hormone, TSH) stimulate throid hormone synthesis

general anabolic stimulant, increases

Growth hormone (GH, or release of insulin-like growth factor-I
protein of 191 amino acids
somatotropin) (IGF-I), cell growth and bone
sulfation

stimulates differentiation of secretory

Prolactin (PRL) protein of 197 amino acids cells of mammary gland and
stimulates milk synthesis

increases ovarian progesterone

Luteinizing hormone (LH);
synthesis, luteinization; acts on
human chorionic
Leydig cells of testes to increase
gonadotropin (hCG) is 2 proteins: is 96 amino acids; is 121
testosterone synthesis and release
similar and produced in
and increases interstitial cell
placenta
development

ovarian follicle development and

ovulation, increases estrogen
Follicle-stimulating hormone
2 proteins: is 96 amino acids; is 120 production; acts on Sertoli cells of
(FSH)
semiferous tubule to increase
spermatogenesis
 Hypothalamic Hormones

Corticotropin-releasing acts on corticotrope to release ACTH

protein of 41 amino acids
factor (CRF or CRH) and -endorphin (lipotropin)

Gonadotropin-releasing acts on gonadotrope to release LH

polypeptide of 10 amino acids
factor (GnRF or GnRH) and FSH

Prolactin-releasing factor
this may be TRH acts on lactotrope to release prolactin
(PRF)

Prolactin-release inhibiting may be derived from GnRH precursor, 56 acts on lactotrope to inhibit prolactin
factor (PIF) amino acids release

Growth hormone-releasing
protein of 40 and 44 amino acids stimulates GH secretion
factor (GRF or GRH)

Somatostatin (SIF, also

called growth hormone-
polypeptide of 14 and 28 amino acids inhibits GH and TSH secretion
release inhibiting factor,
GIF)

Thyrotropin-releasing factor stimulates TSH and prolactin

polypeptide of 3 amino acids: EHP
(TRH or TRF) secretion

Thyroid Hormones

Thyroxine and responds to TSH and stimulates

iodinated dityrosin derivatives
triiodothyronine oxidations in many cells

produced in parafollicular C cells of

Calcitonin protein of 32 amino acids the thyroid, regulation of Ca2+ and Pi
metabolism

protein of 37 amino acids, product of the

Calcitonin gene-related
calcitonin gene derived by alternative acts as a vasodilator
peptide (CGRP)
splicing of the precursor mRNA in the brain

Parathyroid Hormone

regulation of Ca2+ and Pi metabolism,

stimulates bone resorption thus
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) protein of 84 amino acids
increasing serum [Ca2+], stimulates Pi
secretion by kidneys

Hormones and Peptides of the Gut

 Glucagon-like peptide 1
potentiates glucose-dependent
(GLP-1) Two forms: 31 amino acids, GLP-1(7-37)
insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon
formerly called and 30 amino acids, GLP-1(7-36)amide
secretion, inhibits gastric emptying
enteroglucagon

Glucose-dependent
insulinotropic polypeptide
inhibits secretion of gastric acid,
(GIP) polypeptide of 42 amino acids
enhances insulin secretion
originally called gastric
inhibitory polypeptide

produced by stomach antrum,

Gastrin 17 amino acids stimulates acid and pepsin secretion,
also stimulates pancreatic secretions

secreted from duodenum at pH

values below 4.5, stimulates
Secretin 27 amino acids
pancreatic acinar cells to release
bicarbonate and H2O

stimulates gallbladder contraction

Cholecystokinin, CCK 33 amino acids and bile flow, increases secretion of
digestive enzymes from pancreas

Motilin 22 amino acids controls gastrointestinal muscles

produced by hypothalamus and GI

tract, relaxes the GI, inhibits acid and
pepsin secretion, acts as a
Vasoactive intestinal
28 amino acids neurotransmitter in peripheral
peptide (VIP)
autonomic nervous system,
increases secretion of H2O and
electrolytes from pancreas and gut

inhibits release and action of

numerous gut peptides, e.g. CKK,
Somatostatin 14 amino acid version gastrin, secretin, motilin, GIP; also
inhibits insulin and glucagon
secretion from pancreas

CNS function in pain (nociception),

Substance P
involved in vomit reflex, stimulates
a member of the tachykinin
salivary secretions, induces
family that includes 11 amino acids
vasodilation
neurokinin A (NKA) and
antagonists have anti-depressant
neurokinin B (NKB)
properties

PP, PYY and NPY constitute the Pancreatic Polypeptide family of 36 amino acid peptides.
PP and PYY exhibit endocrine functions.
NPY functions as a neuropeptide

suppresses glucose-induced insulin

Pancreatic Polypeptide, PP 36 amino acids secretion, inhibits bicarbonate and
protein secretion from pancreas

Peptide Tyrosine Tyrosine, 36 amino acids inhibits gastric motility by inhibiting

 cholinergic neurotransmission,
PYY
inhibits gastric acid secretion

effects on hypothalamic function in

appetite, controls feeding behavior
Neuropeptide Tyrosine, 36 amino acids
and energy homeostasis, levels
NPY 6 receptors
increase during starvation to induce
food intake

2 peptides: 78 amino acid truncated form

homology to EGF and binds to the
Amphiregulin and 84 amino acid form with 6 additional N-
EGF receptor (EGFR)
terminal amino acids

Pancreatic Hormones

produced by -cells of the pancreas,

disulfide bonded dipeptide of 21 and 30 increases glucose uptake and
Insulin
amino acids utilization, increases lipogenesis,
general anabolic effects

produced by -cells of the pancreas,

Glucagon polypeptide of 29 amino acids increases lipid mobilization and
glycogenolysis in order to increase
blood glucose levels

increases glycogenolysis, regulation

Pancreatic polypeptide polypeptide of 36 amino acids
of gastrointestinal activity

inhibition of glucagon and

Somatostatin 14 amino acid version
somatotropin release

Placental Hormones

Estrogens steroids maintenance of pregnancy

Progestins steroids mimic action of progesterone

Chorionic gonadotropin 2 proteins: is 96 amino acids; is 147 activity similar to LH

Placental lactogen protein of 191 amino acids acts like prolactin and GH

produced in ovarian corpus luteum,

Relaxin 2 proteins of 22 and 32 amino acids inhibits myometrial contractions,
secretion increases durin gestation

Gonadal Hormones

Estrogens (ovarian) steroids; estradiol and estrone maturation and function of female
 secondary sex organs

implantation of ovum and

Progestins (ovarian) steroid; progesterone
maintenance of pregnancy

maturation and function of male

Androgens (testicular) steroid; testosterone
secondary sex organs

1 protein ( is 134 amino acids; is 115 and

Inhibins A and B inhibition of FSH secretion
116 amino acids

Adrenal Cortical Hormones

diverse effects on inflammation and

Glucocorticoids steroids; cortisol and corticosterone
protein synthesis

Mineralocorticoids steroids; aldosterone maintenance of salt balance

Adrenal Medullary Hormones

glycogenolysis, lipid mobilization,

Epinephrine (adrenalin) derived from tyrosine smooth muscle contraction, cardiac
function

Norepinephrine
tyrosine derivative lipid mobilization, arteriole contraction
(noradrenalin)

Liver Hormones

polypeptide of 8 amino acids derived from

angiotensinogen (present in the 2-globin
fraction of plasma) which is cleaved by the responsible for essential
kidney enzyme renin to give the hypertension through stimulated
Angiotensin II
decapeptide, angiotensin I, the C-terminal 2 synthesis and release of aldosterone
amino acids are then released (by action of from adrenal cells
angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE) to
yield angiotensin II

Kidney Hormones

Calcitriol derived from 7-dehydrocholesterol responsible for maintenance of

 calcium and phosphorous
hoemostasis, increases intestinal
[1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3]
Ca2+ uptake, regulates bone
mineralization

Cardiac Hormones

released from heart atria in response

Atrial natriuretic peptide several active peptides cleaved from a 126 to hypovolemia, acts on outer adrenal
(ANP) amino acid precursor cells to decrease aldosterone
production; smooth muscle relaxation

Pineal Hormones

Melatonin N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine regulation of circadian rhythms