The pancreas, kidneys, heart, adrenal glands, gonads, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, and even fat are all sources of hormones. The endocrine system works in large part by acting on neurons in the brain, which controls the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes factors into the blood that act on the endocrine glands to either increase or decrease hormone production.
This is referred to as a feedback loop, and it involves communication from the brain to the pituitary to an endocrine gland and back to the brain. This system is very important for the activation and control of basic behavioral activities, such as sex; emotion; responses to stress; and eating, drinking, and the regulation of body functions, including growth, reproduction, energy use, and metabolism. The way the brain responds to hormones indicates that the brain is very malleable and capable of responding to environmental signals.
The brain contains receptors for thyroid hormones those produced by the thyroid and the six classes of steroid hormones, which are synthesized from cholesterol — androgens, estrogens, progestins, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and vitamin D. The receptors are found in selected populations of neurons in the brain and relevant organs in the body. Thyroid and steroid hormones bind to receptor proteins that in turn bind to DNA and regulate the action of genes.
This can result in long-lasting changes in cellular structure and function. The brain has receptors for many hormones; for example, the metabolic hormones insulin, insulin-like growth factor, ghrelin, and leptin. These hormones are taken up from the blood and act to affect neuronal activity and certain aspects of neuronal structure.
In response to stress and changes in our biological clocks, such as day and night cycles and jet lag, hormones enter the blood and travel to the brain and other organs. In the brain, hormones alter the production of gene products that participate in synaptic neurotransmission as well as affect the structure of brain cells. As a result, the circuitry of the brain and its capacity for neurotransmission are changed over a course of hours to days. In this way, the brain adjusts its performance and control of behavior in response to a changing environment.
Surgeries, radiation, and tumors can also cause disease in the hypothalamus. Some hypothalamic diseases have a genetic link to hypothalamic disease. For instance, Kallman syndrome causes hypothalamic problems in children , most noticeably delayed or absent puberty , accompanied by an impaired sense of smell.
Hypothalamus problems also appear to have a genetic link in Prader-Willi Syndrome. This is a condition in which a missing chromosome leads to short stature and hypothalamic dysfunction. Children might show signs of abnormal growth and abnormal puberty. Adults might show symptoms linked to the various hormones their bodies cannot produce. There is usually a traceable link between the absent hormones and the symptoms they produce in the body.
Tumor symptoms might include blurred vision, loss of vision, and headaches. As the hypothalamus plays such a vital role in the body, it is very important to keep it healthy. While a person cannot fully avoid genetic factors, they can take dietary steps towards ideal hypothalamus health on a daily basis to reduce the risk of hypothalamic disease. The hypothalamus controls the appetite, and the foods in the diet influence the hypothalamus.
Studies have shown that diets high in saturated fats can alter the way the hypothalamus regulates hunger and energy expenditure. Sources of saturated fats include lard, meat, and dairy products. Research has also demonstrated that diets high in saturated fats might have an inflammatory effect on the body.
This can make the immune system overactive, increasing the chances of it targeting healthy body cells, increasing inflammation in the gut, and altering the natural working of the body. Diets high in polyunsaturated fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, can help to reverse this inflammation. These fats might be a safe alternative to other types of oils and fats. Foods with high omega-3 content include fish, walnuts, flax seeds, and leafy vegetables. A working hypothalamus is one of the most important parts of the body, and it usually goes unnoticed until it stops working properly.
Following these dietary tips can help to keep the hypothalamus happy and working well. A new study finds that greater gray matter volume in two regions of the brain is linked to greater ability to exercise self-control in food choices.
Important endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands. There are other glands that contain endocrine tissue and secrete hormones, including the pancreas, ovaries, and testes.
The endocrine and nervous systems work closely together. The brain sends instructions to the endocrine system. In return, it gets constant feedback from the glands. The hypothalamus is the master switchboard.
It's the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system. That pea-sized structure hanging below it is the pituitary gland.
0コメント