What Are Neuroendocrine Cells?

Neuroendocrinology is a marginal discipline between neurology and endocrinology, which studies the relationship between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

neuroendocrine

Some specialized nerve cells in the animal body (which are structurally belonging to the nervous system rather than the endocrine system) can secrete some biologically active substances and regulate the function of other organs through blood circulation or through local diffusion; these

Neuroendocrine cells still retain the structural and functional characteristics of nerve cells. Structurally, this cell is also composed of

Invertebrate neurohormone

Neuroendocrine cells have been present since coelenterate and passed through the secreted

Regulation of neuroendocrine hormones

In order to maintain the balance between the main hormones in the body, there is a complex system under the action of the central nervous system. Hormones are usually released at a relatively constant rate (such as thyroxine) or a certain rhythm (such as cortisol, sex hormones). Physiological or pathological factors can affect the basal secretion of hormones, and hormone levels are also monitored and regulated by sensors. The feedback regulation system is an important self-regulation mechanism in the endocrine system. Figure 6-1-1 shows that the information of the central nervous system passes through the hypothalamus, the pituitary reaches the peripheral glands, and the target cells exert physiological effects, any of which is positive or negative. Control of feedback regulation.

Neuroendocrine hormone transmission

Peptide hormones are mainly in free form in circulation. Sterol hormones and thyroid hormones (except aldosterone) both bind to specific plasma proteins with high affinity, and only a small amount (about 1-10%) is biologically active. Free state. This control of the ratio of binding to free can assist in regulating glandular function, which can regulate both biological activity and half-life.

Neuroendocrine hormones and receptors

Hormones need to bind to specific receptors to activate their physiological activities. Different hormones can have different processes; peptide hormones and catecholamines bind to cell surface receptors and exert their biological effects by affecting genes; insulin binds to cell surface receptors and enters cells to form pancreatin-receptor complex , And then combined with the second receptor to produce a biological effect, the binding of hormones and receptors is specific, and is reversible, in line with the law of quality and action.