DRUGS TO TREAT ENDOCRINE SYSTEM DISORDERS

INTRODUCTION
Endocrine pharmacology encompasses a wide range of agents, including
natural hormones & their synthetic analogues, hormone like substances & drugs
that stimulate or suppress hormone secretion.
PANCREATIC HORMONES
The pancreas secretes two hormones, insulin & glucagon, from special cells
in the islets of Langerhans. The beta cells produce insulin; the alpha cells secrete
glucagon.
Insulin promotes glucose uptake, storage, & use; glucagon increases
glycogenolysis & gluconeogenesis. Insulin also inhibits lipolysis & promotes
cellular uptake of amino acids & protein synthesis. The blood glucose level
primarily controls insulin & glucagon secretion. t a normal fasting blood glucose
level, !"# to $$#mg%dl&, little insulin is secreted. 'hen the blood glucose level rises
above $$#mg%dl, glucagon secretion increases, rapidly increasing hepatic glucose
production. Thus, glucagon prevents hypoglycemia & insulin prevents
hyperglycemia.
THYROID HORMONES
The thyroid gland secrets tridothyronine !T(& & thyro)ine !T*&, which
in+uence the body,s metabolic rate, & calcitonin, which helps regulate calcium
metabolism. -ecretion of these thyroid hormones is controlled primarily by thyroid.
stimulating hormone !T-/&, which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.
The thyroid gland secrets more T* than T(. lthough the hormones function
the same physiologically, they di0er in onset & intensity of action. T( is about four
times as potent as T* & produces e0ects much more rapidly. 1et both hormones
increase protein synthesis, stimulate cellular en2yme activity, promote growth &
enhance carbohydrate & fat metabolism. They also increase cardiac output & heart
rate, respiratory rate & depth, & gastrointestinal !3I& motility.
4alcitonin is secreted primarily by the thyroid gland. 'hen the serum
calcium level is high, calcitonin secretion increases. 4alcitonin reduces the serum
calcium level by inhibiting bone resorption, reducing osteoclast activity !bone
absorption & removal&, & increasing renal e)cretion of calcium.
PARATHYROID HORMONES
The anterior pituitary gland secretes si) hormones that help control
metabolic processes throughout the body5 growth hormone !3/&,
adrenocorticotropic hormone !4T/&, T-/, prolactin, follicle.stimulating hormone
!6-/&, & luteini2ing hormone !L/&.
lso called somatotropic hormone or somatotropin, 3/ promotes growth by
increasing protein synthesis, decreasing carbohydrate use, & increasing fat
mobili2ation & use for energy.
4T/, also called adrenocorticotropin or corticotrophin, controls cortsol
secretion & enhances androgen production by the adrenal gland. It also in+uences
aldosterone secretion.
ANTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES
POSTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES
GONADAL HORMONES