Endocrine-regulated physiological processes

Among vertebrate species, the neuro-endocrine-immime system is responsible for many complex, inter-related physiological processes including neuronal, homeostatic, reproductive and immune functions. There are four main types of hormone polypeptides, eicosanoids, steroids and thyroid hormones. Reflecting the inter-dependency of the neiiro-endocrine and immune systems, hormones, neuropeptides and other neiirotransmitters are known to be produced by some immune cells and play a role in the regulation of the immune system, while endocrine and nervous tissues express receptors for many substances produced by the immune system. The major focus of interest in endocrine disruption has... 

The endocrine glands regulate a variety of physiologic processes through the release of specific hormones. Hormones are the equivalent of endogenously produced drugs that usually travel through the blood-... 

The endocrine system also functions to regulate and control physiological processes of the body. However, the endocrine system accomplishes its functions by sending out chemical signals called hormones into the blood. Glands, the organs of the endocrine system, se-... 

PTH works with two other primary hormones— calcitonin and vitamin D—in regulating calcium homeostasis. These three hormones, as well as several other endocrine factors, are all involved in controlling calcium levels for various physiologic needs. How these hormones interact in controlling normal bone formation and resorption is of particular interest to rehabilitation specialists. Regulation of bone mineral homeostasis and the principal hormones involved in this process are presented in the following section. 

Insects are so successful because of their mobility, high reproductive potential, ability to exploit plants as a food resource, and to occupy so many ecological niches. Plants are essentially sessile and can be seen to produce flowers, nector, pollen, and a variety of chemical attractants to induce insect cooperation in cross-pollination. However, in order to reduce the efficiency of insect predation upon them, plants also produce a host of structural, mechanical, and chemical defensive artifices. The most visible chemical defenses are poisons, but certain chemicals, not intrinsically toxic, are targeted to disrupt specific control systems in insects that regulate discrete aspects of insect physiology, biochemistry, and behavior. Hormones and pheromones are unique regulators of insect growth, development, reproduction, diapause, and behavior. Plant secondary chemicals focused on the disruption of insect endocrine and pheromone mediated processes can be visualized as important components of plant defensive mechanisms. 

The maintenance of physiologic calcium concentrations in the intracellular and extracellular spaces is vital for the preservation and function of cell membranes propagation of neuromuscular activity regulation of endocrine and exocrine secretory functions blood coagulation cascade platelet adhesion process bone metabolism muscle cell excitation/contraction coupling and mediation of the elec-trophysiologic slow-channel response in cardiac and smooth-muscle tissue. 

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