Hormones Hormonal system Basics

Cutolo, M. et al., Sex hormones influence on the immune system Basic and clinical aspects in autoimmunity, Lupus, 13, 635, 2004. 

Basic nitrogen compounds similar to the plant alkaloids also occur in animals, although the description animal alkaloid seldom is used. Certain amines and ammonium compounds play key roles in the function of the central nervous system (Figure 23-3) and the balance of amines in the brain is critical for normal brain functioning. Also, many essential vitamins and hormones are basic nitrogen compounds. Nitrogen bases also are vital constituents of nucleic acid polymers (DNA and RNA) and of proteins (Chapter 25). 

To consider another area, let us suppose that one is interested in any one of a thousand phases of the general process of metabolism enzymes, how they are made up, how they are interrelated, how they function the vitamins, what they are chemically, how they work the chemistry of the hormones, how they function and interact, how they are related to enzyme systems biochemical syntheses, how they progress and what catalysts are involved differentiation, what it consists of and how it is promoted. The problems in this area are legion, and our ignorance is vast. There is room here for investigation on an enormous scale, and all of it is pertinent to life. In recent years we have come to realize how unified nature is and how we may find out much about many fundamental metabolic processes by studying one organism, almost any one that is convenient. All that we know and can learn in this vast area is basic to any applications that may... 

The GI system is responsible at its most basic level for providing a continual supply of water, electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients. This is achieved by a myriad of specialized cells and coordinated interplay of motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, blood flow, and lymph flow. These components are under elaborate control of the central and enteric nervous systems, endocrine and paracrine regulation of hormones. The highly complex nature of GI function is clearly illustrated by the estimate that 80 to 100 million neurons exist within the enteric nervous system, a number comparable to that found within the spinal column, hence described as a "second brain."171... 

The male reproductive system includes the two testes, ducts that store and transport the sperm to the exterior, and the glands that secrete into these ducts and the penis it also includes the hormones that integrate the reproductive activities. Basic details of the anatomy of the male reproductive system are given in Figures 19.1 and 19.2. 

The basic features of the signaling system found in different cells are remarkably similar. It appears that protein phosphorylation is a hnal common pathway in the molecular mechanisms through which neurotrans-mitters, hormones, and the nerve impulse produce many of their biological effects in target cells. 

During the out-of-season periods, reproductive hormone secretion and gonadal activity are at a complete halt. Although the basic reproductive and developmental physiology appear similar to human in the rhesus monkey and many endpoint parameters are established, the distinct reproductive seasonality requires special timing and has practical implications for widespread use of this model for DART studies. With regard to immune system evaluation it can be assumed that most of the available tests for cynomolgus monkey will also be applicable to rhesus monkeys. 

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