Regulatory mechanisms within the endocrine system where the output of a pathway influences its own input, thereby controlling the overall rate of hormone production and secretion to maintain homeostasis. These loops are classified as either negative, which dampens the original stimulus, or positive, which amplifies it. They are the essential communication structures ensuring hormonal stability.
Origin
The concept of feedback loops originates from cybernetics and control theory, a field developed in the mid-20th century to describe self-regulating systems in engineering and biology. Physiologists adopted this terminology to precisely explain the self-correcting nature of the body’s hormonal and nervous systems.
Mechanism
In a classic negative feedback loop, a target gland hormone, such as cortisol or testosterone, rises in the circulation and then acts on the pituitary and hypothalamus to inhibit the release of their respective stimulating hormones. This inhibitory signal subsequently reduces the original hormone production, thus preventing over-secretion and maintaining a narrow concentration range. This constant, dynamic adjustment is the primary function of the endocrine axes, ensuring tight physiological control.
Peptide therapies restore the body’s own hormonal production, while HRT directly replaces deficient hormones, making them distinct tools for different clinical goals.
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