What is the Origin of Neuroendocrine Hormones?

The term is a compound physiological descriptor, combining 'neuro' (from neuron, the basic unit of the nervous system) and 'endocrine' (from the system of internal secretion) to define their dual origin and function. This concept is foundational to the field of neuroendocrinology, which studies the interaction between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

What is the Mechanism of Neuroendocrine Hormones?

The mechanism involves the neurosecretory cells receiving neuronal input and, in response, generating an action potential that triggers the release of the hormone-containing vesicles into the perivascular space or hypophyseal portal system. For instance, the hypothalamus releases releasing hormones that travel to the anterior pituitary, stimulating the release of tropic hormones. This mechanism allows for rapid, neurally-mediated hormonal responses to stress, emotion, and environmental cues, thereby controlling metabolism, reproduction, and growth.

Neuroendocrine Hormones ∞ Area

Neuroendocrine Hormones

Meaning

Neuroendocrine Hormones are a class of chemical messengers synthesized and released by specialized neurosecretory cells, which possess characteristics of both neurons and endocrine cells, into the systemic circulation to act on distant target tissues. These hormones form the critical bridge between the nervous system’s perception of the internal and external environment and the endocrine system’s systemic regulation of physiological processes. Key examples include hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones, oxytocin, vasopressin, and catecholamines.