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The Pituitary Gland

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.

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Related Experiment Video

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Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Published on: April 25, 2016

Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) in Horses.

Naomi C Kirkwood¹, Kristopher J Hughes¹, Allison J Stewart²

¹School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.

Veterinary Sciences

|October 26, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) causes significant illness in horses, often missed by owners and vets. Early diagnosis and treatment of PPID are crucial for improving horses' quality of life.

Keywords:

endocrine geriatric hypertrichosis immune dysfunction insulin dysregulation laminitis proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)β-endorphin (β-END)

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Area of Science:

Veterinary Medicine
Equine Endocrinology

Background:

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a common endocrine disorder in horses.
PPID is frequently underestimated, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Clinical signs, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and treatment of PPID are reviewed.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the importance of early recognition and diagnosis of PPID.
To emphasize how prompt treatment improves horses' quality of life.
To identify areas for future research in PPID diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

Review of clinical signs, pathophysiology, diagnostic tests, and treatment protocols for PPID.
Discussion of diagnostic limitations, including basal ACTH sensitivity and TRH availability.
Examination of the relationship between PPID, insulin dysregulation, and laminitis.

Main Results:

Early identification and treatment of PPID significantly enhance a horse's quality of life.
Current diagnostic methods, such as basal ACTH concentration, may lack sensitivity.
The availability of diagnostic tools like sterile TRH for stimulation tests is limited in many regions.

Conclusions:

Improved recognition of early PPID clinical signs is essential.
Further research is needed to enhance the accuracy of PPID diagnosis.
Additional investigation into PPID's links with metabolic issues and long-term treatment responses is required.