Histology of Endocrine Glands

dr. Ira Cinta Lestari, M.Sc

Histology Dept.
Medical Faculty
Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara
INTRODUCTION
• Secretory cells of endocrine glands release their products, signaling molecules
called hormones, into a neighboring vascularized compartment for uptake by
capillaries and distribution throughout the body, rather than directly into an
epithelial duct like the cells of exocrine glands.

• Endocrine cells typically aggregate as cords, or as follicles in the case of the

thyroid gland.

• Besides the specialized endocrine glands discussed in this chapter, many other
organs specialized for other functions, such as the heart, thymus, gut, kidneys,
testis, and ovaries contain various endocrine cells
Endocrine
Glands
PITUITARY GLAND (HYPOPHYSIS)
Formation of the pituitary gland
Pituitary gland

Infundibular stalk (IS)

Neurohypophysis pars nervosa (PN)
Adenohypophysis pars distalis (PD)
Adenohypophysis pars intermediate (PI)
Adenohypophisis pars tuberalis (PT)
The hypothalamo-
hypophyseal portal
system and hormone
release in the
pituitary
 Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary)
Pars distalis : Acidophils, basophils, and chromophobes

Acidophils cells  somatotropic and mammotropic cells

Basophilic cells  gonadotropic, corticotropic, and thyrotropic cells
Secretory cells of the pars distalis
Hormones of the
pars distalis and
their targets
Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary)
PARS TUBERALIS

• The pars tuberalis is a funnel-shaped region surrounding the infundibulum of the

neurohypophysis.

• Most of the cells of the pars tuberalis are basophilic gonadotropic cells that
secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary)
PARS INTERMEDIA

The pars intermedia (PI) lies between the pars distalis (PD) and the
pars nervosa (PN), with many of its basophilic cells (B) usually
invading the latter.

Remnants of the embryonic hypophyseal pouch's lumen are usually

present in this region as colloid-filled cysts (C) of various sizes.

Function of this region in adults is not clear, but in the fetus the
basophils produce melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH)
important for melanocyte activity.
CONTROL OF SECRETION IN THE ADENOHYPOPHYSIS
Negative feedback loops affecting anterior pituitary secretion
Neurohypophysis (Posterior Pituitary)

The pars nervosa of the posterior pituitary consists of

modified neural tissues containing unmyelinated axons
supported and ensheathed by glia cells called pituicytes (P),
the most numerous cell type present.

The axons run from the supraoptic and paraventricular

hypothalamic nuclei and have swellings called
neurosecretory (Herring) bodies (NB) from which either
oxytocin or vasopressin is released upon neural stimulation.

The released hormones are picked up by capillaries (C) for

distribution throughout the body.
Hormones of the posterior pituitary
ADRENAL GLANDS
Adrenal gland
Adrenal cortex
Glomerulosa zone  mineralcorticoid aldosterone

Fasiculata zone  glucocorticoids such as cortisol

Reticularis zone  sex steroids

Adrenal Medulla
The hormone-secreting cells of the adrenal medulla are chromaffin cells, which resemble
sympathetic neurons.

Norepinephrine-secreting cells (NE)

Epinephrine-secreting cells (E)
Pancreatic islets
Pancreatic islets

 α or A cells  glucagon , near the periphery of islets.

 β or B cells  insulin, central islets, the most numerous cell type

 δ or D cells  somatostatin, scattered, much less abundant.

 F or PP cells  pancreatic polypeptide, the head of the pancreas

Major cell types and hormones of pancreatic islets
DIFFUSE NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM (DNES)
Other names :
 Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) endocrine cells  scattered in both the islets and small ducts of
the pancreas are similar to those of the digestive tract
 Enterochromaffin cells  stained by chromium salts solution
 Argentaffin cells  stained by silver nitrate

Function :
 Serotonin
 Amine derivatives demonstrate amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD cells)
 Regulates motility and secretions of all types within the digestive system
THYROID GLAND
Thyroid development
 Thyroid follicular cells and parafollicular cells

 The lumen of follicle  thyroglobulin (colloid of a large gelatinous protein)

 Follicular cells  simple epithelium (squamous to low columnar)
 Parafollicular or C cells, large and pale  calcitonin

Calcitonin suppress bone resorption by osteoclasts.

Calcitonin secretion is triggered by elevated blood Ca2+ levels.
Thyroid follicular cell functions

 T4 is the more abundant compound  90% of the

circulating thyroid hormone.

 T3 T4 bind the same intracellular receptors of target

cells, but T3 is two to ten fold more active than T4.

 The half-life of T3 is 1.5 days in comparison with a

week for T4.

 Function  increase the number of mitochondria and

their cristae and stimulate mitochondrial protein
synthesis.
PARATHYROID GLANDS

 Principal cells (P) or chief cells  parathyroid hormone (PTH)

 Oxyphil cells (O)  much larger, acidophilic, nonfunctional

PTH function :
 Targets osteoblasts  promotes resorption of the calcified bone matrix and the release
of Ca2+  increasing the concentration of Ca2+ in the blood
 Stimulating the synthesis of vitamin D  increases the absorption of Ca2+ from the
gastrointestinal
PINEAL GLAND
Also known as the pineal body or epiphysis cerebri.

Very small neuroendocrine gland attached to the brain in the roof of

the third ventricle.

It is covered by the pia mater, which sends septa of connective tissue

into the glands, subdividing groups of parenchymal cells called
pinealocytes.

Produce melatonin, a low molecular-weight tryptophan derivative 

determining the diurnal rhythms of hormone release and physiological
activities throughout the body.

Corpus arenaceum (CA)  extracellular mineral deposit, unknown

physiological significance
PINEAL GLAND

pinealocytes (P)
astrocytes (A)
corpus arenaceum (CA)
References