difference between adrenal gland and pituitary gland

They can act as total, partial, or inverted agonists or as antagonists for endocrine nuclear receptors, and even perform epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and/or acetylation and histone modifications. Indeed, several mechanisms of action appear to be involved in endocrine disruption.

More recently, literature has focused on their supposed direct action on hormonal receptors and/or genomic expression. Given the complexity of the whole endocrine system and the variety of the involved substances, infinite are the possible levels interfered by EDCs: synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, or elimination of endogenous hormones. Their extensive application in several fields (agricultural, industrial, residential and pharmaceutical), their ability to contaminate human body through virtually every route (inhalation, digestion and transdermal) and to accumulate even for years in the adipose tissue, easily explains the danger that the chronic exposure, to even small doses, poses. However, undoubtedly, it represents a new intriguing field of science research.Įndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are defined as “exogenous chemicals or mixture of chemicals that interfere with any aspect of hormone action”. ConclusionsĪlthough intriguing, studies on endocrine dysfunctions brought by EDCs are challenging, in particular when investigating long-term effects of EDCs on humans. We also gave a glimpse on recent findings from pioneering studies that could in the future shed a light on the pathophysiology of well-known, but poorly understood, endocrine diseases like hormone-producing adenomas. Particularly, we directed our attention on the known and the hypothesized mechanisms of endocrine dysfunction brought by EDCs. This paper aims to summarize current evidence regarding the detrimental effects of EDCs on pivotal endocrine glands like pituitary, thyroid and adrenal ones. As a result, we witnessed a growing awareness and interest on this topic. This induced regulatory authorities to ban some of these compounds and to carefully investigate others in order to prevent EDCs-related conditions. In recent years, scientific research has increasingly focused on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and demonstrated their relevant role in the functional impairment of endocrine glands.

Difference between adrenal gland and pituitary gland