The Equine Endocrine System
The equine endocrine system is a group of organs that release hormones in the horses body to regulate things like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Hormones production is directed by brain signals caused by outside stimuli and it maintained through negative and positive feedback loops. One of the main organs in the endocrine system is the pituitary gland located on the floor of the skull. The hormones produced by the pituitary have a variety of functions from metabolism to reproduction. The most well known function of the equine pituitary is the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pars intermedia. ACTH acts directly on the adrenal glands to stimulate the production of steroids, most notably cortisol in response to stress.
…show more content…
They are located on the cranial poles of the kidneys. The adrenals play a very large role in metabolism, behavior, and stress. These glands ave a tremendous anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system which is why horses with PPID show signs of poor immunity like chronic dermatitis, foot abscesses, and poor wound healing. The adrenal glands also produce the catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for the “fight or flight” response when a threat is sensed. The disease of the adrenal glands is very rare. Next is the thyroid glands. The thyroid gland straddles the trachea just behind the larynx.These hormones circulate in two different forms, bound to proteins and unbound “free” hormones. Thyroid hormones act in the young horse to promote growth, organ maturation, and regulate metabolism. In all ages, thyroid hormones play a role in protein synthesis and breakdown, increase body heat production in times of prolonged cold weather, and set basal metabolic rate. Calcitonin is also regulated by the thyroid gland and is involved with calcium homeostasis between the bone and the circulation. The parathyroid glands are two sets of organs associated with the thyroid gland. The chief cells produce parathyroid hormone (PTH) whose main function is to regulate calcium levels in the body. PTH can stimulate osteoclasts to resorb bone, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. It also can act on the kidneys to retain calcium and release phosphorous into the
They are located on the cranial poles of the kidneys. The adrenals play a very large role in metabolism, behavior, and stress. These glands ave a tremendous anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system which is why horses with PPID show signs of poor immunity like chronic dermatitis, foot abscesses, and poor wound healing. The adrenal glands also produce the catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for the “fight or flight” response when a threat is sensed. The disease of the adrenal glands is very rare. Next is the thyroid glands. The thyroid gland straddles the trachea just behind the larynx.These hormones circulate in two different forms, bound to proteins and unbound “free” hormones. Thyroid hormones act in the young horse to promote growth, organ maturation, and regulate metabolism. In all ages, thyroid hormones play a role in protein synthesis and breakdown, increase body heat production in times of prolonged cold weather, and set basal metabolic rate. Calcitonin is also regulated by the thyroid gland and is involved with calcium homeostasis between the bone and the circulation. The parathyroid glands are two sets of organs associated with the thyroid gland. The chief cells produce parathyroid hormone (PTH) whose main function is to regulate calcium levels in the body. PTH can stimulate osteoclasts to resorb bone, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. It also can act on the kidneys to retain calcium and release phosphorous into the