Endocrine & Immune Systems
Respond to the following prompts and submit your completed worksheet in Canvas.
1. Discuss how hormones are released and transported. What is pulpability?
2. Discuss the relationship of exercise with the following hormones:
a. Growth Hormone (GH):
b. Beta-endorphin:
c. Testosterone:
d. Estrogens:
e. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs):
f. Epinephrine (aka Adrenaline):
3. Describe hormonal regulation as it applies to fluid balance during exercise.
4. Discuss how exercise plays a role in Diabetes management and prevention in terms regard to insulin.
5. You are a trainer working with a client that is in a building phase involving high volumes of weight training. Discuss how the hormones increased with this type of training would influence the muscle building processes. How might this impact metabolic rate?
6. Outline the responses of exercise on immune function
7. Outline the chronic adaptations to exercise regarding immune function.
8. Discuss some common ways in which immune response can be lowered in athletes (your answer should include overtraining and 2-3 other common habits athletes may have that could lessen immune responses).
Sample Solution
Hormones are released and transported through the body in order to regulate various physiological processes. Hormones are produced by endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland and thyroid, which secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. This allows for them to travel quickly throughout the entire body (Cooper). Once in circulation, hormones bind with specific receptors located in target cells which allow them to fulfill their regulatory functions (Gamsiz et al.).
The solubility of a hormone determines how it is distributed throughout the body’s tissues. Lipophilic hormones are soluble in fat molecules and can easily pass through cell membranes; they have a longer period of activity due to their ability to remain dissolved in fatty tissue (Thomas)[1]. Hydrophilic hormones are water soluble so they circulate freely in plasma but cannot cross cell membranes; these types of hormones tend to have shorter periods of activity before being flushed out of the system.[2]
In addition, some hormones can be bound by proteins or other substance that make them more pulpable than others. These substances act like carriers allowing certain hormones to remain active for extended periods of time.[3] For example, estrogen binds tightly with albumin resulting increased its half-life from 2 minutes up to 60 minutes[4].
Overall then, it is clear that different methods work together when transporting and distributing hormonal messages throughout an organism’s body.
Hormones are released from the endocrine glands and transported to their target cells through the bloodstream. Pulpability is a term used for how easily hormones can be taken up by tissues, which depends on a hormone’s solubility in lipid-soluble substances. This determines how much of the hormone will enter and bind with receptors in certain tissues.
Answer 2:
a. Growth Hormone (GH): Exercise increases GH production, resulting in increased metabolism and protein synthesis, as well as enhanced fat burning.
b. Beta-endorphin: Exercise is associated with an increase in beta-endorphin levels, as this hormone has been linked to feelings of euphoria during exercise or physical activity. It also acts on the opioid system to reduce pain perception during exercise.
c. Testosterone: Exercise has positive effects on testosterone production due to its role in muscle development and maintenance; it stimulates Leydig cell growth, which leads to higher levels of testosterone being produced after physical exertion – particularly when done at high intensity for short periods of time (e.g., weightlifting).
