Chapter 8

Advanced Pituitary Hormones &

Hormones and Social Behavior

Myxedema is a disease caused by decreased activity of the thyroid gland in adults and characterized by dry skin, swellings around the lips and nose, mental deterioration, and a subnormal basal metabolic rate.

Graves disease is an autoimmune disease. It most commonly affects the thyroid, frequently causing it to enlarge to twice its size or more (goiter), become overactive, with related hyperthyroid symptoms such as increased heartbeat, muscle weakness, disturbed sleep, and irritability

The stereotypical protruding eyes are scientifically referred to as proptotic eyes.

Addison’s Disease (aka: chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, or hypocorticism)

A rare endocrine disorder wherein the adrenal glands produce insufficient steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids). The lack of adrenal steroids is very frequently a result of atrophy of the region of the anterior pituitary that produces ACTH.

Typical bronzing pigmentation seen in many Addison’s Disease patients.

In Addison's disease the adrenal cortex is inactive or damaged, resulting in decreased production of cortisols, aldosterones and all adrenal steroids. 

Signs and symptoms include weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased serum sodium, and hypotension. 

Diffuse pigmentation of skin and oral mucosa typically occur. 

Treatment consists of replacement therapy with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.  The prognosis is good with appropriate therapy.

Cushing’s Syndrome

(aka hyperadrenocorticism or hypercorticism)

a disorder caused by high levels of cortisol (hypercortisolism) in the blood.

Two major forms:

Pituitary Cushings – due to hypersecretion of ACTH (often due to a tumor)

Adrenal Cushings – due to hypersecrtion of adrenal cortex hormones

Cushing’s Syndrome is thought to dramatically increase the risk for a person to develop:

Metabolic Syndrome which is a leading contributor to heart disease and diabetes.

8.3 The pattern of oxytocin binding differs between monogamous and polygamous male voles

The Prairie vole is a species that is socially monogamous while the Montane vole is polygamous in its reproductive behavior.

This is reflected in vastly different oxytocin binding activity levels in various brain regions.

These differences appear around the age of weaning and appears to be associated also with separation behaviors…. The Prairie vole pup, if isolated will emit distress vocalizations, whereas the Montaine vole does not.

8.4 Infant titi monkeys receive most of their contact comfort from their fathers

Fathers provide the majority of comfort behaviors for the Titi Monkey.

An isolated Titi Monkey infant.

8.6 Contact comfort in chicks is mediated by opioids

Comfort responses (eye closing) will occur in response to neural signals in the opiate pathways. Naloxone, an opiod antagonist will block the pathway.

8.9 Two models of agonistic behavior

Agonist behavior is any social behavior related to fighting, such as aggressive or submissive behaviors. It explicitly includes behaviors such as subordinance, retreat and conciliation .

The bars above show how the agonistic behaviors can be thought of as a continuum in several different ways.

8.10 Seasonal changes in red deer stags

Stag refers to the male, and here we see how there is a shift in the level of testosterone which reflects interesingly on antler growth and aggression in the male.

8.12 Aggression in Siberian hamsters is high when testosterone concentrations are low

This graph relates well to the article for Exam #3.

8.13 The type and amount of aggression varies during development (Part 1)

8.14 Dispersal in male Belding’s ground squirrels

This shows the pattern of dispersal seen in male ground squirrels as they leave the material nest.

This process may take a moth or more to complete and is often compared to human parent/offspring scenarios.

8.15 Perinatal exposure to androgens masculinizes female beagles

Female beagles that receive androgens pre or perinatally have a significant chance of developing a pseudopenis. Female beagles exposed in this fashion tend to be very aggressive.

This pathway in development may be similar to the pseudopenis development pathway seen in the hyena.

8.19 Seasonal changes in blood LH and testosterone concentrations in house sparrows (Part 1)

In this bird, there is a average rise in both LH and Testosterone during the Spring and Summer. Yet, if we look more specifically to breeding effects….

8.19 Seasonal changes in blood LH and testosterone concentrations in house sparrows (Part 2)

We see dramatic fluctuations that occur when within different broods.

8.20 Blood testosterone concentrations in birds may reflect competition (Part 1)

8.20 Blood testosterone concentrations in birds may reflect competition (Part 2)

The western gull is a colonial species.

8.21 Testosterone concentrations in the saliva of female prisoners and their behavior

8.22 Salivary testosterone concentrations among men in six different occupations

8.23 Components of the rat brain involved in aggression