Health & Chemicals

Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors '98 (SPEED '98) - Table-1

Table-1: The main functions of hormones in humans and the diseases which can result from the overproduction and shortage of hormones

HormonesSitesThe main functions (control functions)Main diseases
OversecretionShortage of secretion/ receptor abnormality
growth hormone pituitary gland acceleration of growth giantism,
acromegaly		 dwarfism
thyroid hormone thyroid gland acceleration of metabolism,
control of intelligence and growth		 hyperthyroidism
(Basedow's disease)		 hypothyroidism
insulin pancreas decrease of blood sugar hypoglycemia hyperglycemia (diabetes)
adrenal cortical
hormone		 adrenal gland control of metabolism,
immune, etc.
stress response		 Cushing's syndrome Addison's disease
estrogen (female sex
hormone)		 ovary feminization
(menstruation, mammary gland),
development of ova,
ovulation		 endometriosis,
vaginal carcinoma,
breast cancer,
metrorrhagia		 developmental abnormality of female genitalia,
menstrual disorder
androgen
(male sex hormone)		 testis virilization,
development of testis,
spermatogenesis		 premature development of secondary sex characteristics developmental abnormality of male genitalia,
azoospermia,
testicular feminization syndrome