Neuroendokrinoloogia

Neuroendokrinoloogia refers to the study of the interactions between the nervous and endocrine systems. It covers physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical aspects of how neural signals regulate hormone secretion and how hormones affect neural function and behavior. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is a central focus, with hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones controlling the anterior pituitary's production of growth hormone, ACTH, TSH, prolactin, gonadotropins, and other peptides. The posterior pituitary releases vasopressin and oxytocin, products of hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons. The pineal, adrenal medulla, and other neuroendocrine cells produce neurohormones that coordinate physiological responses to stress, energy balance, reproduction, and circadian rhythms. The field also examines neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms in metabolism, appetite, immunity, and sleep.

Clinical aspects include disorders of the pituitary and hypothalamus, such as diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, Cushing's disease, acromegaly, and hyperprolactinemia, as well as tumors arising from neuroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lungs, and other sites. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are diagnosed with biochemical markers and imaging, including somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT, and treated with surgery, somatostatin analogs, targeted therapies, or peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

Research areas span signaling pathways, hormone biosynthesis, neuroimmune interactions, and novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of neuroendokrinoloogia.