Brain and metabolism
Our central nervous system (CNS) and brain receive information from our senses and body, analyse the information received, and then transmit signals back throughout our body. The CNS directly controls hormone cycles via the pituitary gland (hypophysis) and biological functions (neurobiology) via the peripheral nervous system, also known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS):
- Blood pressure and heart rate
- Water balance (diabetes insipidus)
- Digestion, perception of cold and heat
- Weight (overweight, obesity)
- Mood and performance
- Well-being and sleep.
The pituitary gland (hypophysis) controls glandular function in the:
- Thyroid gland,
- Adrenal glands (produce stress hormones),
- Ovaries and testicles.
Prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland and naturally controls breast milk production. Without prolactin, young mothers would be unable to breastfeed their babies. The glandular cells in the pituitary gland can change and increase in size causing a prolactinoma to develop. The resulting increase in prolactin levels causes fluid secretion from the glandular tissue in the breast – in both men and women! Elevated prolactin levels affect female fertility (difficulty in falling pregnant).
Our centre has an in-house hormone laboratory specialised in the following:
- Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the pituitary gland (i.e., hypophyseal adenomas)
- Analysis of the autonomic nervous system and its interaction with pituitary gland function and peripheral hormone regulation
- Analysis of neurobiological processes, such as analysis of the autonomic nervous system and its effects on weight, sleep quality, menstrual cycle, and testosterone production.
Please note: At our centre in Frankfurt, blood samples for laboratory testing are taken in the morning and the patient must arrive in a fasted state.
