18. Metabolic and endocrine control during special circumstances Flashcards
Which fuel sources are normally available in the blood?
GLUCOSE
• Glucose is the preferred fuel source
• Little (~12g) free glucose available
• More glucose (~300g) stored as glycogen
FATTY ACIDS
• Can be used as fuel by most cells except red blood cells, brain and CNS
• Stored as triacylglycerol (fat) in adipose
• 10-15 kg fat in 70kg man (~2 months fuel supply)
Which fuel sources are available on special circumstances?
AMINO ACIDS
KETONE BODIES
LACTATE
Describe how amino acids can be made available as a fuel source on special circumstances?
- Some muscle protein (~6kg) can be broken down to provide amino acids for fuel
- Converted to glucose or ketone bodies
- ~2 weeks supply of energy
Describe how ketone bodies can be made available as a fuel source on special circumstances?
- Mainly from fatty acids
- Used when glucose is critically short
- Brain can metabolise instead of glucose
Describe how lactate can be made available as a fuel source on special circumstances?
- Product of anaerobic metabolism in muscle
- Liver can convert back to glucose (Cori cycle) or can be utilised as fuel source for TCA cycle in other tissues (e.g. heart)
What are the 3 main energy stores?
glycogen, fat and muscle protein
Describe the energy store glycogen
- Readily available source of glucose
- Made & stored in liver and muscle
- Made when glucose is in excess in blood
Describe the energy store fat
- Made from glucose and dietary fats when in excess
- Stored as triacylglycerol in adipose tissue
Source of:
• Fatty acids
• Glycerol
Describe the energy store Muscle protein
• Used in emergency • Amino acids can be: - Glucogenic (e.g. Ala & Val) - Ketogenic (Lys & Leu) - or both (e.g. Tyr & Phe) • Store ‘filled’ by normal growth and repair processes
What are the key features in metabolic control(from feeding to starvation)?
1) Feeding
2) Glucose and fat available from gut (~2 hours)
3) Glucose and fats no longer being absorbed (~2-10 hours)
4) No food for ~8-10 hours - Glycogen stores depleted
5) Starvation
What happens when glucose and fat are available?
- Immediate metabolism supported by glucose
- Speed up growth and repair processes
- Make glycogen as rapidly as possible
- Increase fat stores
What happens when glucose and fat no longer being absorbed?
- Maintain blood glucose by drawing on glycogen stores
- Support other metabolic activity with fatty acids released from stores
- Preserve blood glucose for brain
What happens when No food for ~8-10 hours and Glycogen stores depleted?
- Need to make more glucose for brain from amino acids, glycerol & lactate by gluconeogenesis
- Continue to support other metabolism with fatty acids
Summarise what happens during starvation
- Fatty acid metabolism produces ketone bodies
* Brain becomes able to metabolise ketone bodies (reduces need for glucose)
What do anabolic hormones promote in terms of fuel conserves?
Promote fuel storage
What do catabolic hormones promote in terms of fuel conserves?
Promote release from stores & utilisation
What are examples of anabolic hormones?
• (Growth Hormone)
increases protein synthesis
What are examples of catabolic hormones?
• Glucagon • Adrenaline • Cortisol • Growth hormone (increases lipolysis & gluconeogenesis) • Thyroid hormones
Which hormones are called anti-insulin hormones?
glucagon, adrenaline, growth hormone and cortisol - oppose the actions of insulin
What processes does insulin stimulate?
- Glucose uptake in muscle and adipose (GLUT 4).
- Glycolysis
- Glycogen synthesis
- Protein synthesis
What processes does insulin inhibit?
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glycogenolysis
- Lipolysis
- Ketogenesis
- Proteolysis
What are the effects of feeding?
Increase in blood glucose stimulates pancreas to release
insulin.
• Increases glucose uptake and utilisation by muscle and adipose (GLUT 4)
• Promotes storage of glucose as glycogen in liver and
muscle.
• Promotes amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in liver and muscle.
• Promotes lipogenesis and storage of fatty acids as triacylglycerols in adipose tissue
What are the effects of fasting?
1) Blood glucose falls & insulin secretion depressed.
• Reduces uptake of glucose by adipose and muscle.
2) Low blood glucose stimulates glucagon which stimulates:
• Glycogenolysis in the liver to maintain blood glucose for brain and other glucose dependent tissues.
• Lipolysis in adipose tissue to provide fatty acids for use by tissues.
• Gluconeogenesis to maintain supplies of glucose for the brain.
What are the processes that occur in energy starvation?
• The initial response to starvation is merely a prolonged version of the normal fasting response
• Reduction of blood glucose stimulates release of cortisol from adrenal cortex & glucagon from pancreas.
• Stimulate gluconeogenesis & breakdown of protein & fat
• Reduction in insulin & anti-insulin effects of cortisol prevent most cells from using glucose & fatty acids are preferentially metabolised.
• Glycerol from fat provides important substrate for gluconeogenesis, reducing the need for breakdown of proteins.
• Liver starts to produce ketone bodies & brain starts to utilise these sparing glucose requirement from protein
• Kidneys begin to contribute to gluconeogenesis
• Once fat stores depleted system must revert to use of protein as fuel
• Death usually related to loss of muscle mass (respiratory muscle:infection)
infection).
What is the main cause of death in starvation?
Death results from a number of causes related
to loss of muscle mass including serious respiratory infections due to loss of respiratory muscle.
Which system in the body needs a constant supply of glucose?
The central nervous system.
What is a mother’s average net weight gain by the end of pregnancy?
8Kg
Why are there alterations to maternal metabolism and endocrine system during pregnancy?
• Accommodate increased demands of developing fetus
and placenta
• Growth of fetus requires lots of energy & raw materials
When does most fetal growth occur in the pregnancy?
last trimester
What are the 2 main phases of metabolic adaptations during pregnancy?
Anabolic phase (early pregnancy): Preparatory increase in maternal nutrient stores (especially adipose)
Catabolic phase (late pregnancy): Maternal metabolism adapts to meet an increasing demand by fetal-placental unit
Describe the anabolic phase of pregnancy.
- Increase in maternal fat stores
- Small increase in level of insulin sensitivity.
- Nutrients are stored to meet future demands of rapid fetal growth in late gestation and lactation after birth.
Describe the catabolic phase of pregnancy.
- Decreased insulin sensitivity (increased insulin resistance).
- Increase in insulin resistance results in an increase in maternal glucose and free fatty acid concentration
- Allows for greater substrate availability for fetal growth
How are most substances transported in placental transfer?
Simple diffusion down concentration gradients
- some active transport (e,g amino acids)
how is glucose transferred in the placenta?
Glucose is principal fuel for fetus and Transfer facilitated by transporters (mainly GLUT 1
Why is the fetus called the agressive parasite
Because the Fetus controls maternal metabolism to ensure its own survival
What is the fetoplacental unit and what is it made up of?
Placenta, fetal adrenal glands and fetal liver,
constitute a new endocrine entity, known as the fetoplacental unit
What hypothalamic like releasing hormones does the placenta release?
Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)
Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)
What pituitary like hormones does the placenta release?
ACTH (small amount compared to CRH)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Human chorionic thyrotropin (cCT)
Human placental lactogen (hPL)
What are the 2 important placental steroid hormones?
Progesterone, oestriol