5 Flashcards
What is Prolactomina?And what often causes it?
When there is an overproduction of prolactinA decrease in dopamine often causes it –> this can be fixed by using a dopamine agonist
What is Panhypopituitarism?
A deficinecy in all anterior pituitary hormones
What’s the difference between primary and secondary diseases?
Primary –> Defect with the endocrine organSecondary –> Problems with the release of the hormones (eg, in the pituatary)
What are the differences between T4 and T3?
T4 is a pro-hormone of T3 –> converted by deiodinasesT3 has a shorter half life than T4T3 has a lower binding affinity for binding proteins, but a higher affinity for receptors
Where are thyroid hormones synthesised?
Follicle cells
What is the most common form of hypothyroidism?
Atrophic (autoimmune) hypothyroidismThis uses antithyroid antibodiesMore common in women –> with the incidence increasing with age
How can we differentiate between primary and secondary hypothyroidism?
TSH LevelsHigh = PrimaryLow = Secondary
What’s the common form of hyperthyroidism?
Graves DiseaseAn autoimmune disease that causes the stimulation of TSH receptors
What are the 3 treatment options for hyperthyroidism?
Antithyroid Drugs –> Carbimazole/ThiamazoleRadioiodine –> If rendered euthyroid before (normal thyroid gland)Surgery –> Only if rendered euthyroid before
Where abouts are aldosterone and cortisol specifically made in the adrenal glands?
Aldosterone –> Zona Glomerulosa (ZG)Cortisol –> Zonas fasciculate (ZF) and Zonas reticularis (ZR)
What is aldosterone?
A mineralcorticoidIts secretion is stimulated by elevation in angiotensin IIBinds to the MCR nuclear receptor
What are the 3 triggers for the release of renin?
Decrease in BP in the afferent arterioleIncrease in sympathetic nervous activityDecrease in [NaCl] in the DCT
What are the 3 main effects of primary hyperaldosteronism?
Increase plasma Aldosterone:Renin Ratio (ARR)Increased aldosterone plasma levels –> that cannot be controlled with NaCl infusionIncreased urinary K+ (and so decreased plasma levels)
What is cortisol?
A glucocorticoidIn circulation most of it is bound to plasma proteinsBinds to the GCR nuclear receptorSecretion is stimulated by ACTH from the pituitary
What’s Addison’s Disease?
Primary adrenal insufficiencyAn autoimmune disease that destroys the adrenal cortex –> so less adrenal steroid productionCharacterised by an increase in CRH/ACTH productionAlso due to cortisol levels (due to destruction above) there is a negative feedback loop which creates
What is main reason for people getting secondary adrenal insufficency?And what does it cause?
Long term corticosteorid therapySuppress the hypothalamus-pituitary axis
How do you manage hypoadrenalism long term?
Replacement therapy with gluco/mineralocorticoidsHave a steroid card for emergency servicesKeep an ampoule of hydrocortisone at home for injection by carers/family
What are the 2 types of hypercortisolism (cushings syndrome)?And how do you test for them?
Primary –> Non ACTH dependent, normally caused by a cortisol-secreting adrenal tumourSecondary –> ACTH dependent, usually caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma (‘cushings disease’)The high-dose dexamathasone test is the main one
How do you pharmacologically inhibit cortisol synthesis in cushings syndrome?
Metyrapone and KetoconazoleThese block the adrenal 11(B)-hydroxylase
What is the primary transmitter in nicotinic receptors?
Acetylcholine
Explain what M1 and M2 receptors cause when Ach bindsAlso what is the effect of neuropeptides?
M1 –> Causes K+ channels to close, causing a slow EPSPM2 –> Causes an increase in K+ conducatance, causing hyperpolarisation (slow IPSP)Neuropeptides act as co-transmitters –> causing late/slow EPSPs
Why are local anasthetics co-administered with a vasoconstrictor?
To prevent the anasthetic going elsewhere in the body (to keep it local to the ganglion that its injected into)
What are the different drugs that can be used to block different parts of the synthesis pathway of noradrenaline/adrenaline?
(a)-methyl-p-tyrosine –> Inhibits the Tyrosine HyroxylaseCarbidopa –> Inhibits DOPA DecarboxylaseOften taken with Levodopa to reduces levodopas peripheral effects
How is the release of NA regulated?
Normally the depolarisation of a nerve terminal causes Ca2+ channels to open, which cause NA to be released from vesiclesThe NA then binds to presynaptic receptors (a2-adrenoceptors) when there is too muchThis causes the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, which limits the amount of cAMP thats produced….so less calcium channels are opened
Explain how NA transmission can be terminated?
Neuronal Epinephrine Transporters (NET) are located on the presynaptic membrane, and reuptake NA into the presynaptic nerve terminalsVesicular Monoamine Transporter (VMAT) uptakes NA back into vesicles, with ATP. This is because they have oppostie charges, so vesicle leakage doesn’t occur.Extraneuronal Monoamine Transporter (EMT) actively transports NA into the post synaptic cell, where is it metabolised by catechol o-methyl Transferase (COMT)
How do the following drugs work to prevent NA transmission?MethydopaGuanethidineReserpine
Methyldopa –> An a2 agonist, so promotes the inhibition of adenylyl cyclaseAlso inhibits DOPA decarboylase (like carbidopa)Guanethidine –> A substrate for NET and VMAT (so accumulates in vesicles), preventing depolarisationReserpine –> Inhibits VMAT, so NA floats around outside before being matabolised by MAO
There are 3 types of B, and 2 types of A adrenoreceptors…. but which GPCRs do they bind to?
A1 –> Gq Which activates Phospholipase CB1/2/3 –> Gs Which activates Adenylyl cyclaseA2 –> Gi Which inhibits Adenylyl cyclase
What are some of the uses/effects of direct sympathomimetics?
(A)1 Selective –> Vasoconstrictors (eg, phenylephrine)(A)2 Selective –> Prevent NA release, so reduce BP (eg, clonidine) with their main action in the medullaB Agonists –> Increase cardiac contractility (eg, adrenaline in anaphalactic shock)
Give some example of indirect acting sympathomimeticsAnd how do they work?
Amphetamines –> Substrates of NET/VMAT and inhibit MAO…..so there is a greater conc of NA in the synapseCocaine –> Inhibits NET, so there is more NA in the synapse
Name some examples of non-selective (a)-adrenoceptor antagonists
Labetalol/CarvedilolPhenoxybenzamide –> long lasting due to convalent bondingAlso blocks Ach, 5HT and histaminePhentolamine –> Short acting, and more selective
What are selective A1 antagonists?
-azosin drugs –> eg, Prazosin and DoxazosinDirectly block the action of NA/A on smooth muscle –> Causing vasodialation….and so a fall in BPCauses less tachycardia than non-selective antagonists, but still causes postual hypotension
Name an a2 selective antagonist
Yohimbine
What are some of the unwanted effects of B-Blockers?
Bronchoconstriction –> Via B2 receptorsBradycardiaHypoglycaemia –> due to glucagon release normally occuring due to adreanline binding to B2 receptors. B-Blockers also blocks hypoglycaemia symptoms such as tremors –> causing ‘hypoglycaemic unawareness’FatigueCold Extremities –> Due to loss of B2 mediated vasodialationLucid Dreams
Atenolol and Timolol are example of what?
B1 selective B antagonists (blockers)
What are the key characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome?
Abnormal carbohydrate and lipid metabolismInsulin resistanceElevated fasting blood glucoseHypertensionDyslipidaemia
What are the risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome?
Visceral obesityAge and WeightRace –> More prevelant in afro-carribean/asian populationHaving Non-alcoholic liver diseaseA history of gestational diabetes (pregnancy)Smoking –> due to increasing cortisol levels via the sympathetic nervous system
Having metabolic syndrome is a key risk factor for what 2 other diseases?
T2DM –> 5 fold riskCVD –> 2 fold risk
What are adipocytes?
Three types –> White/Brown/BriteBrown –> Used in thermogeneosis… has high levels in neonates, but falls drastically with ageBrite –> Used in the storage and expenditure of fatsThese secrete adipokines….such as Leptin and Adiponectin
Explain what the 2 adipokines are
Leptin –> Suppresses hunger (stimulates satiety)Its levels increase in obesity….but you can become resistant to it…especially in a high fructose diet!!Adiponectin –> Increases insulin sensitivity and fatty acid catabolism (decreasing triglycerides). Also decreases hepatic glucose productionLevels drop in obesityLevels can be increased by glitzone drugs (thiazolidinediones)
Why is an increased conc of Urea an indicator for metabolic syndrome?
As arginase is increased in MS, causing more of L-arginine to be converted to urea…. instead of being converted to NO (a vasodialator)
What is peroxynitrite?
The end product of ROS reacting with NO……preventing NO from acting as a vasodilator
Why could a faecal transplant be useful for those suffering from Metabolic Syndrome?
As during MS, acetate-producing bacterial populations are selected in the gut due to the high fat/sugar dietThis stimulates insulin and grehlin (hunger hormone) productionTherefore this leads to obesityHowever a faecal transplant can add healthy/normal bacteria back to the gut
An increase in Total Peripharal Resistance (TPR) will occur due to what?
Vasoconstriction
In the contraction of blood vessels, how are GPCRs involved?
Ga(q) –> Stimulates PLC, which causes an increase in Ca2+ release from the SRThis causes MLCK to phosphorylate MLC –> causing contractionGa(i) –> Inhibits PLC
How do Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) work?
They block L-type Voltage-Activated Ca2+ channels (L-VACCs)There are 2 different forms of these…Cav1.2a –> Cardiac MuscleCav1.2b –> Smooth MuscleThis allows for a degree of selectivity