Adrenal Gland Fcns and Dzs Flashcards
embryological origins of parts of adrenal gland
i. adrenal medulla is ectodermal origin
1. release catecholamines
ii. adrenal cortex is of epidermal origin
1. release steroid Hs
Hs of adrenal cortex
- aldosterone—targets kidneysNa and K homeostasis, stress response
- cortisol—targets many tissuesstress response
- androgens—many tissues
Hs of adrenal medulla
- epinephrine—targets many tissuesfight or flight response
2. norepinephrine—targets many tissuesfight or flight response
H secretion from parts of the adrenal gland
i. Zona glomerulosa
1. Mineralocorticoids–>aldosterone
ii. Zona fasciculata
1. Glucorcorticoids–>cortisol
2. Androgens
iii. Zona reticularis
1. Glucocorticoids–>cortisol
2. Androgens
iv. Adrenal medulla
1. Catecholamines–>E and NE
pathways for synthesis of steroid Hs
i. Cholesterol is the precursor for all pathways for steroid Hs
ii. Cholesterol desmolase needs to be there to produce pregnolone—rate limiting step
Steroidogenic acture regulatory protein (StAR)
a. Transport protein that regulates cholesterol transfer within the mitochondria which is the rate limiting step in the production of steroid H
congenital adrenal hyperplasia has to do with deficiency of:
- 17 alpha hydroxylase
- 21 beta hydroxylase
- 11 beta hydroxylase
17 alpha hydroxylase deficiency–congenital adrenal hyperplasia*
i. 17 alpha hydroxylase deficiency—will force pathway into making mineralocorticoids
1. pt will lose secondary sexual characteristics—amenorrhea
2. excessive weak mineralocorticoids
a. inc BP, inc K depletion
21 beta hydroxylase deficiency–congenital adrenal hyperplasia*
i. system will go towards the production of androgens/sex Hs
1. normally negative feedback from the Hs being released from the target organ, but this doesn’t happen with sex Hs, so they keep being produced
2. caused virilizaiton in females
3. loss of cortisol production
4. loss of aldosterone production
a. hypovolemia, hyponatremia
5. most common CAH
11 beta hydroxylase deficiency–congenital hyperplasia*
system will go towards the production of androgens
- normally negative feedback from the Hs being released from the target organ, but this doesn’t happen with sex Hs, so they keep being produced
- caused virilizaiton in females
- loss of cortisol production
- loss of aldosterone production
a. hypovolemia, hyponatremia - most common CAH
ACTH
- stimulates synthesis and secretion of adrenal cortical Hs
a. Hypothalamus–>corticotropin releasing H (CRH)–>anterior pituitary–>ACTH–>adrenal cortex
i. Glucocorticoids—cortisol
ii. Mineralocorticoids—aldosterone
iii. Androgens
b. ACTH is produced in the anterior pituitary
i. Derived from post translational processing of POMC
1. In non pituitary tissues we have ACTH, made to alpha MSHsynthesis of melanin
ii. Is a peptide H
c. Hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal (HPA) axis is under negative feedback control by cortisol
regulation of cortisol
i. Stress and circadian rhythm stimulates secretion of CRH from the hypothalamus
ii. Cortisol–>immune system–>immune suppression
iii. Cortisol–>liver–>gluconeogenesis
iv. Cortisol–>muscle–>protein catabolism
v. Cortisol–>adipose tissue–>lipolysis
1. Predominantly the goal is to raise blood glucose
circadian rhythm and cortisol
i. positive influence in the HPA axis
1. increased release in cortisol b/w 6-8 in the morning and decreased as we go throughout the day
2. if you are going to measure cortisol secretion rates, they will be higher in the early morning
exogenous glucocorticoids
a. exogenous glucocorticoids have the same negative feedback effect as cortisol
i. exogenous cortisol administration may shut down ACTH production and adrenal cells that produce cortisol—atrophy
ii. examples of synthetic glucocorticoids—cortisone, prednisone, methylprednisone, dexamethasone
Cushing’s Syndrome*
- hypercortisolism
i. caused by adrenal tumor- Inc cortisol causes negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary to decrease CRH and ACTH
a. In this case though, there is an adrenal tumor, so there is a continued overproduction of cortisol
- Inc cortisol causes negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary to decrease CRH and ACTH
Cushing’s Disease*
- hypercortisolism
i. caused by a pituitary tumor
1. Pituitary tumor causes increased release of ACTH constantly and then this will increase cortisol release
2. This elevated cortisol will feedback on hypothalamus to reduce CRH
signs/symptoms of hypercortisolism
- Excess fat on the back of neck—buffalo hump
- Rounding of face—moon face
- Excess weight gain in abdomen
- Dark red or purple stretch marks