Adrenal glands and Corticosteroids as drug targets Flashcards
what is cortisol?
a glucocorticoid
effect of cortisol?
raises blood sugar, protein/ fat metabolism
what is aldosterone?
mineralocorticoid
effect of aldosterone?
increases serum Na, raises BP
what are the effects of androgen precursors?
maturation and development
where are the adrenal glands?
sit on top of the kidneys
what happens if you lose an adrenal gland?
if you lose one the other ups its game
3 parts of the adrenal gland? and functions?
outer capsule- where the blood vessels land and deviate
adrenal cortex- produces steroids
adrenal medulla- cathecholamine prosecution
is the adrenal cortex electrically active?
no
is the adrenal medulla electrically active?
yes
3 regions of the adrenal cortex?
zona glomrulosa- closest to the capsule
zona fasiculata
zona reticularis
which zones produce the corticosteroids?
zona glomerulosa- aldosteron
zona fasiculata- cortisol
what does the zone reticularis produce?
produces adrenal androgens
what are adrenal androgens the primary precursors for?
testosterone
oestrogen
in steridogenesis within the adrenal cortex, are the steroids synthesised and stored?
no, synthesised on demand from cholesterol
what is the rate limiting step of sterroidogenesis?
cholesterol–> pregnenolone
what is the basic steroid backbone?
17 carbon resides
4 ring
what stimulates the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone?
ACTH stimulates the induction of pregnenolone synthase
physiological actions of adrenal steroids: glucocorticoids?
metabolic effects- glucose like effects
anti-inflammatory
immunosuppressive
physiological actions of adrenal steroids:
mineralcorticoids
water and electrolyte balance- associated with Na conservation and raising of extracellular volume to fight low BP
physiological actions of adrenal steroids:
adrenal androgens
maturation and development- key precursors for oestrogen and testosterone
what is transcortin?
corticosteroid binding globulin
binds 90% of cortisol and 60% of aldosterone
does transporting bind synthetic steroids?
no
what does albumin bind?
synthetic and natural steroids
what are the actions of steroids?
changes in transcription and translation
altering the synthesis of specific proteins
why can this alteration of proteins by steroids take a while?
have to change protein turnover and get into the DNA- roughly 20-30 minutes
can aldosterone have quick effects on protein synthesis? why?
yes due to receptors on the cell surface
explain to steps to cortisol release when you get an emotional response?
emotional response (stress/ excitement etc) activates the hypothalamus
hypothalamus releases CRH which stimulates the release of ACTH from the pituitary
this then enters the circulation and reaches the adrenal cortex where it stimulates pregnenolone synthase
the synthesis of cortisol then begins.
does cortisol release from an emotional response experience negative feedback?
yes- switches of ACTH production and CRH production