Adrenal Hormones Flashcards by Janelle Lussier

what are the 3 pathways of that produce adrenal hormones? what structure do they associate with?

glucocorticoid pathway - zona fasciculata
mineralcorticoid pathways - zona glomerulosa
androgen pathway - zona reticularis

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what is the zona glomerulosa?

most superficial layer of the adrenal cortex

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what is the zona fasciculata?

the middle layer of the adrenal cortex

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what is the zona reticularis?

the innermost layer of the adrenal cortex

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what hormone(s) is the zona glomerulosa responsible for producing?

aldosterone

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what hormone(s) is the zona fasciculata responsible for producing?

cortisol and androgens

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what hormone(s) is the zona reticularis responsible for producing?

androgens

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what is the medulla responsible for producing?

catecholamines

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what is ACTH? what is its function?

adrenocorticotropin hormone

key regulator of conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone (mineralocorticoid pathway)

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what are the hormones/molecules involved in the mineralocorticoid pathway? list them in order of when they appear in the pathway.

1) cholesterol
2) pregnenolone
3) progesterone
4) 11-deoxycorticosterone
5) corticosterone
6) 18-hydroxycorticosterone
7) aldosterone

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what hormones/molecules are involved in the glucocorticoid pathway? list them in order of when they appear in the pathway.

1) 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone
2) 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone
3) 11-deoxycortisol
4) cortisol

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what hormones/molecules are involved in the androgen pathway? list them in order of when they appear in the pathway.

1) dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

2) androstenedione

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give two examples of the following:
glucocorticoids
mineralocorticoids
androgens

gluco - cortisol, corticosterone
mineral - aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone
andro - DHEA, androstenedione

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what does cortisol bind to in circulation? how does it affect various molecules?

transcortin
effects intermediary metabolism of carbs (makes Glc available to brain by inhibiting other tissues from using it), lipids (breakdown in adipose tissue to FAs and glycerol), and proteins (stimulates breakdown to AA)

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What are the anti-inflammatory actions caused by glucocorticoids?

1) inhibit local reaction to injury
2) decrease local release of degradative enzymes
3) decrease fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition

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what are the immunosuppresion actions caused by glucocorticoids?

1) inhibit IL-1 production by macrophages, decreasing T cell recruitment
2) inhibit IL-2 production by T-helper cells, decreasing T and B cell recruitment
3) induce apoptosis of T cells

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What is the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis feedback regulation?

1) hypothalamus releases CRH (positive release to pituitary)
2) pituitary releases ACTH (positive release to adrenal cortex)
3) Adrenal cortex releases:
a) DHEA (negative feedback on H-P-G axis)
b) Aldosterone
c) Cortisol

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what is involved in the negative feedback on pituitary-adrenal axis by glucocorticoids?

Strong negative feedback on hypothalamus/pituitary
Inhibits ACTH production
Causes atrophy of anterior pituitary corticotropes (no acquired ACTH) and of adrenal cortex (lack of ACTH stimulation)

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what is the function of aldosterone?

controls body fluid volume, leading to increased Na reabsorption in kidneys

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what stimulates aldosterone secretion?

RAAS activation responding to low BP, low plasma Na, or high plasma K
ACTH (minor)

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what is the function of DHEA in females?

1) enhancement of pubertal growth spurt
2) maintains secondary sex characteristics (pubic and axillary hair)
3) libido (sex drive)
4) conversion by aromatose to estrogen via testosterone in peripheral tissue

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what two conditions could arise due to excess of aldosterone?

primary aldosteronism (Conn's disease)
secondary aldosteronism

what is the difference between primary and secondary aldosteronism?

primary - caused by a hypersecreting tumour of zona glomerulosa
secondary - caused by high renin-angiotensin

what are some symptoms of excess aldosterone?

hypernatremia
hypokalemia
hypertension

what condition could arise due to excess cortisol?

Cushing's syndrome

what causes cushing's syndrome? (3pts)

excess CRH/ACTH (hypoth disorder, pituitary tumour) adrenal tumour ectopic ACTH (lung cancer)

what are some symptoms of excess cortisol?

hyperglycemia insulin resistance decreased immune response

what condition could arise from excess androgen?

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (adrenogenita syndrome in females)

what causes congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

genetic deficiency in cortisol synthetic enzymes (21-OH and 11-OH)

what are some symptoms of excess androgen?

inappropriate masculinization pseudohermaphroditism virilization in females pseudopuberty in males

what could cause enzyme deficiencies in CAH?

absence of negative feedback on ACTH and hypothalamus

what condition could arise from a deficiency in cortisol/aldosterone?

addision's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency)

what causes addison's disease?

destruction or atrophy of adrenal cortex

what are some symptoms of cortisol/aldosterone deficiency?

poor response to stress hypoglycemia low metabolic activities

what condition could arise due to cortisol (only) deficiency?

secondary adrenal insufficiency

what causes secondary adrenal insufficiency?

insufficient ACTH-hypoth/pituitary failure

what are some symptoms of cortisol (only) deficiency? (10pts)

``` hyperkalemia decreased HR weakness arrhythmias hyponatremia edema headache confusion muscle cramps hypotension ```

what 2 hormones are produced by the medulla?

norepinephrine | epinephrine

how are NE and E produced in the medulla? identify the hormones/molecules in the order they appear in the pathway.

1) tyrosine 2) hydroxylated to DOPA 3) decarboxylated to DA 4) NE 5) E

what receptors regulate effects of NE and E on target organs?

alpha and beta adrenergic receptors

name 3 catecholamines

DA NE E

What is special about the alpha and beta adrenergic receptors?

they exert opposite effects, even if stimulated by the same hormones if two different hormones stimulate the same receptor, the affect will be similar

name various impacts binding of NE or E to an alpha receptor has on the body (7pts)

1) increase gluconeogenesis 2) increase arterial constriction 3) increase muscle contraction (GI, urinary) 4) decrease insulin secretion 5) increase growth hormone secretion 6) increase sweating 7) increase pupil dilation

name various impacts binding of NE or E to an beta receptor has on the body (10pts)

1) increase glycogenolysis 2) increase lipolysis and ketosis 3) decrease Glc utilization 4) increase arterial dilation 5) increase cardiac contractility (beta1), increase HR 6) increase muscle relaxation (beta2) (GI, bronchial, urinary) 7) increase insulin secretion 8) increase renin secretion 9) increase thyroid hormone secretion 10) increase pupil contraction

what is pheochromocytoma?

tumours arising from chromaffin cells in the SNS (mostly adrenal) that release large quantities of E/NE (sometime DA)

what are some symptoms of pheochromocytoma? (7pts)

``` hypertension increased HR (palpitations) hyperglycemia anxiety headache wt loss sweating ```

what are 2 ways to treat pheochromocytoma?

surgery | alpha and beta receptor blockers

what is stress?

generalized, non-specific response of the body to any factor (stressor) that overwhelms/threatens to overwhelm the body's compensatory abilities to maintain a state of homeostasis

what hormones do stressors promote the release of?

cortisol

what is the pathway for a stressor causing adrenal cortisol release?

Stressor CRF (corticotropin-releasing hormone) ACTH

what is the pathway for a stressor causing release of adrenal epinephrine?

stressor sym nerve adrenal epinephrine

what are 3 main effects adrenal epinephrine release has on the body?

1) increased blood Glc and FAs 2) increased glucagon and decreased insulin (leading to increased Glc and FAs) 3) increased vasodilation, angiotensin and NaCl/H2O retention (leads to decreased blood flow to kidneys which increases aldosterone)

what is the pathway for a stressor causing increased water retention?

stressor vasopressin H2O retention