adrenals Flashcards
what is cholesterol made from if not eaten in the diet
Acetyl-CoA in the liver
what is the division of corticosteroids
glucocorticoids (cortisol) mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
pathway for cholesterol metabolism
acetyl Coa –> acetoacetyl CoA –> HMG CoA –> mevalonic acid + CoA –> squalene –> cholesterol
what is the feedback system for cholesterol
too much cholesterol –> negatively feeds back on HMGCoA reductase (converts HMG CoA –> Mevalonic acid+CoA)
what is the role of aromatase
androgens –> oestrogens
how are steroids removed from the body
they are eliminated after oxidation by CYP3A4 in the ER of the liver –> bile acids
what is the direct and indirect pathways of the way steroids change gene expression
sex steroids –> goes straight into the nucleus where it binds a SRE glucocorticosteroids –> goes into the cytosol and binds its R (which removes the Rs inhibitor - heat shock protein) - then go enter the nucleus and bind to its HRE
which drug is an inhibitor of the androgen receptor
cyproterone acetate
what clinical conditions is cyproterone acetate used for
- hirsutism in females - male-to-female gender change - prostate cancer - benign prostatic hyperplasia - priapism - chemical castration
what are the anterior pituitary hormones that stimulate sex steroid and corticosteroid production
FSH and LH –> sex steroids ACTH –> glucocorticosteroids
general function of mineralocorticoids
promote retention of sodium and water by the kidneys –> increased BP and BV
3 ways aldosterone is regulated
- angiotensin II
- ACTH
- local potassium levels
functions of cortisol
- stimulates protein breakdown (gluconeogenesis) - inhibits protein synthesis - increases blood glucose levels - inhibits the utilization of glucose by adipose tissue - facilitates lipid breakdown, and also fat deposition in certain areas - promotes weight gain by stimulating appetite
which hormone opposes cortisol
DHEA
how is cortisol moved through the blood
bound to transcortin
how do glucocorticoids suppress immune function
by suppressing cytokine synthesis (by elevating IKBa - inhibitor to NFKB)
how is dexamethasone
potent synthetic glucocorticoid
what are some of the uses of dexamethasone
- anti-inflammatory - counteract range of side effects of oncology Tx - promote maturation of the foetal lungs - altitude sickness - adrenal insufficiency
why do you need to slowly reduce the use of corticosteroids
because taking the steroids the adrenals significantly reduce steroid production, and therefore when you remove them quickly it may take some weeks to recover from the induced adrenal insufficiency
what is the action of leuprorelin
analogue of GnRH = interrupts the normal pulsatile stimulation of the GnRH receptors to indirectly downregulate the secretion of LH and FSH
use of leuprorelin
- chemical castration via inhibition of FSH and LH release - breast, ovarian and prostate cancer
where is testosterone produced in males
in Leydig cells
function of sertoli cells
spermatogenesis
what hormone/s do sertoli cells need to function
FSH and testosterone
what hormone/s do Leydig cells need to function
LH
what part of the adrenal gland produces testosterone in both males and females
zona reticularis
hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
- androgen deprivation therapy - blocks the effect of testosterone - leuprorelin - agonist of Rs for release of LH and FSH
hormonal therapy for breast cancer
- tamoxifen - oestrogen R antagonist - letrozole - aromatase inhibitor
what is the discrimination of the “neuro” and “endocrine” parts of the adrenal gland
adrenal medulla (modified sympathetic ganglion) - secretes catecholamines adrenal cortex (true endocrine gland) - secretes steroids