Anatomy of neuroendo system Flashcards
What does rostral and caudal mean in humans and mice?
Rostral
H: towards nose
M: towards nose
Caudal
H: towards feet
M: towards tail
Name and explain each of the modes of communication between cells (6)
1) Intracrine: communicating within cells
2) Autocrine: molecules released from cell to act on itself
3) Paracrine: communicating b/w cells - hormone/substance released from one cell + acting on adjacent/target cell
4) Neurocrine: same as paracrine but in brain
5) Endocrine: hormones released from one part of body (travels through bloodstream) to target cells in another part
6) Neuroendocrine: released by neurons into blood vessels to usually act adjacently (e.g. pituitary gland)
2 facts about the Neurosecretory
neuron (2)
- Project over long distances including into the posterior pituitary (hypo -> pituitary)
- Release hormones into the brain (neuromodulation) or peripheral circulation e.g. portal vessels of the anterior pituitary -> stimulates hormone release
Explain the hypothalamus to Anterior
Pituitary cells to rlease of hormones pathway (5)
1) hypo. projects to superior hypophyseal artery
2) Hypothalamic releasing hormone released into axon terminals into capillary plexus of pituitary
3) hormones released e.g. GnRH
4) Hormones act on secretory cells of the pituitary gland
5) hormones secreted
2 facts of Posterior pituitary
(neurohypophysis)
- Not glandular (doe not contain local populations of secretory cells)
- Contains the terminals of neurosecretory (magnocellular) neurons which project from the brain (hypo) and secrete neurons into the pituitary capillaries which then join the general circulation = not specific glands
Tanycytes (glial cells) explained (5)
- Specialist ependymal cells lining the 3rd ventricle
- Part of brain-cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) barrier and blood-brain barrier (ARC/ME)
- Send projections into hypothalamic nuclei
- Capable of nutrient and hormone sensing
- Form part of neurogenic niche (new neurons and glia)
Summary 1 (4)
- Neurosecretory neurons project over long distances release neuropeptides and regulate hormone release
- Anterior pituitary cells secrete hormones in response to tropic factors released by
neurosecretory neurons - Terminals of neurosecretory neurons in the posterior pituitary secrete peptides into the circulation
- Tanycytes are specialist ependymal cells lining the 3rd ventricle
Blood brain barrier (BBB) explained (4)
The entry and exit of substances from the brain is tightly regulated vis BBB
- Endothelial-glia barrier that protects the brain
- Tight junctions & specific transporter controls entry of substances into the brain
- Protects the brain from fluctuations in the periphery
Circumventricular
organs (CVOs) definition
CVO’s are areas of the brain with fenestrated capillaries (no tight junctions)
Tanycytes monitor cerebrospinal fluid composition and pass this information to the circumventricular organ
General features of CVO’s (4)
- Typically located at the midline of the brain
- Close to ventricles within the brain but separated from the cerebrospinal fluid
- Linked to ventricles via tanycyte processes which stretch into the brain
- Most are highly vascularised with fenestrated capillaries
Explain the 2 types of CVO classes (5)
Sensory + Secretory
Sensory:
* Detect circulating factors in the blood e.g. nutrients, hormones, ions
- Express high levels of (hormone and other) receptors
- Have high levels of neural output
- Area postrema (AP)
- Subfornical organ (SFO)
- Organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT)
Secretory:
* Mediate the release of lipophobic hormones into the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid
- Receive high levels of neural input
- Median eminence (ME)
- Pituitary gland (neurohypophysis = posterior lobe)
- Pineal gland
Localisation of CVO’s (7)
images
Rostral
- SFO + OVLT (sens)
- ME (sec)
- Intermediate pituitary (sec)
- Posterior pituitary + Pineal gland (sec)
- Area Postrema (sens)
Caudal
SFO explained (6)
- Located in the rostral wall of the 3rd ventricle
- Extensive neuronal connectivity with other CVOs (OVLT) + hypothalamic nuclei
- Senses osmolarity (e.g. ions) and hormones (e.g. angiotensin)
- Transmits information from periphery to the autonomic regulatory centres
- Important for regulation of fluid balance and cardiovascular function.
- Also implicated in regulating reproduction (with OVLT) and energy homeostasis (with AP)
OVLT explained (4)
- Located in the anterior wall of the 3rd ventricle
- Extensive neuronal connectivity with other CVOs (SFO) and hypothalamic nuclei
- Contains osmosensors and hormone receptors e.g. GnRH, oxytocin, prolactin
- Integrates information on reproductive status/function as well as fluid homeostasis
Area postrema
(AP) explained (7)
- Located on the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata (brain stem) proximal to 4th ventricle
- Receives direct neural input from the periphery (vagus and carotid sinus nerves)
- Contains metabolic hormone receptors e.g. leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin
- Also responds to nutrients and noxious stimuli
- Transmits information from periphery to the autonomic regulatory centres
- Important for regulation of energy homeostasis
- Also cardiovascular regulation (with SFO)