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Endocrine Physiology > Anterior Pituitary > Flashcards

Anterior Pituitary Flashcards

1
Q

What is the hypothalamus-pituitary axis?

A

a hub of feedback loops that maintain homeostasis

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2
Q

How does the hypothalamus regulate the anterior pituitary gland?

A
  1. hypothalamus receives neural stimuli and generates chemical signals that signal to the pituitary
  2. hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones are carried in the hypophyseal portal vessels, to the anterior pituitary, where they regulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones
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3
Q

What do the non-hypothalamo-hypophyseal outputs affect?

A

hunger, thirst and sexual behaviour

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4
Q

Where do the hypothalamic hormones travel through?

A

in the hypophyseal portal vessels to the anterior pituitary

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5
Q

Describe the importance of the arrangement between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland?

A
  1. it allows intricate regulation of hormones levels
    2. it amplifies the initial signal so that the few neurons can affect cells throughout the body
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6
Q

Describe the secretion of hormones of the hypothalamus?

A
  1. very small quantities of hormones
    2. released in a pulsatile manner - the pulses vary in amplitude and rate, often with a circadian rhythm
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7
Q

Describe the structure of the hormones excreted by the hypothalamus?

A

small peptides (between 3 & 44 AA residues) - except for dopamine which is derived from the AA tyrosine

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8
Q

How do these hormones act?

A

they act on secretory cells in an excitatory (e.g. TRH) or inhibitory (e.g. GHIH) manner

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9
Q

What are the target cells in the anterior pituitary gland for gonadotrophin-releasing hormone?

A

gonadotrophs

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10
Q

What is the effect of GnRH on the anterior pituitary?

A

increase luteinizing hormones + follicle stimulating hormone release

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11
Q

Target cells for Thyrotrophin-releasing hormone?

A

thyrotrophs + lactotrophs

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12
Q

What is the effect of TRH on the anterior pituitary?

A

increase TSH and prolactin release

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13
Q

Target cells for prolactin-releasing factors?

A

lactotrophs

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14
Q

Effect?

A

increase in prolactin release

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15
Q

Target cells for dopamine? (prolactin inhibiting hormone)

A

lactotrophs

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16
Q

Effect?

A

decrease in prolactin release

17
Q

Describe the structure of hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?

A

large peptides (about 200 AA residues) or glycopeptides

18
Q

Name the 6 main hormones of the anterior pituitary?

A
  1. growth hormone (GH) 2. thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH/thyrotrophin) 3. adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 4. luteinizing (LH) 5. follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 6. prolactin (PRL)
19
Q

Describe how these hormones are stimulated, inhibited, their target organ and their effect?

A

Study table on slide 15-16

20
Q

These hormones act in what 2 ways?

A
  1. regulation of other endocrine organs - TSH, ACTH, GH, LH, FSH 2. direct effect on distal organs - prolactin
21
Q

Describe tumours of the anterior pituitary?

A

tumours of the secretory cells - adenomas

22
Q

Diseases of the anterior pituitary are a result of which 3 processes?

A
  1. hyperpituitarism 2. hypopituitarism 3. Compression of surrounding structures – caused by space-occupying lesions
23
Q

Growth hormone deficiency causes?

A
  1. dwarfism in children and adults 2. GH deficiency sydrome
24
Q

Excess growth hormones causes?

A
  1. gigantism in children 2. acromegaly in adults
25
Q

LH and FSH deficiency?

A

gonadal insufficiency - decreased sex steroids

26
Q

Excess LH and FSH?

A

infertility - rare

27
Q

ACTH deficiency?

A

adrenocortical insufficiency - decreased cortisol + adrenal androgens

28
Q

Excess ACTH?

A

Cushings disease - increased cortisol + adrenal androgens

29
Q

TSH deficiency?

A

hypothyroidism - decreased thyroid hormones

30
Q

TSH excess?

A

hyperthyroidism - increased thyroid hormone : although rare

31
Q

Prolactin deficiency?

A

hypolactinaemia - failure in postpartum lactation

32
Q

Excess prolactin?

A

hyperlactinaemia - 1. impotence in males 2. decreased libido + amenorrhea in females

33
Q

What is acromegaly?

A

enlargement of bones of hands, feet and face

34
Q

What is Cushings disease?

A

a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body’s tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol

Endocrine Physiology (3 decks)

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