Bone Biology Flashcards
What is the principle hormone for regulation of plasma, sodium and potassium ion concentrations?
Aldosterone
What are the three hormones involved in regulating plasma calcium ion concentration and plasma phosphate levels?
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- Calcitonin
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
What type of calcium ions are biologically active and subject to regulation?
Free calcium ions (not plasma bound calcium ions)
What form is calcium found in within the bone?
Precipitated calcium phosphate
Give an example of an enzyme that is regulated in response to intra-cellular calcium concentration.
Calmodulin-dependant kinase II (CaMK-II)
Give 10 roles that free calcium ions play in essential activities around the body.
- Bone and teeth rigidity
- Muscle contraction
- Maintenance of membrane potential stability
- Neurotransmitter release
- Secretory processes
- Blood clotting
- Intracellular 2nd messenger
- Enzyme regulation
- Membrane stability
- Excitation-contraction coupling of cardiac and smooth muscle cells
What causes hypocalcaemia?
When levels of calcium in your blood are too low
What serious side effect of severe hypocalcaemia can lead to asphyxiation?
Over-excitability/contraction of skeletal muscles
Define asphyxiation
The state or process of being deprived of oxygen
In skeletal muscles, what initiates contraction?
Calcium ions released from intra-cellular stores in response to an action potential
In muscles, what happens when there is an increase in systolic calcium ions?
Contraction
In muscles, what happens when there is an increase in free extra-cellular fluid calcium ions?
Decreases neuromuscular excitably and therefore likelihood of contraction
Where is calcium ion concentration higher, outside or inside the cell?
Outside
What controls the intestinal absorption of calcium?
Hormones
What are the functions of kinases?
- add phosphate groups to specific amino acid residues on target proteins , that in turn alter the functional activity of that target protein.
- They play an important role in intra-cellular signalling.
What is the function of phosphotases?
Remove phosphate from residues on target proteins
What is the careful regulated range of calcium concentration in plasma?
2.2-2.6mmol/L
What is the careful regulated intracellular range of calcium concentration?
Approx 0.1micro moles/L
Unlike calcium, why is the plasma phosphate concentration not strictly regulated?
Because phosphate levels tend to fluctuate throughout the day, especially after meals.
In what two ways are calcium and phosphate balance linked?
- both are the principal components of hydroxyapatite crystals in bone
- Both are regulated by the same three hormones
What three bodily systems do the hormones PTH, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and calcitonin act on?
- Bone
- Kidneys
- GI tract
How many parathyroid glands do humans have?
4
Where are the 4 parathyroid glands situated?
2 are located on the posterior surface of the left lobe of the thyroid gland, and 2 on the right.
What cells compose the parathyroid glands?
Chief cells
What do chief cells synthesis and secrete?
PTH
What is the main regulator of PTH?
Plasma calcium ions
In regards to PTH secretion, what does a decrease in plasma calcium ion concentration (hypocalcaemia) stimulate?
PTH secretion
What type of hormone is PTH?
A peptide hormone
What are the net effects of PTH on kidney and bone?
To increase plasma calcium ion concentration and to lower plasma phosphate concentration
How does PTH reduce the amount of calcium ions secreted in the urine?
By stimulating renal reabsorption of calcium ions in the distal nephron
In the kidneys, where are PTH receptors located?
On the lateral membranes of tubular epithelial cells
What two events occur due to PTH modifying transepithelial transport?
- Stimulates renal calcium ion reabsorption
- Inhibits renal phosphate reabsorption
What is the outcome of PTH inhibiting renal phosphate reabsorption?
Increased excretion of phosphate in the urine, helping to avoid any precipitation of free calcium ions. (This would be counter-productive if an increase in free calcium ions was necessary)
Where does stimulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D occur?
In the mitochondria of cells in the proximal convolluted tubule
What are the 3 actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D?
- Enhance renal calcium ion reabsorption
- Enhance calcium ion absorption by the small intestine
- Modulate movement of calcium ions and phosphate in and out of bone
What is the function of osteoblasts?
Build bone cells and play a role in deposition of bone
What is the function of osteoclasts?
Release enzymes to resorb bone, through this process calcium and phosphate ions are released.
What effect does a persistent increase in PTH concentration have on osteoclast number and activity?
Increases them
What effect does an intermittent increase in PTH concentration have on osteoblasts?
Promotes osteoblasts differentiation and inhibition of osteoblast apoptosis
What two forms does vitamin D exist in the body?
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin D2
How is vitamin D3 synthesised?
From skin if sufficient UV light is absorbed
How do you obtain vitamin D2?
Only from the diet (vegetables)
In their chemical structure, what is the only difference between vitamin D3 and D2?
Differ in the side chains of ring D. (The side chain of D3 is characteristic of cholesterol, whereas the side chain of D2 is characteristic of plant steroids)
What is the action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D?
It acts on the small intestine and kidney to raise plasma calcium ion concentration