case 9 - Yaffas Flashcards
where is the thyroid gland located
inferiorly to the larynx on each side and anteriorly to the trachea
what are the follicles of the thyroid gland lined with
cuboidal epithelial cells that secrete into the interior of the follicles
what is the secretory fluid inside the follicles
colloid
what is the major constituent of colloid
thyroglobulin which contains thyroid hormones within its molecule
what happens once thyroglobulin has entered the follicle
it undergoes various reactions in the colloid
where is the thyroglobulin absorbed
absorbed back through the follicular epithelium into the blood before it can function in thebody
what does the thyroid secrete
T4
T3
calcitonin
what do T4 and T3 do
increase metabolic rate
what does calcitonin do
calcium metabolism
what is thyroid secretion controlled by
thyroid secreting hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland
what happens to thyroxine (T4)
it is the main hormone secreted and is converted into T3 in the tissues
what is different in T3 and T4
T3 is four times more potent than T4 but it is present in the blood in much smaller quantities and perisists for a much shorter time than T4
what is the role of iodine
to form normal quantities of thyroxine, about 50mg of ingested iodine in the form of iodides are required each year
how is iodine deficiency prevented
common table salt is iodised
where are iodides absorbed from
the GI tract into the blood, most of which is excreted by kidneys.
what happens once 1/5 of the circulating iodide has been excreted
the thyroid gland uses the iodide to synthesise the thyroid hormones
where are iodides transported
from the blood into the cuboidal epithelial cells of the follicles in the thyroid gland
what actively pumps the iodide into these follicular cells
the basal membrane of the thyroid.
this is called iodide trapping
what is the pump involved in iodide trapping
transport protein called Na+/I- symporter
what happens when the thyroid becomes more active
more iodide is actively transported into the follicle cells
what stimulates iodide trapping
TSH
what synthesises the thyroglobulin
the endoplasmic reticulum
where do the thyroid hormones form
within the thyroglobulin molecule
what is oxidation of the iodide ion
conversion of iodide to iodine
what is iodine able to do
combine directly with the amino acid tyrosine in thyroglobulin
what is the transporter protein that iodide ions are secreted into the follicle via
the pendrin protein
what is the oxidation of iodide ions catalysed by
the perioxidase enzyme
where is the perioxidase enzyme located
in the apical membrane of the follicle cells or attached to it
what does this allow
This allows the oxidation of iodide ions to occur in close proximity to where the follicle cells secrete thyroglobulin into the follicle.
When the peroxidase system is blocked, the rate of formation of thyroid hormones falls to zero
what is organification of thyroglobulin
the binding of iodine with the thyroglobulin molecule
what is the iodination of tyrosine catalysed by
the enzyme iodinase
where does the iodine ion bind with tyrosine
in the thyroglobulin molecule
what are the steps of the iodination of tyrosine
- Tyrosine is first iodized to monoiodotyrosine (MIT).
- MIT is then converted to diiodotyrosine (DIT).
- Then, more and more of the iodotyrosine residues become coupled with one another, eventually forming thyroxine or T3.
- Thyroxine is formed by the coupling of two DIT molecules, hence ‘T4’.
- Thyroxine remains part of the thyroglobulin molecule.
- Triiodothyronine (T3) is formed by the coupling of one molecule of MIT and one molecule of DIT, hence ‘T3’.
where are the thyroglobulin molecules stored
in the follicles
as a result, when synthesis of thyroid hormone ceases, the physiologic effects of the deficiency are not observed for several months
what doesnt happen to the thyroglobulin
it is not released into the circulation - the thyroid hormones are cleaved from the thyroglobulin molecule and absorbed back into the thyroid cells for release into the blood
what does this process allow for
- The apical surface of the thyroid cells allows for pinocytosis (endocytosis) of the thyroglobulin molecule, within which are the thyroid hormones.
- Lysosomes fuse with these vesicles to form digestive vesicles containing digestive enzymes from the lysosomes mixed with the colloid.
- Multiple proteases digest the thyroglobulin molecules and release T3, T4 and any uncoupled tyrosine molecules.
- Now, T3 and T4 diffuse through the base of the thyroid cell into the surrounding capillaries.
what happens to the free tyrosine molecules that are released into the cytoplasm of the thyroid cells when thyroglobulin is digested
- However, they are not secreted into the blood.
- Instead, their iodine is cleaved from them by a deiodinase enzyme and the iodine and tyrosine are available again for recycling within the gland for forming additional thyroid hormones.
what happens when there is congenital absence of this deiodinase enzyme
patients become iodine deficient because of the failure of this recycling process
where do T3 and T4 bind when in the blood
Thyroxine-binding globulin (mainly)
Thyroxine-binding prealbumin (much less)
Albumin (much less)
where do thyroid hormones bind when entering the cells
the intracellular proteins