Chapter 2 (Hormonal Communication) Flashcards
Communication of Cells
Essential for:
- Coordination of their diverse activities
- Maintain homeostasis
- Growth of cell
- Development of the body
Intracellular Control of Cellular Function
- Communication within cells of the body
eg. Synthesis of neurotransmitters. Need communication between RER, SER, ribosome
Intercellular (Extra) Control of Cellular Function
- Communication between the cells of the body
eg. Release of ACTH during stress causes release of cortisol.
Types of Intercellular Communication
Direct:
1. Gap Junction
Indirect chemical messengers:
- Paracrine
- Neurotransmitters secretion
- Hormonal secretion
- Neurohormone secretion
- Process
a. Specific cells of the body stimulate specific chemicals in the ECF
b. These chemicals possess ligand, which binds/interacts with receptors on target cell. This elicits a response.
Gap Junction
Direct Intercellular Communication
- Intimate way of communication
- Achieved through signaling molecules on the surface of the cells
eg. Phagocytes recognize and destroy bacteria and invaders.
eg. Antibodies “mark” bacteria as foreigner to destroy them
Paracrine
- Local chemical messenger exerts its effects on only the neighboring cells in an immediate environment
- Chemical messenger uses simple diffusion and acts at a short distance.
- Does not gain entry in the blood.
eg. The release of histamine causes vasodilation of the neighbouring blood vessel.
Neurotransmitters
- Short-range chemical messengers
- Diffuse across narrow spaces to act locally on adjoining target cells (another neuron, a muscle or a gland)
- Process:
Nerve cells - Neurotransmitters - ECF - affects adjoining target cells.
eg. Muscle, gland or neuron.
Hormonal Secretion
- Long-range chemical messengers
- Secreted into blood by endocrine glands in response to an appropriate signal
- Exerts effect on target cells some distance away from release site
eg. GH only bins to muscles and bones in the body - Process:
Stimuli - endocrine - hormone - blood - target gland - receptors - response.
Neurohormones
- Hormones released into blood by neurosecretory neurons.
- Distributed through blood to distant target cells.
Signal Transduction
The conversion of incoming signals (from extracellular chemical messengers) to target cells interior for its response.
Cell Response using Signal Transduction
The combination of extracellular chemical messengers with its membrane receptors triggers sequence of intracellular events for a particular cellular activity (transport, secretion, metabolism and contraction)
First Messengers
- Extracellular chemicals bind to receptors
- Open or close the specific channels to regulate the movement of particular ions in and out of cell.
- Transfer extracellular chemical messengers to the second messenger
Second Messenger
Triggers preprogrammed series of the biochemical events within a cell.
Cyclic AMP Second-Messenger Pathway
- Binding of extracellular messenger to receptor activates a G protein, the alpha subunit of which shuttles to and activate adenylyl cyclase.
- Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP
- cAMP activates protein kinase A
- Protein kinase A phosphorylates inactive target proteins, activating it.
- Active target protein brings about desired change.
Function of cAMP
Activation of cAMP brings about:
- Modification of heart rate
- Formation of female sex hormones in the ovaries
- Breakdown of stored glucose in the liver
- Reception of a sweet taste by a taste bud
- Conservation of water during urine formation