ENDOC- PITUITARY intro and Anterior pituitary Flashcards
◦The hypothalamic neural cells synthesize specific releasing and inhibiting hormones that are secreted directly to the pituitary stalk
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland is regulated by 3 interacting elements
- ◦Hypothalamic inputs
- ◦Feedback effect of circulating hormones
- ◦Paracrine and autocrine secretions of the pituitary itself
-
“master gland” because, together with the hypothalamus, it orchestrates the complex regulator functions of the many endocrine glands
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pituitary gland
What is the weight and size of pituitary?
The pituitary gland weighs ~600mg (400-900 mg) and measures 13mm x 6-9mm x 9mm
Where is the pituitary gland located?
Located within the sella turcica ventral to the diaphragma sella
Anatomically and functionally consists of two lobes: the anterior and posterior lobes
Anterior pituitary:
◦5 distinct hormone secreting cell types with 6 major hormones
- coticotroph cells- secretes POMC and thus ACTH/cortictropin
- Somatotroph cells: expresses growth hormone or somatotropin
- Thyrotroph cells express the common glycoprotein alpha subunit and the specific B subunit of TSH/thyrotropin
- Gonadotroph cells: express the alpha and B subunit of FSH and LH
- Lactotroph cells express prolactin
coticotroph cells- secretes _______________
POMC and thus ACTH/cortictropin
Somatotroph cells: expresses________________
growth hormone or somatotropin
Thyrotroph cells express the common glycoprotein alpha subunit and the specific B subunit of TSH/thyrotropin
common glycoprotein alpha subunit and the specific B subunit of TSH/thyrotropin
Gonadotroph cells: express the _______________
alpha and B subunit of FSH and LH
Lactotroph cells express prolactin
prolactin
The p____________ is a collection of axon terminals and is directly innervated by hypothalamic neurons via the stalk
osterior lobe (neural lobe)
3 general pituitary gland dysfunction
- Hormone deficiency
- Hormone excess
- Masses- hypothalamic, pituitary and other sellar masses (which can also cause hormone excess or deficiency)
Results from impaired production of one or more of the anterior pituitary trophic hormones
- inherited disorders such as pituitary dysplasias/aplasia, congenital CNS mass, transcription factor deficits, etc.
- Acquired disorders due to compressive mass effects, or vascular/inflammatory damage
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES: Developmental and Genetic Causes
1.Pituitary dysplasia
2.Septo-optic dysplasia
◦3.Tissue specific factor mutation
- Kallman Syndrome
- Bardet Biedl Syndrome
- Leptin and Leptin Receptor Mutation
- Prader Willi Syndrome
Pituitary dysplasia – aplastic, hypopasltic, ectopic
aplastic,
hypopasltic,
ectopic
◦Result from dysgenesis of the septum pellucidum or corpus callosum
Septo-optic dysplasia
◦Several pituitary cell-specific transcription factors such as Pit-1 and Prop-1 are critical for determining the development and committed function of differentiated anterior pituitary cell lineages
Tissue specific factor mutation
Tissue specific factor mutation
◦Several pituitary cell-specific transcription factors such as_______ and ________ are critical for determining the development and committed function of differentiated anterior pituitary cell lineages
Pit-1 and Prop-1
Kallman Syndrome
- *◦Defective GnRH synthesis** and is associated with anosmia/hyposmia due to olfactory bulb agenesis/hypoplasia
- *◦Prevents progression through puberty**
Kallman Syndrome
◦MR, renal abnormalities, obesity, hexa/brady/syndactyly and retinal degeneartion
Bardet Biedl Syndrome
Leptin and Leptin Receptor Mutation
◦Hyperphagia, obesity adn central hypogonadism
Leptin and Leptin Receptor Mutation
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES: Developmental and Genetic Causes
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, hyperphagia-obesity, adult onset DM, hypotonia, mental retardation
Prader Willi Syndrome
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES: Acquired Hypopituitarism
- May be caused by surgical trauma, vascular trauma, pituitary or hypothalamic neoplasms, inflammatory disease, infiltrative disorders or irradiation
- Trophic hormone failure occurs spontaneously:GH>FSH>LH>TSH/ACTH
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES: Laboratory Investigation
- Biochemical diagnosis of pituitary insufficiency is made by demonstrating low levels of trophic hormones in the setting of low levels of target hormones
- Provocative tests may be required to assess pituitary reserve
HORMONE DEFICIENCIES: Treatment
Hormone replacement therapy with a treatment regimen that mimic physiologic hormone production allow for maintenance of satisfactory clinical homeostasis
Results from overproduction of one or more of the anterior pituitary trophic hormones which can be due to overproduction of releasing hormones from the hypothalamus or an ectopic source, increase in pituitary cell type, increased sensitivity of the end organ.
HORMONE EXCESS
HYPOTHALAMIC, PITUITARY AND OTHER SELLAR MASSES
- Pituitary adenomas
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Rathke’s cysts (<5mm cysts)
- Sellar chrodomas
- Meningiomas
- Histiocytosis X
- Pituitary Metstasis
- Hypothalamic hamartomas, gangliocytomas
- Hypothalamic and optic gliomas
- Brain germ cell tumors
Most common cause of pituitary hormone hypo or hypersecretion in adults
◦Benign neoplasms that arise from one of the 5 anterior cell types
Pituitary adenomas
◦Benign, suprasellar, cystic masses that are derived from the Rathke’s pouch and arise near the pituitary stalk
Craniopharyngiomas
HYPOTHALAMIC, PITUITARY AND OTHER SELLAR MASSES
Evaluation
- Local Mass Effect
- MRI
- Ophthalmologic Evaluation
- Laboratory Investigations
- Histologic Evaluation
HYPOTHALAMIC, PITUITARY AND OTHER SELLAR MASSES
Treatment:
1.Surgery
Transphenoidal vs transcranial surgery
2.Radiation Therapy
3.Medical Therapy
6 Major Anterior Pituitary Gland Hormones
- Prolactin (PRL)
- Growth Hormone (GH)
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Thyrotropin Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
PROLACTIN
Synthesized in
lactotroph cells
What type of secretion is Prolactin?
Pulsatile secretion
What is the normal value of Prolactin?
10-25 ug/L
What is the half- life of prolactin?
Half-life of 50 minutes
What is the Predominant central control of PRL?
** inhibitory** via the dopamine-mediated inhibitory effect