Endocrine Flashcards
Features of water soluble hormones?
- transported unbound
- bind to cell surface receptors
- short half-life
- cleared fast
- stored in vesicles before secretion
Example of water-soluble hormones?
- peptides
- monoamines
Features of fat soluble hormones?
- transported bound to protein
- diffuse into cells
- long half-life
- cleared slowly
- synthesised on demand
Examples of fat-soluble hormones?
- thyroid hormone
- steroids
What is the main example of a peptide hormone?
Insulin
How are peptide hormones stored?
Stored in secretory granules.
How are peptide hormones released? (Timing)
Pulses / bursts
How are peptide hormones cleared?
Tissue enzymes / circulating enzymes.
How does insulin cause glucose uptake?
- binds to insulin receptors
- results in phosphorylation of the receptor
- this activates tyrosine kinase (secondary messenger)
- causing phosphorylation of signal cascade molecules
- results in glucose uptake (via GLUT4 channels)
Examples of amine hormones?
- dopamine
- adrenaline
- noradrenaline
What is the adrenaline (amine) synthesis pathway?
Phenylalanine > L-tyrosine > L-dopa > dopamine > noradrenaline > adrenaline
Which enzyme breaks down noradrenaline / adrenaline?
COMT (Catechol-O-methyl transferase)
What are the breakdown products of noradrenaline/ adrenaline?
Noradrenaline > normetanephrine
Adrenaline > metanephrine
What does binding of nor(adrenaline) to alpha receptors cause?
- vasoconstriction
- bowel muscle contraction
- sweating
- anxiety
What does binding of nor(adrenaline) to beta receptors cause?
- vasodilation
- increased HR
- increased force of contractility
- relaxation of bronchial smooth muscles
What are iodothyronines (T3/T4) bound to?
Thyroid-binding globulin (TBG)
Which is more active, T3 or T4?
T3
T4 is a reservoir for additional T3.
Which hormone is produced more, T3 or T4?
T4
How are T3/T4 synthesised?
- iodine binds to tyrosine on thyroglobulin
- this forms iodothyrosines (MIT / DIT)
- conjugation of MIT / DIT forms T3 / T4
How are T3 / T4 stored?
Stored in colloid of thyroid follicular cells (bound to thyroglobulin).
Thyroglobulin vs TBG?
Thyroglobulin binds T3/T4 in colloid of thyroid follicular cells.
TBG binds T3/T4 in the bloodstream.
What does TSH stimulate?
Movement of colloid into secretory cell, where T4 and T3 are cleaved from thyroglobulin.
Where does breakdown of T4 > T3 occur?
Outside the thyroid gland.
How does vitamin D act on a cell?
- enters cell directly (lipid soluble)
- binds to nucleus to stimulate mRNA production
How is vitamin D transported?
Vitamin D binding protein
Adrenal cortex vs adrenal medulla?
Adrenal cortex - GFR makes good sex.
Adrenal medulla - fight/flight (catecholamines, adrenaline)
How does oestrogen act on a cell?
Enters cell and acts directly on the nucleus.
How do cortisol, aldosterone, progesterone & testosterone act on a cell?
- enters cell and binds to cytoplasmic receptor
- receptor-hormone complex enters nucleus
- complex binds to glucocorticoid response element (GRE)
- binding initiates transcription
Which hormone receptors are located on the cell surface membrane?
Insulin
Which hormone receptors are located in the cytoplasm?
Steroids:
- glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
- androgens (testosterone)
- progesterone
Which hormone receptors are nuclear?
- thyroid hormones
- oestrogen
- vitamin D
Which hormones follow circadian rhythm?
- ACTH
- prolactin
- GH
- TSH
- cortisol
Which hormone inhibits prolactin?
Dopamine
Example of hormone receptor induction?
Induction of LH receptors by FSH.
What type of hormone are LH and FSH?
Peptide hormones.
Example of hormone synergism?
Glucagon + adrenaline.
Released when hypoglycaemic.
How are the hypothalamus and pituitary connected?
By the infundibulum (pituitary stalk).
Contains axons from hypothalamic neurones and small blood vessels.
Examples of hypophysiotropic hormones?
- CRH
- GHRH
- TRH
- GnRH
- dopamine
How does hypothalamus-anterior pituitary regulation work?
- hypothalamus is stimulated to release hypophysiotropic hormones by other areas of the CNS
- hormones reach the anterior pituitary via the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vessels
- hormones stimulate the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary
What is the blood supply to the anterior pituitary gland?
- no arterial supply
- portal venous circulation (hypothalamo-hypophyseal vessels)
What are the 6 hormones secreted by the pituitary?
- FSH
- LH
- ACTH
- TSH
- prolactin
- GH
Name of cells where FSH is produced?
Gonadotrophs
Name of cells where LH is produced?
Gonadotrophs
Name of cell where ACTH is produced?
Corticotrophs
Name of cell where TSH is produced?
Thyrotrophs
Name of cell where prolactin is produced?
Lactotrophs
Name of cell where GH is produced?
Somatotrophs
What is the function of FSH?
- stimulates germ cell development (ovum / sperm)
- stimulates oestrogen release (in females)
What does the release of oestrogen stimulate in the menstrual cycle?
Release of LH.
What is the function of LH?
- in females: stimulates the release of the egg, which stimulates progesterone release and causes thickening of the uterine wall
- in males: acts on leydig cells, stimulating testosterone release
What is the function of GH?
- stimulates gluconeogenesis and inhibits insulin (causing increased glucose)
- breaks down fat in adipose tissue
- acts on liver to increase protein synthesis
- stimulates IGF-1 which acts to increase cartilage proliferation
What is the function of ACTH?
- stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol (from zona fasiculata)
- stimulates androgen release (from zona reticularis)
- stimulates adrenaline release (from the adrenal medulla)
What is the function of cortisol?
- regulating & breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates
- anti-inflammatory effect (resulting in a lowered immune response)
- helps the body overcome stress (avoiding adrenal crisis)
What is the function of TSH?
- stimulates the release of thyroid hormone
What is the function of thyroid hormone?
- controls rate of metabolic reactions
- accelerates food metabolism
- increases protein synthesis
- stimulates carbohydrate metabolism
- enhances fat metabolism
- increases ventilation rate
- increases CO and HR
- brain development (foetal & post-natal)
- accelerates growth rate
What are the half lives of T3 and T4?
T3 - 1 day
T4 - 5-7 days
What is the function of prolactin?
- stimulates breasts to produce milk
- helps breast development
How does negative feedback work with prolactin?
Short-loop mechanism.
Prolactin acts on the hypothalamus to stimulate dopamine. Dopamine inhibits the secretion of prolactin.
What tissue type is the posterior pituitary?
- many glial-type cells present
- originates from neuronal tissue (extension of the hypothalamus)
What are glial cells?
Non-neuronal cells in the CNS that provide physical and metabolic support to neurons. (Like a Schwann cell but for the CNS).
Does the posterior pituitary synthesise hormones?
No, the hormones are synthesised in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary.
Where is vasopressin synthesised?
Supraoptic nucleus.
Where is oxytocin synthesised?
Paraventricular nucleus.
How do vasopressin / oxytocin reach the posterior pituitary from the hypothalamus?
- axons of the supraoptic / paraventricular nuclei pass down the pituitary stalk and terminate in the posterior pituitary
- hormones move down the axons enclosed in vesicles and accumulate at the axon terminal in the posterior pituitary
What is the function of vasopressin?
- decreases water secretion in urine (helps maintain blood volume)
- acts on smooth muscle cells of blood vessels to cause vasoconstriction and increase BP (e.g. in response to low BP due to blood loss)
- stimulates ACTH release to increase aldosterone release
What stimulates vasopressin release?
- decreased blood volume
- trauma
- stress
- increased blood CO2 / decreased blood O2
- increased osmotic pressure of blood
What is the function of oxytocin?
- ejection of milk in response to mammary gland stimulation during breast feeding
- promotes the onset of labour and stimulates uterine smooth muscle contraction
What is the half life of vasopressin / oxytocin?
Very short, they are released on a minute to minute basis.
What receptors do all pituitary and hypothalamic hormones act on?
G-protein coupled receptors. (Cell-surface membrane receptors).
All are peptide hormones.
What are 6 main diseases of the pituitary?
- benign pituitary adenoma
- craniopharyngioma
- trauma
- Sheehan’s syndrome (pituitary infarction after labour)
- sarcoidosis (development of granulomas)
- TB
What are three main effects of pituitary tumours?
- pressure on local structures
- pressure on normal pituitary (hypopituitarism)
- functioning tumour (hyperpituitarism)
What might result from a tumour causing pressure on local structures?
- bitemporal hemianopia (pressure on optic chiasm)
- hydrocephalus (pressure on ventricles)
- CSF leak
What can result from a tumour causing pressure on the pituitary?
- cortisol deficiency - can be fatal
- presentation in males: pale, no body hair, central obesity, effeminate skin
- presentation in females: loose body hair, sallow complexion
What are the features of a prolactinoma?
- common in young women
- increased milk production in breast and galactorrhea)
- reduced fertility
- amenorrhoea
Treatment for prolactinoma?
Dopamine agonist to inhibit prolactin release. E.g. cabergoline.
What are some features of acromegaly?
- thick, greasy, sweaty skin
- large hands and feet
- enlarged organs (increased risk of heart disease)
- large brow and nose
What are some features of Cushing’s disease?
- central obesity
- bruising
- thin skin
- osteoporosis
- ulcers
- purple stretch marks
How does glucose uptake by the brain work?
- uptake independent of insulin
- brain cannot use FFAs as an energy source as they cannot cross the BBB
What happens during biphasic insulin release?
- initially there is a rapid release of stored insulin
- more insulin is synthesised and release if glucose levels remain high
What are some other counter-regulatory hormones of glucose (opposing insulin)?
- adrenaline, cortisol, GH
- increase glucose production in the liver
- reduce glucose utilisation in fat and muscle
Proinsulin vs insulin?
Proinsulin - contains alpha and beta insulin chains joined by C peptide.
Insulin - C peptide has been cleaved from alpha and beta chains.
Function of GLUT-1?
Enables basal, non-insulin stimulated glucose uptake into cells.
Function of GLUT-2?
- found in beta cells of pancreas (also renal tubules and hepatocytes)
- enables cells to sense glucose levels, by transporting glucose into the beta cell
- low affinity transporter: only allows glucose in when glucose concentration is high
Function of GLUT-3?
Enables non-insulin mediated glucose uptake into brain neurones and placenta.
Function of GLUT-4?
Channel in muscle and adipose
cell surface membranes for glucose uptake stimulated by insulin.
Examples of when diabetes is secondary to another condition?
- pancreatic pathology (total pancreatectomy, chronic pancreatitis, haemochromatosis)
- endocrine disease (acromegaly, Cushing’s disease)
- drug-induced (thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids)
- MODY
Where is the most common place for carcinoid tumours to metastasise to?
Liver
What are some side effects of metformin?
- GI disturbances
- peripheral neuropathy due to decreased absorption of B12
- lactic acidosis
What is the mechanism of action of metformin?
Decreases gluconeogenesis and encourages insulin sensitivity.
What is the risk of metformin in patients with renal impairment?
Lactic acidosis.
What is the mechanism of action of sulphonylureas?
Act on beta cells to promote insulin secretion.
Side effects of sulphonylureas?
- GI disturbances
- frequent hypoglycaemia
- weight gain
Mechanism of action of pioglitazone?
Reduces peripheral insulin resistance.
Side effects of pioglitazone?
- bone fractures
- weight gain
- bladder cancer
Mechanism of action of DPP-4 inhibitors?
Inhibition of DPP-4 increases insulin secretion and lowers glucagon secretion.
Side effects of DPP-4 inhibitors?
- headache
- acute pancreatitis
Mechanism of action of SGLT-2 inhibitors?
Inhibition of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 results in reduced glucose reabsorption and increased urinary glucose excretion.
Side effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors?
- UTI
- genital pruritus
- DKA
What nerve roots are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome?
Median nerve (C5/6 - T1).
Diagnostic criteria for DKA?
- ketones >= 3.0 mmol/L
- glucose > 11.0 mmol/L
- pH < 7.3
What is the management of acromegaly?
- Transphenoidal surgery.
- Somatostatin analogue (ocreotide) +/- dopamine agonist.
- GH-receptor antagonist (pegvisomant).
- Radiotherapy
Non-diabetic HbA1c?
Less than 42 mmol/mol
Pre-diabetic HbA1c?
42 mmol/mol < HbA1c < 48 mmol/mol
Diabetic HbA1c?
> 48 mmol/mol
What is the cause of Cushing’s disease?
ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma.
First line treatments for DKA?
IV fluids (0.9% sodium chloride). IV insulin +/- potassium.
Which arrhythmia is a consequence of untreated hyperkalaemia?
Ventricular tachycardia
Gold standard test for acromegaly?
Oral glucose tolerance test.
Treatment of hypercalcaemia?
- fluids
- bisphosphonates with calcitonin
Potassium in DKA?
Hyperkalaemia
Immediate management for carcinoid syndrome?
Somatostatin analogue (octreotide).
What is the definition of type 1 diabetes?
Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to complete insulin deficiency.
What proportion of diabetes is type 1?
10%
Pathophysiology of T1D?
Autoantibodies attack beta cells in the islets of Langerhans, leading to insulin deficiency and hyperglycaemia. There is continuous breakdown of glycogen from the liver.