Endocrine Flashcards
Define endocrinology
Study of hormones and their glands or origin, receptors, intracellular signalling pathways and associated diseases
Define endocrine
Glands pouring secretions directly into bloodstream without ducts
Define exocrine
Glands pour secretions through a duct to the site of action
Where do endocrine secretions act?
Blood borne- act at distant sites
Where do paracrine secretions act?
Nearby adjacent cells
Where do autocrine secretions act?
Feedback excerted on same cell that secretes the hormone
What are the features of water soluble hormones?
Unbound
Bind to surface receptors
Short half life
Fast clearance
What are the features of fat soluble hormones?
Protein bound
Diffuse into cell
Long half life
Slow clearance
What is an example of a peptide hormone?
Insulin
Outline peptide hormone synthesis, packaging and storage+secretions
Synthesis: prehormone -> prohormone
Packaging: prohormone -> hormone stored in vesicle
Storage and secretion: hormone released
What are 3 amine hormones?
Dopamine
Adrenaline
Noradrenaline
How are peptide hormones released?
Pulses/ bursts
What are adrenaline and noradrenaline broken down by?
COMT
What is adrenaline broken down into?
Metanephrine
What is noradrenaline broken down into?
Normetanephrine
What occurs when adrenaline binds to alpha receptors?
Vasoconstriction
Bowel contraction
Sweating and anxiety
What occurs when adrenaline binds to beta receptors?
Vasodilation
Increased heart rate and contractility
Relaxation of bronchi
What are 2 examples of iodothyronines?
T3: triiodothyronine
T4: thyroxine
What are T3 and T4 bound to?
TBG: thyroid binding globulin
Is T3 or T4 more active?
T3 more active but T4 more numerous
Where is most T3 derived from?
Breakdown of T4
What are 4 cholesterol derived hormones?
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Testosterone
Oestrogen
How do steroids activate mRNA production?
Fat soluble so diffuses into cell
Receptor hormone complex enters nucleus
Binds to GRE
Binding initiates mRNA transcription
What are 4 hormone receptor locations?
- Cell membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Cytoplasm/nucleus