ENDOCRINE Flashcards
define a hormone..
A chemical produced by a tissue, usually peptides, amino acid derivatives or steroid based, which is secreted by an endocrine gland into the blood and acts on receptors of distant target cells to produce a response.
what is the difference between paracrine and autocrine?
paracrine messangers are released from cells into ECF and act locally at differnet cells e.g. somatostatin from D cells of stomach and small intestines acts at stomach to reduce gastrin release.
autocrine is a molecule released from a cell which acts on the same cell. e.g. thromboxane from platelets
what groups of hormones do you know, give examples..
peptides e.g. ADH and oxytocin
amines e.g. catecholamines, thyroid hormones - these are derived from tyrosine
steroids e.g. cortisol, sex steroids - derived from cholesterol
Eicosanoids - fatty acid derivatives - e.g. prostaglandins etc derived from archidonic acids
Outline the mechanism feedback pathway and hence the control of hormone release
most of the hormones are under negative feedback control
e.g. thyroid..
allows its release to be controlled.
Other things also feed into hypothalamus e.g. stress
do you know any hormones under positive feedback?
oxytocin at labour
LH surge from higher levels of Oestrogen
where is the hypothalamus and what does it do?
The hypothalamus is a small but crucial region of the brain located below the thalamus and just above the brainstem. floor of third ventricle closely related to pituitary.
vital role in homeostatic functions. also in regulating autonomic NS, thirst / osmolarity, appetitie, thermoregulation
Releases - CRH, TRH, GnRH, GHRH, PRLH (prolactin releasing horomone), somatostatin and dopamine.
it also makes ADH which is transported and released from posterior pituitary
how do the hypothalamus and pituitary relate?
Hypothalamus has 2 connections to pituitary
to anterior pituitary via a hypophyseal circulation
to anterior pituitary by a stalk containing neurons
what is meant by a trophic hormone?
one that stimulates growth and development e.g. GH
what is a portal circulation?
a circulation that passes between two sets of capillary beds before returning to the heart e.g. pituitary, portal vein from GIT to liver and also glomerulus to loop of henle (same organ so not official)
allows direct transfer between 2 tissues without dilution in systemic circulation - good for toxins from GIT, hormones from hypothalamus to pituitary
tell me about the pituitary gland..
small gland sitting in sella turcica of the sphenoid bone made of 2 parts - anterior and posterior
anterior produces 6 hormones - GH, LH, FSH, TSH, ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic) and prolactin
posterior pituitary - connected to hypothalamus by stalk of neurons - released ADH and oxytocin
tell me about ADH..
9 aa peptide hormone
synthesised by supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus and released from posterior pituitary
in response to high osmolarity, hypovolaemia and stress
has 3 receptor targets
VR1 causes vasoconstriction
VR2 causes fluid retention by inserting aquaporins in the kidneys for water reabsorption.
VR3 - involved in ACTH secretion
also involved in factor 8 synthesis.
do you know any drugs interferring with ADH release?
increase release - morphine and nicotine
inhibit release - alcohol
tell me about oxytocin..
9aa peptide hormone, similar in structure to ADH synthesised by hypothalamus and released from posterior pituitary.
involved in lactation, uterine contractions in labour and sexual arousal.
GPCR receptors of myometrium of uterus causes muscle contraction.
Tell me about growth hormone
one of the major hormones released by anterior pituitary
involved in growth and metabolism via ILGFs
what is the action of ACTH
acts on GPCRs of adrenal cortex
increasing production and release of aldosterone and cortisol (mainly cortisol)
also has a trophic response on the gland
its release is controlled by CRH from hypothalamus
what is TSH?
A thyrotrophic hormone released from anterior pituitary, regulating relase of T3/T4
Induced by TRH from hypothalamus
Describe the anatomy of the tyroid gland..
highly vascular structure consisting of 2 flat lobes connected by an isthmus
found from level C5 to T1 (2nd and 4th tracheal ring)
made up of many follicles surrounded by thyroid epithelial cells. These follicles contain thyroid bound thyroglobulin ready for release.
There are also C cells responsible for calcitonin release - this is involved in calcium homeostasis.
describe the anatomy of thyroid hormones..
- thyroglobulin made by ribosome- rich in amino acid tyrosine.
- packed into vesicles and exocytosed into follicle
- iodine is actively transported from blood across the epithelial cells into the follicles
- thyroid peroxidase oxidises iodine to iodide
- iodide can now iodinate tyrosine residues of thyroglobulin (iodinase enzyme)
- this produces T3 and T4 bound as thyroglobin ready for release
- TSH bind GPCR Gs triggering secretion of thyroglobin back into epithelial cells where it is cleaved to T3 and T4 which are secreted into blood
T4 is made x13 more than T3
but T3 a lot more active. T4 can be converted to T3 peripherally
half life of T4 is longer and therefore is slowly converted to T3.
how do thyroid hormones exert there effects
intranuclear receptors regulating gene expression
the thyroid hormones are lipophillic in nature so cross lipid bilayer readily
explain the blood supply to thyroid ..
supplied by inferior and superior thyroid arteries.
superior thyroid artery is a branch of external carotid
whereas inferior thyroid artery from subclavian via thyrocervical trunk
sometimes thyroid ima artery directly from subclavian and lies more centrally
venous drainage via superior and inferior thyroid veins
inferior into left brachiocephalic
superior into IJV
what are the effects of thyroxine..
Acts on nuclear receptors to alter gene expression
overall upregulation of enzymes to increase BMR and core temp. overall increased metabolism
Resp - rise in minute volume due to increased CO2 production.
CVS - sensitises the myocardium to catecholamines but has direct chronotrophic and ionotrophic effects e.g. tachycardia
GIT - increased appeptite and GI motility
also has a role in growth and development e.g. congenital lack of thyroid results in poor growth and mental disability
draw the hypothalamic pituitary axis…
TSH causes growth of thyroid gland
plus increase in iodine uptake
plus increase in secretion of T3/4
somatostatin inhibits TSH release
what are the symptoms of hypo/hyperthyroidism?
hyperthyroid
* tachycardia , HTN
* diarrhoea
* increased RR
* increased body temp + sweating
* increased BMR, weight loss
* Anxiety and irritability
* lid retraction (graves exopthalmos)
hypothyroid
* bradycardia
* constipation
* low BMR, weight gain
* cold
* lethargy/ depression
causes of hyper and hypothyroid
hyper - Graves (Antibodies to TSH receptor and thyroid peroxidase, pituitary adenoma, thyroiditis
hypo - hashimotos (antibodies against TSH), iodine deficiency, subacute thyroiditis, thyroid surgery, congenital
what is thyroid storm and how is it managed?
excess T3/T4
leading to hypermetabolic state
emergency
tachycardia, tremor, fever, high RR
treated with B blockers, fluids, cooling, carbimazole or propothiouracil and cortisol (blocks T4 to T3)
patient with a goitre has a GA, start getting symptoms of tachycardia and high CO2, how do you differentiate between thyroid storm and MH?
(previous question)
thyroid storm is usually more gradual in onset over days whereas MH will be immediate upon trigger (anaesthetic agents) so clues will be before anaesthetic e.g. if already tachycardic, sweating etc should do a TSH pre op
In MH you get muscle rigidity e.g. masseter spasm whereas not seen in thyroid storm. otherwise both cause rise in CO2, temp and tachycardia. however MH will have more significant CO2 rise
If unsure intraoperatively, i would call for help and treat for MH - stop all volatiles, switch to TIVA, dantrolene and cooling.
some of the supportive measures are the same for each - 100% O2, cooling, fluids.
take bloods to distinguish between the two - T3/T4 vs CK
what anaesthetic concerns are there in someone with thyroid disease..
Airway - goitre - may make cricoid pressure and front of neck difficult, if large enough may also compress the trachea. distortion of neck/ airway may make intubation difficult
breathing - tracheal narrowing and airway obstruction, dyspnoea may be worsened under GA. may need high MV / have high O2 consumption if hyperthyroid - risk of hypoxia
Circulation - risk of thyroid storm with poorly treated hyperthyroid and stress of surgery. important to get TSH before. risk of tachycardias and MIs
hypothyroid - also goitres, but risk of low metabolism - effects drug metabolism. and hypothermia intraop
what investigations would you want pre op in someone with thryoid disease and a goitre?
neck USS and CXR - assess size of goitre and tracheal compression, maybe even CT
TSH, T3/4
pulmonary function tests, ECG/ ECHO
how to anaesthetise someone with thyroid disease..
pre op - symtoms, thyroid meds, previous thyroid storm. Investigation TSH/T3/T4. check for goitre - may need CXR or neck USS.
intraop - normothermia, avoid triggers e.g. tachycardia at laryngoscopy - use fentanyl etc. good analgesia, stress response can trigger thryoid storm.
in hyper - avoid drugs like ketamine and ephedrine that trigger sympathetic activity. can give B blockers for tachycardia
MAC is increased in hyper and reduced in hypo.
hypo may clear drugs more slowly due to reduced metabolism.
post op - good analgesia to reduce stress, monitor for thyroid storm.
what is a myxoedmea coma?
severe life threatening form of hypothyroid
resp depression, bradycardia, shock, hypoglycaemia, hypothermia
IV levothryoxine and steroids needed.
What is the treatment for hyperthyroidism?
Anti-thyroid drugs
Carbimazole - inhibits thyroid peroxidase (preventing T3/4 synthesis).
Propylthiouracil - also inhibits thryoid peroxidase
symptomatic - B blockers.
radioactive iodine treatment - initially worsening of symptoms.
thyroidectomy - recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, haematoma and airway risk, hypoparathyroidism,
what is the main ADR of carbimazole?
agranulocytosis - warn patients of sore throat.
what is the treatment of hypothyroid?
levothyroxine - works of thyroid receptors.
need TSH checking regularly
what is sick euthryoid?
low T3/4
normal TSH
associated with critical illness
dont treat
how would you interpret these results…
TSH - low
T3 and T4 normal
subclinical hyperthyroid