Endocrine 9: Endocrine Disruptors

Question 1

Define EPO.

Answer 1

Erythropoietin

• made in kidney
• stimulates production of RBCs

Question 2

How is EPO regulated?

Answer 2

ACTIVATORS
- anemia
- hypoxia (high altitudes)
- thyroid hormone
- norepinephrine
- androgens
INHIBITORS
- estrogens

Question 3

What are the side effects of doping with EPO?

Answer 3

• acute hypertensive episodes leading to seizures

Question 4

What effects do ANP/BNP have?

Answer 4

• decrease vascular smooth muscle tone
• decrease TPR
• increase capillary permeability
• increase in hematocrit

Question 5

How is ANP/BNP regulated?

Answer 5

• activated by stretch

- BNP has longer half-life (used to diagnose heart failure)

Question 6

Describe the overall effect of low BV.

Answer 6

• brain => JGA => RATA => sodium retention
• brain => post pit => AVP => water retention
• no ANP/BNP

Question 7

Define PCBs.

Answer 7

polychlorinated biphenyls

• banned
• but still present in many items and emitted from hazardous waste sites
• compete with thyroid hormone and bind to TBG and TTR
• thyroid hormones are degraded in plasma
• hyperstimulation of thyroid b/c lack of negative feedback (high TSH)
• goiter
• cancer, immune suppression, low sperm, neurological deficits

Question 8

Define DES.

Answer 8

Diethylstilbesterol (synthetic estrogen)

• used to reduce complications in pregnancy, prostate cancer, cattle feed
• DES daughters have 40% increase in cervical/vaginal cancers

Question 9

What are other sources of estrogen in the environment?

Answer 9

• birth control = myth
• pesticides (atrazine)
• livestock
• BPA

Question 10

Define BPA.

Answer 10

bisphenyl-A (synthetic estrogen)

• found in all packaging, plastics, canned
• estrogenic, obesogenic, diabetogenic, antagonist for thyroid hormone receptor, neuro, CVD effects