Endocrine Physiology Flashcards
Endocrine glands are____________glands
Ductless
They secrete hormones into the blood
Which affect target cell function (the hormones site of action, the hormone influences)
The endocrine system is a _________ system; it regulates the function of target cells
Control
The nervous system is also a control system
The nervous system is faster acting but it’s effects are shorter lasting than hormones
Since hormones travel in the blood they can reach (or potentially affect) ____ cells
All
But cells only respond to a hormone if they have receptors for the hormone
How are the two control systems (nervous and endocrine systems) interrelated
The hypothalamus of the brain is a very important link between the 2 systems- it controls the pituitary gland
The pituitary gland secreted many hormones and those hormones control many functions
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland secretions (both anterior and posterior)
Steroids
Ringed lipids derived from cholesterol
These are the sex hormones and adrenal cortex hormones
Peptides
Chains of amino acids- these are most hormones
Amines
From amino acid tyrosine-these are thyroid hormones and catecholamines are epinephrine, norepinephrine, and includes dopamine-these are adrenal medulla hormones
Dopamine is also released from the hypothalamus- it is prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH)
Catecholamines
Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
How do hormones cause their effects
1st bind to target cells receptors-in diff location for lipid soluble/ lipid insoluble hormones
The hormone binding to the receptors affects cell proteins
A.) can change activity of proteins already present in cell (enzymes)
B.) can cause synthesis of new proteins by activation of genes (or can do the reverse-can cause inhibition of genes and decrease protein synthesis)
Where are the receptors found for lipid insoluble hormones and why
These hormones can’t get through the cell membrane so their receptors are on outer surface of the membrane
They are hydrophilic hormones=peptide hormones + catecholamines
Where are the receptors found for lipid soluble hormones and why
The receptors are found within the cell because they are lipophilic hormones
Steroid+ thyroid hormones
As a rule, ——————— hormones alter the activity of proteins already present in the cell
Hydrophilic
As a rule, ————— hormones affect genes and synthesis of new proteins
Lipophilic
How do lipid soluble hormones cause responses?
Signal transduction causes the response
- Hormone diffuses through cell membrane
- Hormone binds to receptor inside cell
- Hormone and receptor together bind to DNA
- Hormone and receptor binding activates genes
- Activation of genes causes protein synthesis
- New protein cause hormone effect/ response
Could be opposite where decrease in protein synthesis occurs (eg. cortisol turns off genes involved in inflammation)
How do lipid insoluble hormones cause responses?
Most use a second messenger (messenger inside the cell)
First messenger is the hormone
Many use cyclic AMP as second messenger
- Adenylyl Cyclase is activated (after the hormone binds to the receptor and series of steps in the membrane which involves a G protein occurs)
- Adenylyl cyclase makes cAMP from ATP
- CAMP activates a protein kinase
- The kinase phosphorylates/ activates proteins
- Activates protein causes the response dictated by the hormone
Parts of the pituitary gland
Part of the pituitary gland develops upward projection of the pharynx; this is the adenohyppphysis (which contains glandular epithelial cells)
This is known as anterior pituitary
Part of the pituitary gland develops as downward growth of the hypothalamus; this is the neurohypophysis (which has nerve fibers and nerve endings)
This is the posterior pituitary
What is the brains relationship with the pituitary gland
The neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) connected by a stalk to the hypothalamus
Stalk is known as infundibulum
The posterior pituitary is thought of like an extension of the hypothalamus
Steps of how hypothalamus produces the hormones secreted by posterior pituitary
- Hormones are made in cell bodies in hypothalamus
- Are transported in vesicles down axons, stores in terminals in posterior pituitary
- On an appropriate signal are released by exocytosis
This hormone release into the blood is triggered by action potential from hypothalamus (excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the cell body in the hypothalamus will cause action potentials in the axon that goes to the posterior pituitary)
What 2 hormones are from posterior pituitary
ADH=vasopressin
Oxytocin- stimulates uterine contractions in delivery of a baby
is also the hormone for milk letdown; causes milk to be ejected into the ducts of the mammary glands so that the baby can remove the milk by nursing (baby cant remove milk without reflex)
Milk letdown reflex
Shows how nervous and endocrine systems are interrelated it is a neuroendocrine reflex
Suckling causes impulses to go to the brain and then the hypothalamus of the brain and then the posterior pituitary- which causes oxytocin release.
Oxytocin travels through the blood to the breast and causes contraction of myoepithelial cells (contractile epithelial cells - with actin and myosin in these special cells - that surround the alveoli) causes milk let down
What can affect milk letdown
Psychological stress can prevent the reflex
A crying baby can cause nursing mother (who feels for the crying baby) to leak milk