Endocrine Physiology Flashcards
What are the 3 general classes of hormones?
- Proteins and polypeptides (pituitary gland, pancreas = insulin, glucagon; parathyroid = PTH)
- Steroids (Adrenal cortex = Cortisol and aldosterone; ovaries = estrogen, progresterone; testes = testosterone)
- Derviatives of AA Tyrosine (thyroid = thyroxine, triidothronine); adreanl medulla (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
What are steroid hormones synthesized from?
Cholesterol
What are amine hormones synthesized from?
Tyrosine
Name 3 second messenger systems.
- cAMP
- Cell membrane phospholipid - Activates Phospholipase C (PIP2 into IP3 (mobilized Ca) and DAG (activates PKC))
- Calcium-calmodulin = Activates protein kinases (MLCK - myosin light chain kinase)
What is an ELISA and how does it work?
Samples or standards are added to each well, followed by secondary antibody (specific to hormone and binds to it), third antibody is added that recognized and binds to the secondary antibody - this antibody is coupled to an enzyme that is converts suitable substrate to a product that is easily detected colorimetic or fluorescent
○ Used excess antibodies so that all hormone molecules are captured in antibody-hormone complexes
○ Thus the amount of hormone present in sample or standard is proportional to amount of product formed
Basic principles of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring the concentration of a hormone (H). AB1 and AB2 are antibodies that recognize the hormone at different binding sites, and AB3 is an antibody that recognizes AB2. E is an enzyme linked to AB3 that catalyzes the formation of a colored fluorescent product (P) from a substrate (S). The amount of the product is measured using optical methods and is proportional to the amount of hormone in the well if there are excess antibodies in the well.
How does a radioimmunoassay work?
Natural hormone in the assay fluid and the radioactive standard hormone compete for binding sites of the antibody
• Process of competing = quantity of each of 2 hormones (natural and radioactive) that binds is proportional to is concentration in the assay fluid
• After equilibrium reached, Antibody-hormone complex is separated and the radioactive hormone bound to it complex is measured (measuring radioactivity)
○ If large amount of radioactive hormone bound to antibody = Only small amount of natural hormone to compete
○ If only small amount of radioactive hormone bound = Large amount of natural hormone present
Compared to standard curve for the assay
Name 6 hormones from in the hypothalamus.
- Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) = Stimulates secretion of TSH and prolactin
- Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) = Release of ACTH
- Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) = Release of growth hormone
- Growth Hormone Inhibitory Hormone (somatostatin) = Inhibits release of growth hormone
- Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) = Release of LH and FSH
- Dopamin or prolactin inhibiting factor (PIF) = Inhibits release of prolactin
Name 6 hormones from the anterior pituitary gland.
- Growth Hormone: Stimulates protein sysnthesis and overall growth of most cells and tissue
- TSH: Stimulates synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones (thyroxine, triiodothyronine)
- ACTH: Stimulates synthesis and secretion of adrenocortical hormones (cortisol, androgens, aldosterone)
- Prolactin: Promotes development of breasts adn secretion of milk
- FSH: Causes growth of follicles in ovaries and sperm maturation in Sertoli cells of testes
- LH: Stimulates testosterone synthesis from Leydig cells of testes; stimulates ovulation, formation of corpus luteum, estrogen and progresterone synthesis in ovaries
Name 2 hormones from the posterior pituitary.
- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH - Vasopressin) = Increases water reabsoprtion by kidneys and causes vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure
- Oxytocin: Stimulates milk ejection from breasts and urterine contractions
Name 2 hormones from the thyroid gland.
- Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) = Increased rates of chemical rxn in most cells = Increasing body metabolic rate
- Calcitonin: Promotes deposition of Ca in bone and decreases extracellular fluid Ca ion concentration
Name 2 hormones from the adrenal cortex.
- Cortisol: Multiple metabolic functions - controlling metabloism of proteins, carbs, fats, anti-inflammatory effects
- Aldosterone: Increased renal Na reabsorption, K secretion, and H+ secretion
Name 2 hormones from the adrenal medulla.
Norepinephrine and epinephrine = Sympathetic stimulation
Name 2 hormones from the pancreas.
- Insulin (B cells) = Promotes glucose entry in many cells, thus controls carb metabolism
- Glucagon (Alpha cells) = Increased synthesis and release of glucose from the liver into body fluids
Name 1 hormone from the parathyroid gland.
PTH = Controls serum Ca concentrations by increasing Ca absorption by the gut and kidneys and release Ca from bone
Name 1 hormone from the testes.
Testosterone = Promotes development of male repro system and male secondary sex characteristics
Name 2 hormones from the ovaries.
- Estrogen = Promotes growth and development of female repro system, beasts, and female secondary sex characteristics
- Progesterone = Stimulates secrection of ““uterine milk”” by uterine endometrial glands and promotes development of secretory apparatus of breasts
Name 3 hormones from the kidneys.
- Renin = Catalyzes conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I (enzyme)
- 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol = Increases intestinal absorption of Ca and bone mineralization
- Erythropoietin = Increased RBC production
Name 1 hormone from the heart.
- Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) = Increases Na excretion by kidneys, reduced blood pressure
Name 1 hormone from the stomach.
- Gastrin = Stimulates HCL secretion by parietal cells
Name 2 hormones from small intestines.
- Secretin = Stimulates pancreatic acinar cells to release bicarbonate and water
- Cholecystokinin (CCK) = Stimulates GB contraction and release of pancreatic enzymes
Name 1 hormone from adipocytes.
- Leptin = Inhibits appetite, stimulates thermogensis
What are the 5 cell types in the anterior pituitary gland and what to they produce?
- Somatotropes (hGH)
- Corticotropes (ACTH)
- Thyrotropes (TSH)
- Gonadotropes (LH and FSH)
- Lactotropes (Prolactin)
What are the 2 hormones in the posterior pituitary and where are they synthesized?
- ADH
- Oxytocin
Synthesized in hypothalamus and transported to posterior pituitary by axoplasm of neurons
What other names for anterior and posterior pituitary gland?
Anterior = Adenohypophysis Posterior = Neurohypophysis
Which system controls secretion of the pituitary hormones?
The Hypothalamus (either by hormonal or nervous signals)
How does the hypothalamus control pituitary secretions?
- Hormonal Release (from nerves in hypothalamus released in the median eminence and travel via the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal vessels to the anterior pituitary) = TRH, CRH, GHRH, GRH, prolactin inhibitory hormone
- Nervous signal for the posterior pituitary
What are the 3 major meatbolic effects of growth hormone?
- Promotes protein deposition in tissue
- Enhances fat utilization (ketogenic)
- Decreased carbohydrate utilization (diabetogenic)
What controls growth hormone release?
GHRH (hypothalamus) is sensitive to blood glucose levels = release of cAMP, increased Ca2+ = GH vesicles released from anterior pituitary gland
What area of the hypothalamus is related to ADH?
When osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus sense an increase in ECF osmolality = Secretion of ADH from the supraoptic nuclei and it travels down to posterior pituitary via neurophysins (carrier proteins) to be released into the capillaries there
What part of the hypothalamus is responsible for oxytocin release?
Paraventricular nuclei and then the posterior pituitary
Are the hypothalamic hormones present in systemic circulation?
No! Due to the hypothalamic-pituitary portal vessels
What is the breakdown of thyroid hormone release from the thyroid?
93% thyroxine (T4) and 7% triiodothyronine (T3)
What form of thyroid hormone do the tissues use?
Almost all T4 is eventually converted to T3 in the tissue
Which form of thyroid hormone is most potent?
T3 is 4x as patient as T4
What controls thyroid hormone secretion?
TSH (secreted by anterior pituitary)
Which cells secrete calcitonin?
Parafollicular cells or C (clear) cells - located in the periphery of follicle and liw in the basal lamina, no exposure to the follicle
What is the major component of colloid in the thyroid gland?
Thyroglobulin (large glycoprotein that contains thyroid hormones)
In what form is iodine ingested?
Iodine ingested as iodides
About 20% taken up by thyroid gland and the rest rapidly excreted by kidneys
What transporter is responsible for uptake of iodide by the thyroid gland and how is this gradient established?
Sodium-Iodide Symporter (NIS) - Cotransports 1 iodide with 1 Na ions across basolateral membrane (energy from Na/K ATPase in this membrane)
What is iodide trapping in the thyroid gland?
Iodide concentrations in cells via iodide pump (NIS) = 30x concentration of iodide in thyroid > blood)
This NIS pump is controlled by [TSH]
How is iodide pumped across apical membrane into follicle?
By chloride-iodide pump countertransporter = PENDRIN
Where is thyroglobulin made and secreted?
Thyroglobulin (contains about 70 tyrosine AA) - Synthesized in follicular cells and secreted into colloid
What combined with iodide to make the thyroid hormones in the follicle?
Tyrosine combine with iodine to form thyroid hormones (hormones WITHIN thyroglobulin and remain in colloid)
What is the two major steps once the iodine is within the follicle of the thyroid gland?
- Oxidation: Iodide to Iodine (so that it can combine with tyrosine) - catalyzes by thyroid peroxidase in the apical membrane = H2O2
- Organification: Binding of iodine with tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin - Catalyzed by thyroid peroxidase in the apical membrane
Describe the 4 major combinations of thyroid hormones.
- Thyroglobulin + iodine → MIT (monoiodotyrosine)
- MIT + iodine → DIT (diiodotyrosine)
- Coupling of DIT + DIT → T4
- MIT + DIT → T3, or occasionally reverse T3
After synthesis how many thyroid hormones are on the thyroglobulin?
About 30 T4 and few T3 (but enough thyroid hormone for months!)
How are the thyroid hormones secreted from the thyroid colloid?
Colloid globules pinocytosed (pseudopods from apical surface of thyroid cell) → taken into follicular cell fuse with lysosomes → proteolysis of thyroglobulin → diffusion through base of thyroid cells → release of T3, T4, RT3 into blood
How much MIT and DIT is released from thyroglobulin?
About of 75% iodinated tyrosine in thyroglobulin was still MIT and DIT; during digestion, the iodine from these molecules is cleaved by deiodinase enzyme → iodine recycles within the gland
What happens to T4 and T3 once it gets into the blood?
It is immediately bound to proteins (>99%) = (thyroxine-binding globulin»_space; thyroxine-binding prealbumin, albumin)
Changes in the TBG DO NOT influence free thyroid hormone concentration
What is the active form of thyroid hormone that is used by the cells and how does it get converted to this?
T3 is the form of thyroid hormone used by cells. Therefore T4 (major form of thyroid hormone in blood) is converted to T3 by iodinase in the cells.
Once T3 is in the cell, how does it work?
- Binds to heterodimer of thyroid hormone receptor + retinoid X receptor that is in close proximity to DNA (in particular thyroid hormone response elements in the DNA)
- Results in increased transcriptions = increased function (cellular metabolism)
Are there nongenomic effects of thyroid hormones?
YES!
These occur within mins in the pituitary, heart, and adipose
Regulate ion channels and phosphorylation (cAMP, PKA) - thought to act in the plasma membrane, cytosol, mitochondria
What controls thyroid hormone secretion from the thyroid gland?
- TRH released from hypothalamus into the hypothalamic-pituitary portal system
- TSH (thyrotropin) released from anterior pituitary into systemic circulation
- TSH binds to TSH receptors on basolateral aspect of thyroid follicular cells (acts via cAMP - PKA - phosphorylation)
Name 5 actions of TSH on thyroid follicular cells, what is the most important mechanism?
MOST IMPORTANT = Increased proteolysis of stored thyroglobulin Increased NIS (iodide pump) = Increased iodide trapping Increased iodination of tyrosine, increased coupling of thyroid hormone Increased size of thyroid cells/gland = hypertrophy of thyroid gland (increased # thyroid cells)
Name the major negative feedback for thyroid hormone secretion.
High levels of T3 and T4 result in negative inhibition of TSH secretion from the anterior pituitary
What is the MOA for methimazole?
Prevents formation of thyroid hormone
1. Blocks perioxidase (on apical membrane) needed for iodination of tyrosine
2. Partially blocking coupling of 2 iodinated tyrosines to form T3 and T4
Results in increased TSH
What is Grave’s disease in humans?
Autoimmune dz where antibodies (thyroid stimulating Igs) form against TSH receptors in thyroid gland
Bind to and stimulate TSH receptors = Leading to hyperthyroidism
How does a goiter form?
insufficient dietary iodide (not enough iodine in soil) → thyroid gland cannot produce T4 or T3 → TSH stimulated → increased secretion of thyroglobulin into colloid → thyroid gland grows massively but lack of negative feedback on TSH since no T4/T3
o Can also be caused by abnormalities of enzyme system that forms thyroid hormones (deficient iodide trapping, deficient peroxidase, deficient DIT coupling, of deficiency of deiodinase enzymes for recycling iodine)
What is myxedema in hypothyroidism?
Increased quantities of hyaluronic acid and chrondroitin sulfate binding with proteins to form excess tissue gel in interstitial spaces
What is cretinism?
Hypothyroidism = Growth failure and mental retardation in humans
““Cretins”
How is the problem solved since the thyroid gland is secreting the less active form of thyroid hormone, T4?
Solved by target tissues which convert T4 into T3 using an iodinase
Does reverse T3 have any biological activity?
No
Name 3 unusual features of thyroid hormone synthesis.
- Thyroid hormone contain a large amount of iodine, which must be adequately supplied by diet
- Synthesis of thyroid hormone is partially intracellular and partially extracellular, with completed hormone stored in the extracellular follicular lumen until needed
- T4 is the major secretory product of the thyroid gland, but it is NOT the most active form of thyroid hormone
What does the adrenal medulla secrete?
Catecholamines (epi and norepi) = Extension of SNS
What are the three parts of the adrenal cortex?
- Zone Glomerulosa = Mineralcorticoids - Aldosterone
- Zona Fasciculata = Cortisol (some androgens)
- Zona Reticularis = Androgens (DHEA, Anrostenedione) (some cortisol)
What layers of the adrenal cortex undergo hypertrophy when stimulated by ACTH?
Zone Fasciculata and Reticularis
What type of compounds are the adrenocortical hormones?
Steroid compounds
What are all adrenocortical hormones synthesized from?
Cholesterol