ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Flashcards
What are some of the functions of Ca in the body
Bone formation
Muscle contraction
Neurotransmission
Sinus rhythm
How much of the Ca in the body is ionised, free and biologically active?
50%
The part of body Ca that can be regulated
Outline the process of resorption
osteoclasts break down the tissue in bones and release the minerals
resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone tissue to the blood
How to osteoclasts perform resorption
Osteoclasts originate from hematopoietic stem cells
secrete hydrogen ions and hydrolytic enzymes which digest osteoid
release Ca and PO4 back into blood
How do osteoblasts perform bone formation
Osteoblasts originate from mesenchymal stem cells and synthesis the collagen organic matrix of bone
Use Ca and PO4 from the blood to produce hydroxyapatite that is deposited into the matrix
What are osteocytes
Osteoblasts that become surrounded by calcified matrix.
Have long cytoplasmic processes that extend through bone forming tight junctions with other osteocytes
Explain how bone resorption is stimulated
Osteoblasts produce RANKL which binds to RANK proteins of osteoclasts triggering bone resorption
What hormones stimulate RANKL production and therefore bone resorption
PTH
1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D
Cortisol
Explain how bone resorption is inhibited
Osteoblasts also produce OPG, a decoy receptor that binds to RANKL preventing activation of RANK on osteoclasts.
What hormones stimulate OPG production and therefore inhibit bone resorption
Testosterone
Estrogen
What are the body responses to secreted parathyroid hormone
Increases bone resorption (therefore Ca and PO4 in blood)
Stimulates formation of 1,25D (increases Ca GI absorption)
Increases Ca reabsorption in kidneys
Decreases PO4 reabsorption in kidneys (to cancel out PO4 release from bone)
Where is parathyroid hormone produced
the parathyroid glands (embedded into posterior surface of thyroid gland)
secreted by chief cells as an 84 amino acid protein
Describe how PTH release is inhibited/stimulated
High extracellular Ca activates Ca sensing receptor on chief cells
signalling cascade inhibits PTH transcription and release from vesicles
Ultimately, PTH…
increases Ca
decreases PO4
in extracellular fluid and blood
How is vitamins D3 usually produced
UV radiation from sunlight on a cholesterol derivative in the skin
Explain the production pathway for 1,25D
In liver, dietary vitamin D has OH group added by 25-hydroxylase
In kidney OH group added by 1-hydroxylase (rate limiting step)
How does PTH increase production of 1,25D
Stimulates activity of 1-hydroxylase (the rate limiting step)
What is the main action of 1,25D
stimulate intestinal absorption of Ca and PO4