Endocrinology Flashcards
What do hormones do
secrete specialised cells into the blood and act on specific receptors in target tissues
GAP junctions
message transmitted directly from cell to cell
specificity depends on anatomical location - cells have to be next to each other to form GAP junction
wave of depolarisation spreads through gap junction
Synaptic
Message transmitted across synaptic cleft
Specificity depends on anatomical location and receptors
Paracrine and autocrine
Message transmitted by diffusion in ISF
Specificity depends on receptors
Autocrine
cell releases chemical and acts on receptors on same cell
Paracrine
chemical released into local interstatial space and acts on receptors in the local area
Endocrine
Message transmitted by circulating body fluids
Specificity depends on receptors
Endocrine system
endocrine cells within endocrine glands release hormones which are conveyed by the blood stream and act on distant cells
Hormone
chemical messenger, synthesised by specialised cells, secreted into the blood in small amounts which acts on a specific receptor in target organs to regulate cellular function
Non classical endocrine tissues
Kidney, heart muscle, endothelium, platelets, adipocytes, white blood cells
Characteristics of hormones
- high affinity
- synergistic - effect of 2 greater than 1
- permissive - presence of 1 is necessary for another to have an effect
- antagonistic - 2 hormones can oppose each other
- competitive
what are the classes of hormones based on chemical structure
- steroid hormones
- peptide hormones
- amino acid hormones
Steroid hormones
e.g. cytosol
synthesised by cholesterol on demand - hard to store
Small hydrophobic (lipophilic) molecules
Circulate in bound form - hydrophobic
Act on intracellular receptors which bind to DNA to regualte gene transcription
Slow long lasting effects
What are steroid hormones actions on receptors
Conformational change -releases protein inhibitory complex
Phosphorylation of proteins is not a direct result of steroid hormone binding to its receptor
Peptide hormones
e.g. growth hormone
synthesised from amino acids
3-332 amino acids long
synthesised as preprohormones and stored prior to release
Act on cell surface receptors then via 2nd messenger systems to cause effect in target cells - pathway is dependent on receptor not hormone
Amino acid hormones
e.g. thyroid hormone, epinephrine
Synthesised from tyrosine
Stored for instant release
Different modes of action
Mechanisms of hormone release
- Continuous e.g. TH under control of TSH
- Pulsatile e.g. gonadotrophon releasing hormone (GnRH)
- Circadian e.g. melatonin
- Exocytosis on stimulus e.g. insulin
Mechanisms of hormone activation
- Post release modification: steroids – oestrogens from androgens
Vitamin D
Angiotensinogen -> angiotensin II
Control of hormone effects
- Modification: increases/decreases hormone activity e.g. vitamin D
- Degradation: hormone broken down/excreted e.g. oestrogen
- Receptor down-reguation: e.g. adrenergenic receptors
- Termination of intracellular effects: e.g. phosphatases
- Negative feedback
a. By the regulated metabolite (glucose/insulin)
b. By the hormone itself (cortisol)
c. By the tropic hormone released by the pituitary
Which of the following hypothalamic hormones plays a role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
In which cell type of the anterior pituitary is adrenocorticotropic hormone synthesised, stored and released?
Corticotrophs
Basic structure of the adrenal gland
4-5g each
Made up of 2different cell types which produce very different hormones
on the kidneys
steroid hormones produced from cortex (outer), amino acid hormones(adrenaline) produced in inner layer
Capsule
Outermost layer
Fibrous tissue
Provides protection and support
Cortex
Middle layer
Comprises 80-90% of adrenal weight
Derived from mesodermal tissue which differentiates and becomes a steroidogenic cell
Comprises
Has 3 distinct zones
Zona glomerulosa
Outer cortex
Balls of cells
15% cortical volume
Produces aldosterone
Lacks 17 alpha-hydroxylase
Aldosterone
Major mineralocorticoid (controls salt + water balance)
50-70% bound to albumin in plasma - hydrophobic
half life = 15-20 minutes
primary action on kidney, colon and salivary glands to maintain normal Na+ concentration and ECF volume
Upregulates ENaC (epithelial sodium channel
Upregulates and activates Na+/K+ ATPase
Zona fasiculata
Middle cortex
Bundles of cells
Large lipid containing cells (75% cortical hormone)
Produces CORTISOL and ANDROGENS (biggest product)
lack of CYP11B2 gene
Zona glomerulosa
Inner cortex
Network of cells
Compact cells with less lipid (10% cortical volume)
Produces CORTISOL and ANDROGENS (can go round the body and be converted to be more active e.g. testosrerone and oestrogens)
Lack of CYP11B2 gene
Cortisol
Hydrocortisone
Major glucocorticoid
>90% bound to plasma proteins
Half life 60-90 minutes
Effects nearly all tissues by binding to its receptor and controlling gene transcription
What are the 8 effects of cortisol
- Stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis
- Inhibits glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissue – blood glucose levels rise
- Stimulates muscle catabolism
- Inhibits bone formation
- Leads to loss of collagen and connective tissue
- Increases vascular sensitivity to epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Can modulate behaviour and cognitive function
- Inhibits gonadal release of testosterone, oestrogen and progestins
Glucocorticoids
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppression:
* Inhibits cytokine production and thus T cell proliferation
* Inhibit prostaglandin and leukotriene production
Cortisol
Appreciable affinity for mineralocorticoid receptors
Cortisol is converted to cortisone - inactive forms - migrates against effects of cortisol
Medulla
10-12% od adrenal weight
Derived from neural crast tissues
Early stages of sympathetic nervous system
Major product is epinephrine
Highly specialised part of the sympathetic nervous system
Potential to become neurones but do not deveop that way - bathed in locally produced cortisol
Adrenalin e- neurotransmitter of sympathetic nervous system
Hypothalamus pituitary axis
Major site of interaction between the nervous and endocrine system
Exerts control over several endocrine glands and a number of physiological activities e.g. balance, appetite
Hypothalamus
region of the brain which plays a key role in homeostasis
Pituatary gland
2 lobes: posterior pituitary and anterior pituitary
Posterior pituitary
The posterior lobe is of neural origin – aka the neurohyophysis
Consists of axons and nerve endings of neurones whose cell bodies reside in the hypothalamus
Hormones are produced in cell bodies of neurones, travel down nerves and are released on demand
includes efferent vein, pituitary stalk, magnocellular neurones and optic chiasm
Anterior pituitary
Anterior lobe originates from Rathke’s pounch – aka adenohypophysis
Consists of endocrine tissue
Includes Secretory cells, parvocellular neurones, hypophyseal portal vessels
Posterior pituitary hormones and their functions
Oxytocin - uterine smooth muscle contraction, breast myoepithelial contraction
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - water retention by the kidney
Where are the Posterior pituitary hormones produced and stored
Produced: magnocellular neurones of the hypothalamus
Stored: posterior pituitary
What does the hypothalamus release
Hypophysiotropic hormones that act upon the anterior pituitary
What are the hypophysiotropic hormones, target tissues and major functions
- Thyotropin-releasing Hormone (TRH)
Thyrotrophs, lactotrophs
Stimulates thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin release - Gonadotropin- releasing hormone (GnRH)
Gonadotrophs
Stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH) release - Corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)
Corticotrophs
Stimulates adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and prolactin release - Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
Somatotrophs
Stimulates growth hormone (GH) release - Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin)
Somatotrophs
Inhibition of growth hormone (GH) release, also of gastrin, VIP, glucagon and insulin - Dopamine
Lactotrophs
Inhibits prolactin release
What are anterior pituitary hormones controlled by
Hypophysiotropic hormones
What is the endocrine cell, what hormone do they release and what are the major functions
- Thyrotrophs- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Stimulates thyroid hormone release - Gonadotrophs- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Stimulates sex steroid production - Gonadotrophs-Luteinizing hormone (LH) Stimulates sex steroid production
- Corticotrophs- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Stimulates cortisol release - Somatotrophs-Growth hormone (GH) Stimulates growth
- Lactotrophs- Prolactin
Stimulates milk production
What does somatroph release
growth hormone
Growth hormone (somatotropin)
191 amino acid peptide hormone
synthesised by somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary
released in response to GHRH
release inhibitied by growth hormone-inhibiting hormone
stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration
Stress, sleep, hypoglycaemia reduce growth hormone release
Acute metabolic actions of GH (direct)
- Release fatty acids from adipose tissue and enhances their conversion to acetly-CoA
- Reduced glucose metabolism and uptake in to cells, especially the liver. Diabetogenic, i.e. anti-insulin
- Increased gluconeogenesis in the liver
- Increased production of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) - hepatic