Endocrinology Flashcards
Overview
o Intercellular communication by chemical messengers may occur by several methods: o Neural: neurotransmitters are released at synaptic cleft and act locally o Endocrine: Hormones reach the systemic circulation and influence cells some distance away (Ex. thyroid, estrogen, testosterone etc.) o Neuroendocrine: secretion from neurons reach the blood stream and influence cells some distance away (ex. ADH, epinephrine) o Paracrine: secretions from one cell type diffuse into EFC and affect neighboring cells (ex. histamine released by mast cells in the stomach area influence gastric parietal cells to increase H+ production)
Classification of Hormones according to Chemical Structure
- Proteins and peptides – 2 to 200 amino acids in length (ex. TRH, GH) - Steroids – derived from cholesterol (ex. cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone etc.) - Derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine – Epi, Norepi, thyroxine
Control of Hormone Secretion
- Control of secretion is usually by negative feedback: increased functioning of target cell results in negative feedback to the endocrine gland, resulting in a decrease rate of release of hormone - Occasionally by positive feedback: ex. Dilatation of cervix in labor stimulates the posterior pituitary to secrete oxytocin which stimulates further dilation of cervix
Mediators of Hormone Response
- Receptors on the cell surface often mediate a response to a hormone. They are usually, but not exclusively by G – protein coupling (ex. cAMP, cGMP, phospholipase C, Ca++, calmodulin) which serve to amplify hormone signal - Steroid hormones act by entering the cell and binding to intracellular receptors, which activates a specific gene, causing transcription, translation of proteins – much slower in action than cell surface receptors. (ex. treating someone with epinephrine has an immediate effect, while it will take hours to see the effect of treating an individual with prednisone for poison oak)
Laboratory Measurements
- Very small quantities make measurement challenging - Typically by Radioimmunoassay – bound/free ratio in a known solution - Lab technology generally measure immunologic amounts, not biologic activity - Expensive
Pituitary Gland and the Hypothalamus
o The pituitary is composed of 2 distinct components o Anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) – derived from embryonic cells from the oral cavity (Rathke’s pouch) o Posterior Pituitary (neurohypophysis) – formed by down growth of cell axons from 3rd ventricle o Secretions from the pituitary are controlled by the hypothalamus
The Posterior Pituitary
Secretes two hormones o Antidiuretic hormone - ADH o Oxytocin - The neuron cell bodies which produce ADH and oxytocin are located in supra optic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and the axons of these nerves make up the posterior pituitary; the neuropeptides produced by the posterior pituitary are secreted directly from the neurons into the systemic circulation
The Anterior Pituitary
Secretes 6 hormones o TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone o FSH – follicle stimulating hormone o LH - luteinizing hormone o GH – growth hormone o ACTH – adrenocorticotrophic hormone o Prolactin
The Anterior Pituitary
- The hypothalamus controls the cells of the anterior pituitary by so called “releasing hormones” which either stimulate or inhibit the production and release from the anterior pituitary cells of the 6 anterior pituitary hormones - The anterior pituitary is linked to hypothalamus by the hypothalamic – hypophysial portal blood vessels, which supplies the majority of the blood supply to the anterior pituitary - Arterial blood to hypothalamus delivers blood to: -> Capillary network in hypothalamus, which delivers blood to: -> Hypophysial portal vessels, which delivers blood to: -> Anterior pituitary
The Anterior Pituitary
Hypothalamic blood delivers “hypothalamic releasing hormones” to the anterior pituitary in very high concentrations (compared to levels occurring in the systemic circulation) Example: - Thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) is produced by hypothalamus o TRH enters hypothalamic – hypophysial portal system • TRH is delivered to anterior pituitary • Anterior pituitary thyroid cells (trophs) are stimulated to produce and release into the systemic circulation Thyroid stimulating hormone (aka. TSH, thyrotropin) o TSH acts on its target cells
Posterior Pituitary Hormones 1 of 2
Antidiuretic Hormone - aka. ADH; Vasopressin, Desmopressin (DDAVP, a synthetic hormone form) o Action: • Regulates osmolarity of body fluids by altering renal excretion of water • Acts on Principle Cells of distal renal tubules and collecting ducts to increase H20 re-absorption o Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus are very sensitive to blood osmolarity. Stimulations of these receptors results in the posterior pituitary release of ADH o Baroreceptors in the left atrium, aortic arch, and carotid artery sense hypovolemia / hypervolemia signaling the hypothalamus via the vagus nerve to decrease or increase secretion of ADH o Other stimulants of ADH release: • Pain, nausea, hypoglycemia, certain drugs o Inhibitors of ADH release: • ETOH, ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) etc.
Antidiuretic Hormone - Pathophysiology
Abnormalities of ADH secretion: o Diabetes insipidus (aka. D.I.) - Central DI - Nephrogenic DI o SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion) - Characterized by a decrease plasma osmolarity, decreased serum Na+ (Total body Na+ is normal; too much total body free water) - Associated with Oat cell CA of the lung and many other conditions
Posterior Pituitary Hormones 2 of 2
Oxytocin (aka. Pitocin and Syntocinon) - Actions: o Uterine contraction, helps in parturition o “Let down of milk” (milk moves from production areas to traveling down the ductal system) o Milk ejection - Secretion stimulated by: o Suckling of breast; stimulation of nipple o Conditioned response to sight, sound, smell of infant o Secreted in response to cervical dilation during labor and during orgasm - Clinically useful in: o Induction / and maintenance of labor of (originally administered as a nasal spray, today by IV administration) o Reduction of postpartum bleeding (uterus “clamps down” on bleeding vessels) o ? Potential psychiatric treatment – makes people more trusting? There is resurgence in interest in the nasal administration of oxytocin as treatment for behavioral issues
Anterior Pituitary Hormones
6 hormones produced by 5 cell types. Cells types sometimes referred to as –trophes: thyrotrophes, corticotrophes, lactotrophes, somatotrophes, gonadotrophes
GH – Growth Hormone (aka. Somatotropin; rhGH)
Multiple physiological effects (vs. targeting of specific glands) - Pulsatile release – largest burst within the first hour of falling asleep - Action mediated through generation of locally produced and circulating somatomedins or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Effects may be tempered by generation of somatostatins - Actions: o Increase in linear growth (before bone growth plates close) o Increase protein synthesis, increased lean body mass o Promotes utilization of fats for energy source o Diabetogenic – increases insulin resistance - Secretion stimulated by: o Fasting, starvation, increased plasma levels of amino acids, exercise,
GH – Growth Hormone : Pathophysiology
o Excess growth hormone causes: - Acromegaly (in adults whose bone growth plates have closed) - Gigantism (in teens/children with “open growth plates”) o Deficiently: - Failure to grow, short stature, mild obesity
Prolactin
- Release is tonically inhibited by dopamine (the default is release of prolactin; dopamine inhibits the release) - Pregnancy and suckling are stimuli for production and release - Actions: o Lactogenesis – stimulation of milk production and secretion in response to suckling (prolactin’s action is inhibited by high levels of estrogen/progesterone during pregnancy. With delivery, the existing high levels of prolactin are able to act because of the rapid fall of estrogen/progesterone after delivery). Pregnancy is not need for mild production. Sufficient stimulation of nipple can produce milk o Inhibits ovulation by inhibiting GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone). o Breast development at puberty (with estrogen/progesterone) and pregnancy
Prolactin : Pathophysiology
- Excess Prolactin: o Galactorrhea (milk production unassociated with pregnancy or nursing) 1) Destruction of dopamine source “dis-inhibits” production 2) Hypothalamic-hypophysial portal tract interruption may result in galactorrhea (pituitary tumor, trauma etc.) 3) Treated with bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) o Infertility in males secondary to impaired spermatogenesis - Prolactin deficiency: o Failure to lactate o “Empty sella syndrome” - Headache and galactorrhea as presenting symptoms of pituitary adenoma (30% of cases of hyperprolactinemia). - Often no etiology is found for hyperprolactinemia
TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (aka. Thyrotropin)
- Secreted in response to thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) made by hypothalamus; carried by the portal systems to anterior pituitary which stimulates release of TSH - Actions of TSH: o Regulates growth of thyroid gland o Regulates secretion of thyroid hormones, T3 & T4 - Negative feedback loop of T3 produces a “steady state” of secretion of thyroid hormones (vs. pulsatile secretion)
. ACTH - Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone
- Actually a family of hormones of which ACTH is the most important - Derived from a precursor: pro-opiomelanocortin - The “ACTH family” includes: o ACTH o MSH – melanocyte stimulating hormone o Beta – endorphin o Alpha & beta lipotropin - Control of release of ACTH by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) - Actions of ACTH: o Modulates cortisol secretion from the zona fasciculate of the adrenal cortex
FSH – Follicle Stimulation Hormone
- Under control of GnRH – gonadotropin releasing hormone - Action: o Stimulates development of follicles in the ovary o Stimulates spermatogenesis
LH – Luteinizing Hormone
- Under control of GnRH - Actions: o Stimulates development of corpus luteum in the ovaries o Stimulates testosterone secretions from the Leydig cells of testis
Estrogen and Progesterone
Are steroid hormones secreted by the follicle and corpus luteum of the ovary. These hormones feedback to hypothalamus influencing release of FSH and LH (as does testosterone). Topic covered in detail in Women’s Health Module