Endocrinology Flashcards
Define hormone
Any substance found in very small along in one specialised organ or group of cells carried to another organ upon which it has a specific physiological effect
Name 7 key endocrine organs
Hypothalamus Pituitary Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Pancreas Gonads
What are the 3 broad ways hormones act on the body
To enable and promote development of physical, sexual and mental characteristics
To keep certain physiological parameters constant
To enable and promote the adjustment of physiological adaptations
2 ways to class a hormone based on how it acts
Effector
Tropic
What are the 4 main structural types of hormone
Peptide hormone
Steroid hormones
Amino hormones
Arachidonic acid derived
What are steroids
Lipid hormones derived from cholesterol
Not water soluble
How are steroid hormones transported
In the blood bound to plasma proteins
What are amine hormones derived from
Tyrosine or tryptophan
What kind of hormone is dopamine
Amine
What are are arachidonic acid derived hormones synthesised from
What response are they important in
Linoleic acid
Inflammatory responses
What do NSAIDs do
They are Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs
They inhibit arachidonic acid derived hormones
What is 5-HPETE
Arachidonic acid 5-hydroxyperoxidase
What is 5-LO
5-lipoxygenase
What directs peptide hormones to the secretory pathway in the cell
What happens when it reaches the ER
The N terminal sequence
This sequence is cleaved from the protein hormone, activating the hormone
What must happen for a pre hormone to become a hormone
The signal peptide sequence must be removed from the pre hormone leaving only the active hormone
How is a hormone formed from a preprohormone
The signal peptide must be removed, then the pro sequence must be removed, leaving only the hormone
What is the RF-amide family
Peptide hormones that require addition of an amide group at the carboxyl terminus to become active
Where is kisspeptide secreted
What does it do
In the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular regions of the hypothalamus
Stimulates secretion of gonadotrophin releasing protein (GnRH)
What is GnRH
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
What is GnIH
Gonadotrophin inhibitory hormone
Where is GnIH produced
What action does it have
Paraventricular and dorsomedial regions of the hypothalamus
Inhibits release of gonadotrophin hormones from the pituitary
How do hormones signal via the GPCR pathway
Hormones bind to GPCR to activate G proteins which stimulate/ inhibit intracellular adenylyl cyclase
Stimulating adenylyl cyclase increases [cAMP] which activates PKA which alters cellular activities by phosphorylation
Describe hormone signalling via the DAG/IP3 pathway
Hormones bind to GPCR which activate G proteins to stimulate phospholipase C.
Phospholipase C converts PIP2 to IP3 and DAG
IP3 stimulates Ca2+ release from internal stores which binds to calmodulin, activating Calmodulin Activated Protein Kinase
What is the common domain structure of nuclear receptors
3 domains:
AF1 (an activation domain)
Zn2+ finger (a DNA binding domain)
Ligand binding/ dimerisation domain