Endocrinology Knowledge Gaps Flashcards
True or False:
Vitamin D and it’s metabolites are also considered steroid hormones
True
True or False:
80% of steroid hormones are synthesized from dietary LDL cholesterol, while only 20% of steroid hormones come from the de-novo synthesis of cholesterol from acetate/(acetyl CoA)
True
What are the steps in steroid hormone synthesis?
- LDL circulating in the bloodstream is taken up into cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis.
- Lysosomal hydrolases release free cholesterol
- Free cholesterol is then converted to a steroid hormone precursor called pregnenolone.
- The precursor pregnenolone can then be converted into various steroid hormones (aldosterone, cortisol, testosterone, & estradiol)
What is the response time for steroid hormones?
Primarily, hours to days if binding to intracellular receptors. This is due to their effect being at the nuclear level, having to account for processing through transciptio, translation, etc.
Can also be quicker, in seconds to minutes, if it is binding to a membrane receptor (like protein and amino acid hormones).
What is the response time in peptide or amine hormones?
Seconds to minutes
What class of hormones require binding globulins (binding proteins) to travel through the blood to the target organ?
Steroid hormones:
- cortisol
- aldosterone
- estrogen/estradiol
- progesterone
- testosterone
- triiodothyronine (T3) & thyroxine (T4) (AA hormones, but act like steroids)
What are the primary modes of regulation of circulating hormones?
- Biosynthesis & precursor processing
- Hormone secretion
- Hormone transport
4 .Hormone metabolism - Feedback loops (mostly negative, some positive) Most important regulatory factor!
- Receptor regulation
What is an “ultra-short” feedback loop?
An “ultra-short” feedback loop is a regulatory mechanism where the regulatory product/metabolite), has regulatory effects on the same organ or tissue that the metabolite was produced or secreted by.
Also called an “autocrine” feedback mechanism/loop.
Distinction between long, short, and ultra-short feedback loops relates directly to the distance the metabolite travels to illicit its regulatory effects.
When serum calcium levels are low in the blood, PTH is released from the parathyroid gland, which will increase serum calcium levels by increasing osteoclast (bone breakdown) activity. The subsequent rise in serum calcium will be detected by the parathyroid gland and will then inhibit or stop further PTH secretion.
The regulatory mechanism of calcium on PTH secretion is an example of a what level feedback loop?
The regulatory action of calcium on PTH secretion is an example of a single level or simple feedback loop.
The stress response pathway of hormone secretion that results in secretion of cortisol, is an example of what level feedback control loop? Simple or Hierarchical?
The stress response is an example of a hierarchichal level of control.
Hierarchical level feedback loops have metabolites that can regulate its production pathway by forming feedback loops at multiple levels in the process.
The stress response is a tropic response which involves multiple levels of tropic hormone secretion to other endocrine organs before eventually secreting the final product, cortisol, to the target tissues.
Once enough cortisol has reached target tissues, it has the ability to then “feed back” into the stress response pathway it was stimulated by & regulate the secretion of the hormones at multiple levels, inhibiting further cortisol synthesis and secretion.
Explain receptor desensitization or adaptation.
Receptor adaptation or desensitization is a reversible regulatory mechanism that allows hormones to alter (either upregulate or downregulate) target cell responsiveness to itself or other hormones, by modulating receptor function.
Can be done in multiple ways:
Downregulation (decrease target cell responsiveness):
- receptor endocytosis & lysosomal destruction
- receptor phosphorylation (rendering it inactive)
- production of an inhibitor that blocks the signal transduction/second messenger signaling process
- decreasing the expression of another hormone’s receptor, thereby reducing that hormones effectiveness
Upregulation (increase target cell responsiveness):
- Increase number of receptors for itself or another hormone when that hormone’s levels are persistently low
What is the mechanism of G protein coupled to adenylyl cyclase (GPCR-AC)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Ligand binds»_space; exchanges GDP for GTP»_space; α subunit/GTP bind to and activate AC»_space; AC converts ATP to cAMP»_space; cAMP binds to PKA repressor to activate it»_space; Active PKA phosphorylates many enzymes and TFs = increased gene expression
- Ligand binds to GPCR-AC ligand binding site on the extracellular surface.
- Gsα subunit (G-proteins) exchanges GDP for GTP and dissociates from the rest of the G-protein
- GTP bound to the alpha subunit then binds to adenylyl cyclase (AC), which converts ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP)
- Elevated intracellular cAMP levels then act on the inactive Protein Kinase A enzymes by binding to their repressors.
- Once cAMP binds to the PKA repressor, the repressors disassociate from PKA, and PKA becomes active.
- Active PKA (“promiscuous” protein kinases) will then go on to phosphorylate several enzymes and transcription factors to enhance gene expression.
- Phosphodiesterases (PDEs), a regulatory enzyme of secondary messengers cAMP & cGMP, will then act as a “break” on the signaling pathway by breaking down cAMP and terminating it’s activity once the initial signal has been received.
What is the mechanism of G protein coupled to phospholipase C (GPCR-PC)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Ligand binds»_space; Gα q subunit is activated»_space; activation of Gα q activates connected and membrane bound phospholipase C (PLC)»_space; PLC cleaves PIP2 into the two signaling molecules IP3 & DAG»_space; IP3 induces intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release»_space; DAG then binds to calcium to activate calcium-dependent kinase, Protein Kinase C (PKC)»_space;PKC will phosphorylate many enzymes and transcription factors = increase in gene expression
What is the mechanism of G protein coupled to phospholipase A2 (GPCR-PLA2)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Ligand binds»_space; Gα q or Gα 11 subunit is activated & subsequently activates connected and membrane bound phospholipase A2 (PLA2)»_space; PLA2 cleaves membrane phospholipids producing lypophospholipid & Arachidonic Acid»_space; Arachindonic Acid can then be converted by many different enzymes into a variety of bioactive eicosanoids = increase in prostanglandins, prostacyclins, thromboxanes, & leukotrienes (all eicosanoids)
What is the mechanism of Guanylyl Cyclase Receptors (GC’s)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Ligand binds»_space; Guanylyl Cyclase being both the receptor & the acting enzyme itself, converts GTP to cyclic GMP (cGMP)»_space; similar to cAMP, cGMP then activates various cGMP-dependent kinases, phosphotases, & ion channels
What is the mechanism of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK’s)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Two Ligands bind to each TKR receptor»_space; the coupled tyrosine kinase molecules dimerize»_space; Tyrosine kinase autophosphorylates the tyrosine molecules within the receptor itself, convertingATP to ADP in the process, activating it»_space; activated tyrosine kinase then binds to and activates relay proteins and other substrates within the cytosol»_space; Activated relay proteins initiates cascade of other phosphorylation reactions within the cell
What is the mechanism of Tyrosine-Kinase Associated Receptors (TKARs)? Explain the steps from ligand binding to cellular response.
Single ligand binds»_space;brings the two tyrosine kinase molecules each bound to Janus kinases (JAKs) together (dimerization)»_space; dimerization activates JAKs which will phosphorylate STAT proteins»_space; phosphorylation of two STAT proteins causes them to dimerize»_space; Dimerized STAT can then enter the nucleus & regulate transcription = upregulation of gene expression
Name a hormone that binds to GPCR-AC?
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) & Vasopressin/ADH
Name a hormone that binds to GPCR-PLC?
Vassopressin/Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) & PTH
Name a hormone that binds to GPCR-PLA2?
Thyrotrophin Releasing Hormone (TRH)
Name a hormone that binds to Receptor Tyrosine Kinase?
Insulin
Name a hormone that binds to Guanylyl Cyclase Receptor?
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
Name a hormone that binds to Tyrosine Kinase- Associated Receptors (TKARs)?
Growth Hormone (GH)
What is the mechanism for intracellular steroid hormone receptors? Explain from ligand binding to cellular response.
Cytosolic or nuclear receptor is bound to repressor»_space; steroid hormone binds intracellular receptor and repressor disassociates»_space; receptor (oftena transciption factor itself) can then enter nucleus & cause changes in gene expression = up or downregulation of gene expression
How are hormone concentrations measured in biological fluids?
Immunoassays.
Immunoassays rely on the ability of specific antibodies to recognize specific hormones.
Hormone levels can be measured in plasma, serum, urine, or other biologic samples.
What hormone is produced and secreted by the supraoptic nuclei in the hypothalamus?
Antidiuretic Hormone/ADH/Arginine Vasopressin/AVP/Vasopressin
(All used interchangeably to refer to the same hormone, ADH)
What hormone is produced and secreted by the paraventricular nuclei in the hypothalamus?
Oxytocin
Which division of the pituitary gland developed from Rathke’s pouch of the oral ectoderm?
Anterior pituitary
Which neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus pass through the infundibulum to the neurohypophesis?
Magnocellular Neurosecretory Cells
Which neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus pass through the median eminence to the adenohypophysis?
Parvocellular Neursecretory Cells
What are the two hormones of the ovaries AND the corpus luteum?
Estradiol & Progesterone
What is the connecting stalk between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary called?
Median Eminence
What is the connecting stalk between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary called?
Infundibulum
What is the primary blood supply source of the anterior pituitary?
Superior Hypophyseal Artery
(A.S)
A - Anterior
S - Superior Hypophyseal Artery
What is the primary blood supply source of the posterior pituitary?
Middle & Inferior Hypophyseal Arteries
(P.I.M.)
P - Posterior
I - Inferior Hypophyseal artery
M - middle hypophyseal artery
Where is the blood supply the pituitary received from? Where does it drain into?
Pituitary blood supply is received from the interal carotid arteries, which branches into the superior, middle, and inferior hypophyseal arteries.
The blood drains from the pituitary into the cavernous sinus.
What sinus does the instrument pass through during transsphendoidal surgery?
The sphenoid sinus
What condition is transsphenoidal surgery performed to treat?
Transsphendoidal surgery is the removal of pituitary tissue to treat hyperpituitarism.
What factors stimulate ADH secretion?
- increased serum osmolality (solute concentration)
- large decrease in blood pressure/extracellular fluid (ECF) volume
- angiotensin 2 synthesis
- pain/nausea
- HYPOglycemia (low blood sugar)
- nicotine, opiates
What are the inhibitory factors of ADH?
- decreased serum osmolality (solute concentration)
- increased blood pressure/ECF volume
- Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
- Alcohol
What is the target tissue(s) of ADH/Vasopressin?
Vasopressin receptors of the Kidneys, sweat glands, & circulatory system
What are the symptoms of low serum ADH/vasopressin?
- excretion of large volumes of dilute urine
- decreased water reabsorption
- vasodilation
- low blood pressure
- increased osmolarity of the blood
What are the symptoms of high serum ADH/vasopressin?
- small volumes of concentrated urine being excreted
- increased water reabsorption
- vasocontriction
- increased blood pressure
- decreased osmolarity of the blood ( solute concentration)
What is the Renin Angiotensin System?
A system that is stimulated to restore blood pressure when there it gets low.
- The liver produces the enzyme angiotensinogen, which is responsible for producing Angiotensin 1.
- Low blood pressure triggers juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney to produce an enzyme Renin.
- These two enzymes work together to produce Angiotensin 1
- An enzyme produced in the lungs, known as ACE, will then convert Angiotensin 1 to Angiotensin 2.
- Angiotensin 2 will then effect multiple target organs to raise the blood pressure
What is Diabetes insipidus?
“Water diabetes”
- Water imbalance due to ADH DEFICIENCY
- Symptoms:
- excretion of large amounts of dilute urine (polyuria, (glucose free, unlike DM)
- excessive thirst (polydispia)
- nocturia
What condition is causes ADH hypersecretion?
Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH secetion (SIADH)
- water imbalance due toADH hypersecretion
- typically caused by paraneoplastic syndrome
-Symptoms - severe water retention causing water intoxication
- brain swelling causing neurological problems
What inibits oxytocin secretion?
- anxiety
What are the 3 parts of the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)?
- Pars distalis (90% the lobe)
- Pars intermedia (regresses; not found in adults)
- Pars tuburalis (wraps around the pituitary stalk/infundibulum)