Exam 1 Ch 39 Adrenocorticosteroids & Adrenocortical Antagonists

Question 1

What are the metabolic effects of Glucocorticoids?

Answer 1

• Stimulate gluconeogenesis
• Increase of glucocorticoid = blood glucose level rises = Insulin secretion stimulated
• Both lipolysis & lipogenesis are stimulated, with net increase of fat deposition in certain areas

Question 2

What are the catabolic effects of Glucocorticoids?

Answer 2

• Muscle protein catabolism
• Wasting of lymphoid & connective tissue, fat, & skin under influence of high [ ]s of these steroids
• On bone may lead to osteoporosis
• Growth inhibition in children

Question 3

What are the general (not biochemical mechanisms) anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids?

Answer 3

• Significant suppression of inflammatory process
• Increase in neutrophils & decrease in lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes
• Migration of leukocytes inhibited

Question 4

What are the anti-inflammatory effects in the biochemical mechanisms of glucocorticoids?

Answer 4

• Induced synthesis of phospholipase A2 inhibitor
• Decreased mRNA for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)
• Decreases in interleukin-2 (IL-2) & IL-3
• Decreases in inflammatory cytokine, platelet activatinf factor (PAF)

Question 5

What are the immunosupporessive effects of Glucocorticoids?

Answer 5

• Inhibition of cell mediated immunologic functions, especially those dependent on lymphocytes
• Actively Lymphotoxic, which is important in treatment of hematologic cancers
• Even though they do not interfere with development of normal acquired immunity, BUT they delay rejection reactions in patients with organ transplants