Exam 3: Adrenal Gland Flashcards
What are the two classes of hormones secreted by the adrenal gland?
Steroids (glucocorticoids, mineralicoids) and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
Synthesis of cortisol and adrenal androgens are under the control of what?
ACTH
What is the precursor for all adrenocortical steroids?
Cholesterol
What is the rate limiting step in steroid hormone synthesis?
The conversion of cholesterol or pregnenolone by desmolase
Cholesterol needs to be in the mitochondria for steroid hormone synthesis. Free cholesterol is transferred to the mitochondria and then to the inner mitrochondrial membrane via what protein?
Steroidogenic Acute regulatory protein (STaR)
Pregnenolone in the zona glomerulosa is converted to what hormone?
Aldosterone
Pregnenolone in the Zona fasciculata is converted to what hormone?
Cortisol
Pregnenolone in the Zona reticularis is converted to what hormone?
Androstenedione
What enzyme converts pregnenolone to Progesterone?
3B-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
What enzyme converts progesterone to 11- deoxycorticosterone?
21B-hydroxylase
What enzyme converts 11-deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone?
11B-hydroxylase
What enzyme converts s corticosterone to aldosterone?
Aldosterone synthase
What stimulates desmolase to convert cholesterol to pregnenolone?
ACTH
ACTH promotes the secretion of cortisol as well as what other hormone?
Aldosterone
When is aldosterone released?
When there is a decrease in BP and/or decrease in ECF volume
What is Conns syndrome?
Primary hyperaldosteronism, caused by aldosterone secreting tumor
What are the classic features of Conn syndrome?
- Increased Na reabsorption (hypernatremia, fluid retention, and HTN)
- Increased K secretion (Hypokalemia)
- Increased H secretion (alkalosis)
- low renin levels
What happens when there is a 17alpha- hydroxylase deficiency?
Glucocorticoids and androgens are produces very little, so steroid hormone intermediates are building up. Aldosterone levels are also low because of symptoms of corticosterone excess and HTN inhibits renin release and therefore, aldosterone release
What enzyme converts pregnenolone to 17-hydroxypregnenolone?
17alpha-hydroxylase
What enzyme converts progesterone to 17-hydroxyprogesterone?
17alpha hydroxylase
What enzyme converts 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol?
21B-hydroxylase
What enzyme converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol?
11B-hydroxylase
Why cant the zona glomerulosa convert cholesterol to cortisol or andreostenedione?
It lacks 17alpha-hydroxylase
What stimulates corticotrophs to release ACTH?
CRH
What does ACTH do?
- Stimulates adrenal gland growth
- transfers cholesterol into the mitochondria and activates cholesterol desmolase
What does cortisol do to the HPA axis?
- Directly inhibits CRH
- inhibits the action of CRH on corticotrophs, decreasing ACTH release