Histology of the Pituitary, Hypothalamus and Pineal Flashcards
How are endocrine cells typically arranged?
As cords/follicles and always very close to fenestrated capillaries
*release hormones into capillaries
What are the 5 major classes of hormones?
Amino acid derivatives Small neuropeptides Large proteins Steroids Vitamin derivatives
What type of receptors do protein hormones typically have?
Surface receptors that activate 2ndary messengers
What type of receptors do lipid soluble hormones typically have?
Cytoplasmic receptors
Hormones cross cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors
How is breast feeding a positive feedback?
Stimulus: baby suckles
Suckling sends impulses to hypothalamus
Hypothalamus signals posterior pituitary to release oxytocin
Oxytocin released into bloodstream stimulates milk ejection from mammary gland
Milk released
Baby feeds and continues to suckle
Where is the hypothalamus located? It forms part of the wall of ________
Floor of the diencephalon
the 3rd ventricle
What are the main functions of the hypothalamus?
Master switchboard
Connects nervous and endocrine systems
Controls endocrine system through messages to pituitary
Role in autonomic, endocrine, and limbic systems
Helps maintain homeostasis
What are the three ways the hypothalamus regulates the body?
- produces RH and IH that directly influence anterior pituitary hormone secretion
- Produces oxytocin and ADH that are stored in posterior pituitary
- Oversees ANS, helps stimulate adrenal medulla via sympathetic innervation
There are two nuclei in the hypothalamus that BOTH produce ADH and oxytocin; name the two nuclei and what they primarily produce
Supraoptic nucleus: ADH
Paraventricular: Oxytocin
ADH and Oxytocin are produced in the nuclei (cluster of neurons) of the hypothalamus. Where are they released from?
Posterior pituitary
Describe the location of the pituitary gland aka hypophysis
The ‘master gland’ the size of a pea is suspended by a stalk from the hypothalamus
It is in the sella turcica withing the sphenoid bone of the skull
Posterior to the optic chiasm
What extends over and covers the pituitary withing the sella turcica?
Dura mater called sellar diaphragm
What is nonfunctional pituitary adenoma?
A pituitary tumor >1cm diameter (macroadenoma)
Compresses optic chiasm->bitemporal hemianopsia (peripheral vision issues)
Compresses pituitary ->hypopituitarism
Headache
Symptoms due to mass (size) effect
What are the 2 separate embryonic origins of the pituitary?
Oral ecotoderm->anterior pituitary (andenohypophysis)
Comes from Rathke’s pouch on roof of mouth (stomadeum)
Neuroectoderm->Posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)
From base of brain (diencephalon)
Which pituitary becomes the ‘gland’?
Anterior
Adeno = gland
Which pituitary becomes the ‘nervous tissue’?
Posterior
neuro = nervous tissue
Describe the oral ectoderm origin
Anterior pituitary evaginates from roof of mouth
forms rathke’s pouch
grows cranially
pinches off at base of pouch to separate from oral cavity
Describe the neuroectoderm origin
Posterior pituitary evaginates from floor of diencephalon
Grows caudally as a stalk
Never detaches from brain
Remains as infundibular stalk (does not pinch off)
What can the regressing stalk of Rathke’s pouch leave behind?
Residual tissue which may become a tumor called a craniopharyngioma
What is craniopharyngioma?
Benign childhood brain that is usually supra(above) sellar
Similar to pituitary adenoma
Can compress optic chiasm - bitemporal hemianopsia
From Rathke’s pouch; contain cystic spaces and calcifications
What are the regions of adenohypophysis?
Pars distalis - anterior portion
Pars tuberalis - surrounds the infundibular stalk
Pars intermedia - division between anterior and posterior
What are the regions of neurohypophysis?
Pars nervosa
Infundibular stalk
What is the largest portion of the pituitary gland?
Pars Distalis (parss anterior) 75%
What is the Pars Distalis made up of?
- glandular epithelial cells arranged in thick cords: secrete 6 hormones
- Fenestrated capillaries (sinusoids): part of secondary plexus
- Some CT stroma
What are the six hormones the glandular epithelial cells of Pars distalis secretes?
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinizing hormone (LH) Adenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) Prolactin Growth hormone (GH)
FLAT PiG
The cells of Pars Distalis classified into what 2 groups?
Chromophils: readily take up H&E stain
Chromophobes: no stain; lack affinity
*based on staining
What are chromophils divided into?
acidophils: Eosin = pink
and basophils: hematoxylin = purple/blue
Describe chromophobes
Stain poorly
only nuclei visible
Do NOT produce hormones; function unknown
Smaller than chromophils
Describe acidophils and the hormones synthesized
stain with acidic dye
Cells->hormone synthesized
Mammotrophs->prolactin
Somatotrophs->GH
The PiG stains pink
Describe basophils and the hormones synthesized
Stains with basic dye
Cells->hormone synthesized
Gonadotrophs->Gonadotropins (FSH,LH)
Corticotrophs->adenocorticotropin (ACTH)
Thyrotrophs->thryotropin (TSH)
What stimulates FSH secretion from anterior pituitary?
GnRH from hypothalamus stimulates gonadotrophs
What inhibits FSH secretion?
Feedback inhibition by:
- Sertoli cells in testis secreting inhibin
- Estrogen from follicle in females
What is the effect of FSH?
Stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and estrogen production in females; stimulates sertoli cells to produce sperm in males
What stimulates LH secretion from anterior pituitary?
GnRH from hypothalamus