Hormones: GH (Week 5--Howard) Flashcards
Pituitary gland
Two lobes: anterior (adenohypophysis), posterior (neurohypophysis)
Several pituitary hormones are endocrine-stimulating factors
Posterior lobe secretes neurohormones
Portal blood system connects hypothalamus to anterior pituitory
Neuronal and chemical regulation of hormone production and secretion
Anterior pituitary hormones in 3 groups
1) ACTH: ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), beta-endorphin, beta-LPH (beta-lipotropin), MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone), CLIP (corticotropin-like intermediate peptide, not important) (note from histo, these are released by basophils)
2) Glycopeptides: FSH, LH, TSH (note from histo, these are released by basophils)
3) Growth stimulating: PRL (prolactin), GH (growth hormone, somatotropin) (note from histo, these are released by acidophils)
Posterior pituitary hormones (released by hypothalamic neurons)
Vasopressin (ADH)
Oxytocin
Hypothalamic peptides secreted into portal blood system to regulate release of anterior pituitary hormones
TRH stimulates TSH
GnRH stimulates FSH/LH
GHGH stimulates GH
Somatostatin (GHRIH) inhibits GH
CRH stimulates ACTH
Dopamine inhibits PRL (prolactin)
POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin)
Post-translational processing by proteolytic cleavage of POMC in anterior and intermediate lobes gives ACTH, beta-LPH (in anterior lobe) and MSH, CLIP, beta-END in intermediate lobe/CNS
2 subunits of glycopeptides
alpha: all glycopeptides have same alpha, and has biological activity
beta: different for each, and confers target specificity
(remember glycopeptides are FSH, LH, TSH)
GH (growth hormone)
Increases longitudinal growth by enhancing bone growth
Regulates metabolic activities
Can affect production or action of other endocrines, paracrines, autocrines
Effects vary with target tissue, duration of action (acute (< a few hr) vs. delayed or prolonged), anabolic vs. diabetogenic
Two mechanisms of action: (1) direct actions on target tissues; (2) indirect actions secondary to induction of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) at target tissue
General process of bone development
Extracellular matrix of collagen, glycoproteins becomes calcified by formation of crystalline complex of Ca2+ and phosphate hydroxide (hydroxyapatite)
Bone length increases by laying down bone to become calcified in epiphysial cartilage plate
What are the three cell types involved in bone development?
Chondrocytes (from mesenchymal stem cells)
Osteoblasts (from mesenchymal stem cells): recalcification
Osteoclasts (from promonocyte/macrophage cells): decalcification/resorption
Note: GH can regulate all of these bone cells!
What are the 2 types of bone formation?
Intramembranous: occurs in flat bones (skull, clavicle) and involves osteoblasts which secrete extracellular matrix and induce calcification
Endochondral: occurs in long bones and involves chondrocytes and osteoblasts, both of which secrete extracellular matrix; lengthening occurs at epiphysis, where cartilage chondroblasts of epihpyseal plate multiply to enlarge region that will become calcified
What happens to bone after it is formed?
Constant remodeling by resorption (decalcification) by osteoclasts and recalcification by osteoblasts
Note: impalance of this process can lead to osteoporosis
How does GH induce longitudinal growth at epiphyseal cartilage plate?
Induces chondrocyte proliferation, maturation, and secretion of matrix proteins and cartilage
After closure of epiphyseal cartilage plate, how does GH induce bone remodeling?
Induces osteoblast proliferation and activity
Induces osteoclast differentiation and activity
What can cause excessive secretion of GH?
Tumor in pituitary or hypothalamus (releases GHRH)
Ectopic tumor (releases GH)
Note: can also get excessive GH if tumor secretes GHRH
Acromegaly
Due to excessive secretion of GH that begins after closure of epiphyses of long bones
Thickening of skin (esp face, hands feet), enlarged organs, overgrowth of skeleton, lethargy, sweating, headaches, arthralgia
Increased incidence of diabetes and hypertension, increased mortality (respiratory disease, cardiovascular, malignancy)
Gigantism
Excessive secretion of GH that begins before closeure of epiphyses
Acromegaly develops if not treated
How do you diagnose acromegaly?
Increased level of IGF-1 in blood
Failure to supress blood GH levels by glucose (hyperglycemia should inhibit GH and hypoglycemia should stimulate GH!)
How do you treat acromegaly?
Surgery
Octreotride (somatostatin analog)
Beta-adrenergic agonists (stimulate somatostatin (GHRIH) in hypothalamus so less GH secretion)
What can cause GH deficiency (dwarfism)?
1) Congenital: defect of GH, GHRH, GH receptor (Laron Syndrome), IGF, IGF receptor (very difficult to treat if IGF receptor mutation), or developmental abnormality of pituitiary or hypothalamus
2) Acquired: tumors, pituitary trauma, psychosocial depravation
Clinical manifestations and treatment of GH deficiency (dwarfism)
Clinical manifestations: abnormally short, plumpness, retarded bone age in relation to chronological age
Treatment: periodic injection of GH (or IGF in the case of Laron Syndrome)