Hypothalamic Control of the Pituitary Gland/Pituitary hormone function Flashcards
Connection between anterior pituitary and hypothalamus
Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system
- blood enters median eminence thru superior hypophyseal arteries
- Nerve terminal into capillary plexus, neurohormones released into cap bed and transported via portal system to second capillary plexus in anterior lobe
- Plexus outside BBB
- Hormones reach anterior lobe basically undiluted
Structure of hypothalamic hormones
-peptides (except for dopamine, a catecholamine)
origin of posterior pituitary
posterior: invagination of hypothalamus
anterior: from pharyngeal epithelium (Rathke’s pouch)
TRH: thyrotropin releasing hormone
Hypothalamic hormone tripeptide Acts on thyrotrophs Associated anterior pituitary hormone: increases TSH increases PRL
Gs
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
hypothalamic hormone decapeptide -acts on gonadotrophs Associated anterior pituitary hormone: increases LH increases FSH
Gq
Corticoptropin releasing hormone (CRH)
hypothalamic hormone
41 aa
Acts on corticotrophs
Associated anterior pituitary hormone:
increases POMC
increases ACTH (a derivative of POMC)
Gs
Growth hormone releasing factor (GHRH)
14 amino acids
Acts on somatotrophs
Associated anterior pituitary hormone:
increases GH
Somatostatin (GIH)
14 aa Acts on somatotrophs Associated anterior pituitary hormone: decreases GH decreases TSH
Gi
Prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH)
-Thought to be Dopamine
Acts on lactotrophs
Associated anterior pituitary hormone:
decreases PRL
Gi
Hormone secretion from hypothalamic neurons
- Many inputs from thalamus, limbic system, sleep vs wake, light, etc
- Calcium dependent release
Prolactin
-produced by lactotrophs in anterior pituitary (Ca dependent release)
-protein hormone released into blood stream
-carried mostly free, fraction bound to carrier proteins (t1/2 of 20-30 mins.)
-Cytokine receptor family
(two binding sites for 2 molecules of prolactin)
-When bound, Janus kinase (a tyr kinase) is activated, receptor stabilized, activates downstream STATs
-modulate transcription
(JAK/STAT pathway)
-Main action: on mammary gland
Mammary gland function
- lactogenesis (milk production)
- galactopoiesis
- Mammogenesis (growth of gland itself)
Prolactin facilitates all three processes.
Prolactin also inhibits pulsatile secretion of GnRH by hypothalamic neurons and thus inhibits pregnancy.
regulators of prolactin
- Prolactin under tonic negative control thru dopamine (dopamine acts on lactotrophs to inhibit prolactin)
- Stimulation of prolactin by TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone)
-estrogen and progesterone: positive effect on mammogenesis, but inhibit milk production (lactogenesis, galactopoiesis)
hyperproduction of prolactin
hyperprolactinemia
- lactotroph tumor
- D2 antagonists
Common sx:
- Galactorrhea
- amenorrhea
- loss of libido
Hypoprolactinemia
Rarer than hyper-
Sheehan’s Syndrome:
Destruction of pituitary itself (can have hemorrhagic destruction of pituitary during childbirth)
-immediately notice failure to lactate