Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland Flashcards
describe generally the HPA axis
Generally a stimulus will cause the Hypothalamus
to secrete a hormone
This will cause the pituitary to secrete a hormone
This will act on a target organ which may or may
not secrete another hormone
The final hormone produced will cause an effect
what is the pituitary gland composed of
anterior
posterior
what is the anterior lobe of the pituitary derived from
Anterior derived from the upward migration from the roof of the mouth called the Rathke’s pouch
what is the posterior lobe of the pituitary derived from
Posterior derived from the downward migration of the neuroectoderm from the diencephalon.
what lobe of the pituitary is directly connected to the hypothalamus
posterior via the infindubulum
what hormones does the anterior pituitary release
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Growth Hormone (GH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Luteinising Hormone (LH)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
what hormones from the hypothalamus stimulate the hormones in the anterior pituitary
Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) → TSH - this causes the adrenals to produce T4 and T3 ( I inhibited by SS)
Nipple suckling → PRL - this causes milk glands immunosystem (inhibited by dopamine)
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) → GH (inhibited by SS)
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and kisspeptin → FSH - this causes sex steroids, inhibin, ovulation, spermatogenesis
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and kisspeptin → LH - this causes sex steroids, inhibin, ovulation, spermatogenesis
Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) → ACTH - this produces cortisol in the adrenals
what does the posterior pituitary hormone release
ADH
oxytocin
where are the posterior pituitary hormones produced
- they are produced in the hypothalamus
- ADH in the supraoptic nuclei
- oxytocin in the paraventricular nuclei
describe the blood supply to the pituitary
- supplied by the superior hypophyseal artery
anterior pituitary
- superior hypophyseal artery goes and forms a primary plexus
- this goes down via hypophyseal portal veins
- this goes into a secondary plexus where the hormones are secreted into the blood
posterior pituitary
- this is attached to the anterior pituitary via short blood vessels, therefore posterior pituitary can influence the anterior pituitary
what is negative feedback
Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) → TSH
Nipple suckling → PRL
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) → GH
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) → FSH
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) → LH
Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) → ACTH
what happens if too much hormone is produced
If too much hormone is produce by the target
organ, this causes inhibition of pituitary and
hypothalamus hormone
what happens if too little hormone is produced
If too little hormone is produced by the target
organ, this stimulates the hypothalamus to
produce its hormone which in turn will stimulate
the pituitary and so on.
Describe how G protein works
- on a G protein alpha subunit is attached to a gamma and beta subunit
- when the ligament binds to the G protein this causes it to become phosphorylated so GDP is converted to GTP
- this causes the alpha subunit to detach
- alpha subunit then binds to adenyl cycle
- this causes ATP to convert to cAMP
- this increases the activity of PKA
- this causes the cell response
- after the ligand leaves GTP is converted back to GDP this causes alpha subunit to bind to the gamma and beta subunit again
what does ADH do
- increase the number of aquaporins in the collecting duct s
- this increases the amount of water reabsorption
- works via a G protein
which artery do the hypophyseal arteries branch from
internal carotid artery
what inhibits prolactin
Dopamine
What does prolactin inhibit
GnRH
what two hormones does somatostatin inhibit
GH
TSH
why is there an increase in TSH in hypothyrosdim
- due to negative feedback
- there is low T3/T4 this stimulates the production of TSH
the stimulus of nipple sucking causes the production of which two hormones
oxytocin and prolactin
Which hormone stimulates the production of GnRH
Kisspeptin