Introduction

Question 1

properties of a hormone

Answer 1

1 physiological regulator
2 active in low concentrations
3. synthesized in living cells
4.  found in a specialized gland or organ equipped to synthesize and release it in response to stimuli
5 secreted into and transported by blood
6 acts on specific targets
7 exerts specific biological actions

Question 2

differentiate endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine systems

Answer 2

endocrine- transported from synthesis to target via blood

paracrine- diffuses to nearby cells

autocrine- acts on itself

Question 3

what are the important functions of the endocrine system?

Answer 3

1 homeostasis maintenance
2response to environmental insults
3 successful reproduction
4 integration of growth and development

Question 4

list 3 points of neuroendocrine integration

Answer 4

1 pituitary
2 sympathetic innervation of adrenal gland
3 neural control of hormone secretion

Question 5

bioassay

Answer 5

the generation of a dose-response curve showing the magnitude of response in a biological system from varying concentrations of hormone

Question 6

radioimmunoassay

Answer 6

based off the competitive inhibition between a radio labelled hormone and an unlabeled hormone to an Ab. you can increase the concentration of unlabelled hormone, and create a standard curve based off how the labelled hormone gets replaced

Question 7

what are the advantages and disadvantages of a bioassy?

Answer 7

advantages

• specific responses can be measured
• hormone prep dont need to be pure

disadvantages

• insensitive
• expensive/ time consuming
• animal use
• difficult to distinguish among compounds with similar properties

Question 8

advantages/disadvantages of a radioassay

Answer 8

advantages

• small amount of hormone needed
• no animals
• accurate and cheap
• reproducible

disadvantages

• need specific Ab
• other compounds may cross react
• measuring only a chemical property
• need to alter H concentrations
• labelled H may cross react

Question 9

how do different classes of hormones travel in the blood?

Answer 9

steroids, AAs- bound to plasma proteins

catecholamines, proteins- unbound

Question 10

what organs are important for inactivation and excretion of hormones

Answer 10

liver and kidneys

Question 11

what is the most important regulatory mechanism in the endocrine system?

Answer 11

negative feedback loop