Introduction and mechanisms endocrinology Flashcards
Describe the derivation of the word “hormone”
The term hormone was introduced by Ernest Starling in 1905, derived from the Greek word meaning “to arouse or excite”
Describe how the nervous system and endocrine glands are interrelated
Sensory organs. (nervous system) receive information. Information is then sent to CNS. CNS integrates the info and coordinates a response (can be an endocrine response or trigger a target organ) in the appropriate location (metabolic, movement response, etc)
In general, the nervous system controls the ____ activities, while the endocrine system regulates the _____ functions
Rapid, slower
What’s the definition of a hormone?
Chemical messengers produced by one cell to regulate activity of another cell and delivered by means of endocrine, neuroendocrine, paracrine, autocrine, neurocrine, or pheromonal route.
Endocrine route (and give an example)
The hormone is released into the circulation and is transported to the target cell by blood vessels
- Ex: gonadotropin hormones secreted from pituitary -> target tissue (testis/ovary)
Neuroendocrine route (and give an example)
The hormone is released by nerve cells into the circulation and is transported to the target cells
- Ex: Vasopressin is secreted by hypothalamic neurons via pituitary -> target tissue kidney and vascular smooth muscle
Paracrine route (and give an example)
The hormone is released and diffuses to its target cell through the immediate extracellular fluid
- Secretory cells are close to target cells (doesn’t need to be secreted into circulation)
- Ex: Many growth factors such as epidermal growth factor-1
Autocrine route (and give an example)
The target of the secreted hormone is the same cell that released it
- Ex: Prostaglandins and some growth factors
Neurocrine route (neuronal communication) and give an example
Neurons secrete the hormone in the immediate vicinity of the target cell
- Ex: neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine (some neurotransmitters are considered hormones)
Pheromone route (and give an example)
- May also be called something else
The hormone is released into the environment to induce a biological response in another animal. It is usually species specific and may also be called EXOCRINE ACTION.
- Ex: Reproductive pheromones in mammals, fish and insects. One specific example is the 17α,20β-P which is produced by female fish during ovulation and is secreted through urine to be detected by male fish.
True or false: Pheromones are species specific
True
- e.g. fish pheromones don’t target sharks
What 4 molecules are involved in information transfer (i.e. what are the four types of hormones?)
- Peptides and proteins
- Steroids
- Amino acids and amino acid derivatives
- Eicosanoids
Describe peptide and protein hormones and give some examples (3)
- Can be short or long
- Short example: TSH-releasing hormone, which is only 3 amino acids long
- Medium example: Insulin, which is 51 amino acids long
- Long example: growth hormone, which is 200 amino acids long
Describe steroid hormones and give 4 examples
- lipid-soluble
- derived from cholesterol
- Ex: Androgens (e.g. testosterone), estrogens (female sex hormone), progestogens (version of progesterone), corticosteroids (adrenal steroids)
Give some examples of amino acid/amino acid derivative hormones
Thyroid hormones (iodithyronines, like thyroxine that forms from 2 tyrosines) and catecholamines (e.g. epinephrine)
Describe eicosanoids and give some examples
Hormones derived from arachidonic acids, which are released from phospholipids
- Ex: prostaglandins, prostacyclins
True or false: Ions are incapable of acting as chemical messengers
False, ions are capable of acting as chemical messengers
Describe hormone receptor interactions
- Hormones interact with their target cells by binding to specific molecules termed receptors
- Hormone specificity is achieved by a lock and key mechanism
- Activation requires correct shape and charge of hormone
- Binding of hormone to receptor is required but doesn’t necessarily cause receptor activation
- Just because it fits in the lock, doesn’t mean it opens the door
True or false: a given receptor can bind a variety of hormones
False. Receptors are very specific to their hormones.
What are the two functions of hormone receptors?
- Recognition - specific binding
- Activation and transduction of signal
Agonists
Stimulate biological activity
Antagonists
Blocks biological activity
- A lot of drugs are antagonists
Competitive antagonists
Bind, but do not stimulate biological activity
- Occupies the binding pocket of the receptor so hormone is blocked from even binding
True or false: antagonists always bind the receptor binding site of the receptor
False
- Some antagonists have an allosteric effect, where they bind a site distant from the binding pocket and change the conformation of the receptor so that the hormone itself cannot bind
Hormone-receptor interaction is…
Rapid and reversible
- Dynamic process, hormone is constantly going through association and dissociation
K+1
Association rate constant
- H+R -> H-R
- represents how fast the hormone binds the receptor.
K+1 (association rate constant) units
M^-1 sec^-1
- Function of time
K-1
Dissociation rate constant
- H-R -> H + R
- represents how fast the hormone-receptor complex dissociates.
K-1 (dissociation rate constant) units
sec^-1
Ka formula
K+1/K-1
Ka units
M^-1
Ka represents what?
Equilibrium Association constant (Affinity)
- At equilibrium, for every one molecule of hormone that binds a receptor, another hormone dissociates from its receptor.
- It quantifies how readily the hormone binds to the receptor.
- A high Ka means the receptor has a high affinity for its receptor
Kd formula
1/Ka
Kd units
M
Kd represents what?
Equilibrium Dissociation Constant
Describe the % biological response on a dose-response relationship graph at a hormone concentration of 0 M
Basal response
- No hormone, but response is never 0 unless organism is dead
What is ED50 on a dose-response curve?
The effective dose giving half maximal hormonal response
- It is a measure of potency (effectiveness) and a function of receptor affinity
What is max response on a dose-response hormone curve?
Function of receptor density, aka # of receptors
- All receptors are occupied (saturated)
True or false: increasing [hormone] at max response on dose-response curve increases the % response
False; all the receptors are saturated at the max response so increasing [hormone] would have no effect
High Kd value means ____ affinity
Low
Low Kd value means ___ affinity
High
ED50 is analogous to…
Kd
At what concentration are hormones administered to patients at when [hormone] is low?
Near ED50
- Doses too low may not provide the desired therapeutic effect, while doses too high can lead to adverse effects.
______ and ______ are regulated by a variety of physiological and pharmacological factors
Receptor binding affinity and capacity are regulated by a variety of physiological and pharmacological factors
Capacity meaning in hormones
Maximum % response reached
Increased receptor synthesis and availability _____ receptor capacity
Upregulates
Decreased receptor synthesis and availability _____ receptor capacity
Downregulates
How does ED50 typically change?
ED50 change is usually due to changes to hormone and/or receptor conformation.
- Receptor number can change up and down, but this doesn’t change ED50
- Receptor affinity is also affected by covalent changes (e.g. phosphorylation)
On a dose-response curve, if the curve were to shift left but maintain the same max response, what happens to hormone affinity for receptor?
ED50/Kd would decrease, so affinity would be higher
- Need less hormone to reach max response
How do Kd and ED50 differ?
Kd is characteristic of a single receptor. ED50 is related to a biological response.
If a disease decreases hormone potency, what happens to the dose-response curve?
Curve shifts right (ED50 increases), capacity stays the same
If there’s a decrease in receptor synthesis, what happens to the dose-response curve of the hormone?
Capacity decreases, ED50 remains the same