Jan 8 - Hypothalamus & Pituitary Hormones Flashcards
What is superior to the pituitary gland?
The hypothalamus
Describe the anatomy of the pituitary gland from the hypothalamus
The pituitary gland descends from the hypothalamus via the hypophysial stalk, which turns into the posterior pituitary. The pars intermedia separates the anterior and the posterior pituitary
Name two posterior pituitary hormones
Vasopressin
Oxytocin
What is vasopressin?
Aka antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
It conserves body water and regulates osmotic pressure of body fluids. Dehydration leads to increase in osmolarity, activates osmoreceptor in brain and ADH secretion. ADH acts on kidney cells (distal convoluted tubule and medullary collecting ducts) via cell surface receptors and cAMP formation; enhances water permeability and reabsorption
What is the result in a deficiency of ADH?
Central diabetes insipidus (vs. nephrogenic DI) - inability to retain water, excess thirst, frequent urination
What are the treatments for central diabetes insipidus?
Drugs (clofibrate) to increase ADH secretion and (chlorpropamide) to increase kidney response to ADH; diuretics and dietary salt restriction to increase urine output
What is the result in an excess of ADH?
Excess water retention, headache, drowsiness, nausea
What are the treatments available for an excess of ADH?
Drugs (butorphanol) to decrease ADH secretion and (demechlocycline) to reduce kidney response to ADH
What is oxytocin?
It stimulates the contraction of smooth muscle cells, particularly that of the mammary gland and uterus (important for female reproduction). Upon nursing, suckling reflex stimulates oxytocin release, which causes contraction of myoepithelial cells in breast to expel milk. During childbirth, oxytocin release during labour to stimulate rhythmic uterine contractions; clinically used to induce labour and therapeutically postpartum to decrease bleeding
What are major hypothalamic (hypophysiotropic) hormones? What are their effects on the anterior pituitary?
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) increases ACTH.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) increases TSH and prolactin
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) increases LH and FSH
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) increases GH
Somatostatin decreases GH
Dopamine decreases prolactin
What is TRH?
3 amino acid-hormone (E-H-P)
What is LHRH?
A 14 amino acid-hormone
What is dopamine?
One amino acid; hydroxylated and decarboxylated tyrosine
Explain the feedback regulation of anterior pituitary hormones
The hypothalamus releases a releasing or inhibitory factor that acts on the pituitary. Releasing factors cause the pituitary to release hormones that promote the release of tropic hormones from endocrine glands, and inhibit the further release of releasing factors from the hypothalamus. Tropic hormones, aside from acting on target tissues, either further activate the release of pituitary hormones or inhibit it, as well as releasing factors from the hypothalamus
Name 5 anterior pituitary hormones. What do they act on?
Prolactin acts on the breast to produce milk. Growth hormone acts on the liver to activate the secretion of IGF-1, which acts on the bones and soft tissue to produce growth. TSH acts on the thyroid gland to activate the secretion of T4 and T3. ACTH acts on the adrenal cortex to activate the secretion of cortisol. Gonadotropins (LH/FSH) act on the gonads to produce sex hormones and gamete production
What is the source of growth hormone?
Somatotropes and somatomammotropes of the anterior pituitary
What are the actions of growth hormone?
Decreases insulin sensitivity, increases lipolysis, increases IGF-1 secretion. GH and IGF-1 both increase protein synthesis and epiphyseal (bone) growth
What controls growth hormone?
Stimulated by GHRH, hypoglycemia, exercise, certain amino acids, sleep. Inhibited by somatostatin, IGF-1 (negative feedback), hyperglycemia
What is the result of an excess of growth hormone?
Somatotrope tumor. If GH excess occurs early in life, results in gigantism (rare). If GH excess occurs after body growth stopped, results in acromegaly (excess soft tissue hyperplasia)
What are the treatments available for excess of growth hormone?
Tumor removal, SS analogues, GH receptor antagonist
What are the causes of a deficiency of growth hormone?
Hypothalamic (GHRH deficiency) and pituitary lesions (tumours, injury, infection, congenital and genetic defects) leading to primary GH deficiency.
What are other causes of retarded growth (when GH is good)? What are the treatments available?
Other causes of retarded growth include Laron Dwarfs (GH receptor defect in target tissues) and African pygmies (IGF-1 deficiency). Hypochondroplasia (achondroplasia), non-proportional short stature. GH and IGF-1 replacement therapy is an option for the first two
What is the result of primary GH deficiency?
Proportinal short-stature (if it occurs early in life)
Adult hypopituitarism: weakness, fine wrinkling and pale skin, loss of sex drive, genital atrophy, menstrual cycle cessation
What is the source of prolactin?
Lactotropes and somatomammotropes of anterior pituitary