L15 - Calcium and parathyroid gland Flashcards
What is the function of bone?
- Protect vital organs
- Support muscles
- Reservoir or calcium
What is the percentage composition of calcium like?
- 50% of serum calcium free (ionised)
- 50% bound to albumin (so cannot diffuse into cells)
What are the actions of parathyroid hormone?
- INC calcium reabs in renal distal tubule
- INC intestinal calcium abs (via activation of vitamin D)
- INC calcium release from bone (stimulates osteoclast activity)
- DEC phosphate reabs
Parathyroid hormone is secreted in response to what?
- Low calcium
2. High phosphate
Function of parathyroid glands?
Regulate calcium and phosphate levels
What happens when there is increased PTH secretion from parathyroid glands in hypocalcaemia?
Bone: - INC bone resorption Kidney: - INC urinary phosphate - DEC urinary calcium - INC 1,25D3 production Intestine: - INC calcium absorption - INC phosphate absorption
–> INC SERUM ACLCIUM
What is parathyroid hormone?
- 84 aa peptide but biological activity in first 34 aa
- Half life of 8 mins
- Cleaved to smaller peptides
- Assayed by two site assay (to avoid detecting fragments)
How does PTH work?
Binds to GPCR mainly in kidney and osteoblasts
What is the effect of PTH in the kidneys?
- PTH inc distal tubule reabs of calcium
- Inhibition of PO4 reabs - Stimulates prod of active form of vit D (1,25D3)
What is the negative feedback relating to PTH?
- PTH transcription (mRNA production) in inhibited by 1,25D3
- PTH translation (mRNA to protein synthesis) s inhibited by increased serum calcium
What is bone resorption?
The process by which osteoclasts break down the tissue in bones and release the minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone tissue to the blood
What is the precursor form of vitamin D?
25D3
What is the origin of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3?
D2 = Plant origin
D3 = Animal origin
- Numbers after name reflect origin
What do the numbers before the name of vitamin D mean?
Numbers before the name reflect changes (hydroxylations) in vitamin D that dramatically change its biological activity (1,25D3 binds to the vitamin D receptor VDR - a steroid hormone receptor)
What are the different sources of vitamin D?
- UV radiation
2. Diet: eggs and fish
Where does vitamin D get converted into its active form?
In the kidneys
Which cells produce calcitonin?
Calcitonin is produced by thyroid C-cells (parafollicular)
When is calcitonin released?
Calcitonin released in HYPERcalcaemia
What is the function of calcitonin?
Opposes the action of PTH
- Inhibits bone resorption by direct effect on osteoclasts
- Not essential to life (post thyroidectomy no calcium problems)
What is FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23)?
- Protein coded by FGF23 gene
- Responsible for phosphate and vit D metabolism