Lecture 3: Hypothalamic-Pituitary Relationships Flashcards
Generally, cancers of the pituitary expand up to where; cause what?
- Up into the brain and against the optic nerves
- Increase in size often associated w/ diziness and vision problems, or both
How is the connection between the hypothalamus and posterior lobe of the pituitary neural; what is secreted?
- Posterior pituitary is a collection of axons whose cell bodies are located in the hypothalamus: SON and PVN
- Secrete neuropeptides:
- ADH (most SON)
- Oxytocin (mostly PVN)
How is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the anterior lobe of the pituitary both neural and hormonal?
- Anterior pituitary is a collection of endocrine cells
- Secretes hormones: ACTH, TSH, FSH, LH, GH, and Prolactin
- Connected to hypothalamus by hypothalamic-hypophysial portal vessels
What are the 2 important implications of the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal vessesl providing blood supply to the anterior pituitary?
1) Hypothalamic hormones can be delivered directly to the anterior pituitary and in high concentrations
2) The hypothalamic hormones do NOT appear in the systemic circulation in high concentrations
Differentiate between 1°, 2°, and 3° endocrine disorders.
1° disorder: low or high levels of hormone due to defect in peripheral endocrine gland
2° disorder: low or high levels of hormone due to defect in the pituitary gland
3° disorder: low or high levels of hormone due to defect in the hypothalamus
What is released by corticotrophs, thyrotrophs, gonadotrophs, somatotrophs, and lactotrophs; which family does each hormone belong to?
Corticotroph: releases ACTH (ACTH family)
Thyrotroph: releases TSH (TSH, FSH, LH family)
Gonadotroph: releases FSH and LH (TSH, FSH, LH family)
Somatotroph: releases GH (GH, Prolactin family)
Lactotroph: releases prolactin (GH, Prolactin family)
Hypothalamic hormones are often secreted in what type of manner and are entrained to what?
Secreted in a pulsatile manner and are entrained to circadian rhythms
What produces GH, what are its targets, what kind of receptor, and what does it stimulate?
- Produced by Somatotrophs
- Targets the liver and bone
- GH receptor linked to JAK-STAT signaling
- Stimulates somatomedin C (Insulin-like growth factor 1; IGF-1) gene transcription and secretion by liver.
- Inhibited by IGF-1 and somatostatin
When diagnosing acromegaly what should be measured initially; why?
- IGF-1
- GH levels fluctuate throughout the day, whereas IGF-1 levels remain constant
What test can confirm the diagnosis of acromegaly?
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Inaqduate suppression of serum GH after a glucose load confirms the diagnosis
What is the initial treatment for most patients w/ a pituitary tumor; what if tumor is >1cm?
- Initial is surgery via transsphenoidal approach
- If > 1cm, radiation therapy is considered
What stimulates the release of GH?
- Fasting/hunger/starvation
- Hypoglycemia
- Sleep
- Stress
- Hormones of puberty
- Exercise
What is the diabetogenic effect of GH?
- Increases blood glucose concentration
- Causes insulin resistance
- Decreases glucose uptake and utilization by tissues
- Increases lipolysis in adipose tissues
- Results in increased blood insulin levels
What effect does GH have on protein synthsis and organ growth; mediated by?
- Increases protein synthesis and organ growth
- Increases uptake of AA
- Stimulates synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein
- Mediated by somatomedins (IGF-1)
What effect does GH have on linear growth?
- Increases linear growth
- Stimulates synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein
- Mediated by somatomedins (IGF-1)
- Increases metabolism in cartilage-forming cells and chondrocyte proliferation
Which hormones relevant to GH are released from the hypothalamus?
- GHRH (stimulates release of GH from anterior pituitary)
- GHIH = somatostatin (inhibits release of GH from anterior pituitary)
Which hormone relevant to GH is released from the anterior pituitary gland?
GH = somatotropin
Which hormones relevant to GH are released by the liver?
- Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) = somatomedin C
What are Octreotide or lanreotide; why are they used?
- Somatostain analogs
- Used to treat acromegaly by lowering GH levels in blood