Lecture 6: Posterior Pituitary Flashcards
What is the main type of neurons in the post pit? Describe them.
Magnocellular neurons: large and contain sulfur (through cysteine)
From what 2 hypo nuclei do the magnocellular neurons of the post pit originate from?
- Paraventricular
2. Supraoptic
Describe the characteristics of the magnocellular neurons of the post pit.
Slow and high affinity: meaning they release hormones slowly but a very slight stimulus will cause them to release hormones because these are released in small quantities in the whole blood stream so concentrations are very small
What are the 2 neurohormones released by the magnocellular neurons of the post pit?
- Oxytocin
2. Vasopressin (ADH)
What is the role of oxytocin?
Uterus and mammary glands contraction of smooth muscle
What is the role of ADH?
Reabsorption of water in kidney tubules to decrease plasma osmolality and concentrate urine
What kind of hormones are oxytocin and vasopressin? Therefore, where are they secreted?
Nonapeptides (9 AAs): hydrophilic so secreted directly into blood
How closely related are oxytocin and vasopressin? 3 arguments.
- Share 7 out of 9 AAs (differ at 3rd and 8th positions)
- Arise from same progenitor: vasotocin
- Located on same chromosome and inverted (probably evolved through gene duplication)
What protects oxytocin and vasopressin from degradation by enzymes? Why is this important?
- Carboxy end protected by AMIDATION: amide group left over from peptide bond cleavage to glycine that is not recognized as the carboxy-end by enzymes
- Amino end protected by DISULFIDE BOND: forms a cyclic structure
Important because we have very low concentrations in the blood
What are 5 kinds of enzymes that degrade peptides?
- Proteases
- Exonucleases
- Amino-peptidases
- Carboxy-peptidases
- Endopeptidases
What are both oxytocin and vasopressin synthesized as? Why?
Inactive precursors that are later cleaved
Purpose: to have the carboxy-end protected from enzyme degradation
What are the 3 vasopressin receptors?
- Vasopressin V2
- Vasopressin V1a
- Vasopressin V1b
Where is Vasopressin V2 located? How does it work?
Location: kidney (distal and collecting tubules)
Allows for vasopressin to function as ADH to reabsorb water
What does ADH stand for?
Anti-diuretic hormone
Where is Vasopressin V1a located? How does it work?
Location: vasculature of CNS, smooth muscle, and liver
Acts as a vasoconstrictor:
1. PLC-beta degrades membrane phospholipids into DAG and IP3
2a. DAG stimulates PKC to stimulate contraction
2b. IP3 travels to ER to release calcium to stimulate contraction
Where is vasopressin V1b located? How does it work?
Location: corticotrophs of ant pit
Works with CRH to release ACTH
Which neurohormone is the dominant regulator of ACTH?
CRH
Where are oxytocin receptors located? 2 locations
- Uterus: myometrium
2. Mammary glands: myoepithelium (smooth muscle)
What is the role of osmoreceptor afferent magnocellular neurons?
Regulate vasopressin secretion by post pit when plasma osmolality increases
What are the 2 types of magnocellular neurons?
- Osmoreceptor afferent
2. Non-osmoreceptor afferent
What is the role of non-osmoreceptor afferent magnocellular neurons?
Baroreceptors/volume receptors in carotid and aortic circulation to inhibit vasopressin secretion when BP or BV is too high
How do the osmoreceptor afferent magnocellular neurons detect high blood osmolality? How sensitive are they?
When body is hyperosmolar the fenestrations of hypo let solute go through, this shrinks the cells that have fenestrations and activates the magnocellular neurons
VERY sensitive: respond to changes in osmolality of less than 1%
How would you characterize the osmotic regulation of vasopressin secretion?
Linear: increases as osmolality increases AT ANY BP!
How is urine osmolality affected by an increase in vasopressin secretion?
Increase in urine osmolality
What is the osmotic threshold?
The plasma osmolality threshold before vasopressin secretion = 280 mosm/kg
Equation to calculate vasopressin plasma concentration?
[AVP]p = 0.3 x (Posm - 280)
What is the plasma osmolality of a normally hydrated person?
287 mosm/kg
What is the plasma concentration of vasopressin of a normally hydrated person?
2.0 pg/mL
What is the urine osmolality of a normally hydrated person?
500 mosm/kg
Does duration of urination change with body size?
NOPE
What % increase in TBW causes maximal dilution of plasma vasopressin concentration and urine osmolality?
2%
What % decrease in TBW causes maximal concentration of urine osmolality? What is max concentration of urine?
2%
Max Uos > 1000 mosm/kg
What is the plasma concentration of vasopressin at maximal antidiuresis? Can it increase beyond that?
5 pg/mL
Yes, but this will have no effect on reabsorption of water in kidney