Midterm #2 (11/4-11/9) Flashcards
General feedback control of the hypothalamus axis
sensory input from the environment acts on the CNS which acts onto the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus secretes hypothalamic releasing hormones which act at the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary releases anterior pituitary hormones into the blood which can act at target glands. The target gland will release the ultimate hormone which will cause an ultimate hormonal response. The ultimate hormone can provide positive/negative feedback at the CNS, hypothalamus, or anterior pituitary.
Anterior Pituitary Hormones: Growth Hormone
GH, somatotropin. Stimulates secretion of IGF-1 and IGF-2 to regulate body growth and metabolism.
Anterior Pituitary Hormones: Thyroid stimulating hormone
TSH. Stimulates secretion of thyroid hormone and growth of thyroid gland.
Anterior Pituitary Hormones: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): stimulates secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex and promotes growth of the adrenal cortex.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): stimulates secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex and promotes growth of the adrenal cortex.
Anterior Pituitary Hormones: Follicle-secreting hormone
(FSH): stimulates growth and development of ovarian follicles, promotes secretion of estrogen by ovaries and is required for sperm production
Anterior Pituitary Hormones: Luteinizing hormone
(LH): responsible for ovarian secretion of sex hormones, corpus luteum formation and responsible for ovulation. Is required for testosterone production in testes.
Growth Hormone
Direct effect on muscle, live, adipose to promote skeletal growth and accumulation of lean muscle mass. Somatomedins IGF-1 is the primary and found in adults and IGF-2 is the secondary and only found in developing fetus.
Growth Hormone: Feedback Control
GHRH is released from the hypothalamus and acts on the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary releases growth hormone (GH) to act on the liver to release IGF-1 and IGF-2.
IGFs stimulate release of somatostatin from the hypothalamus. Somatostatin inhibits GHRH. IGF also negatively feedbacks on GHRH and GH.
Cytokine Mechanism
cytokines interact with the cytokine receptor family, these receptors activate JAK tyrosine kinases which leads to the phosphorylation of STAT transcription factors. The STATs dimerize and translocate to the nucleus where they activate gene transcription.
Growth Hormone Disorders, Site of of defect: Hypothalamus
caused by dysplasia, trauma, surgery, hypothalamic tumors, genetic defects in GHRH or GHIH genes
Growth Hormone Disorders, Site of of defect: Pituitary gland
caused by dysplasia, trauma, surgery, pituitary tumors and genetic defects in GH gene
Growth Hormone Disorders, Site of of defect: Sites of IGF production
Caused by GH receptor defect. Full defect causes Laron’s dwarfism, with high [GH] but low [IGF]. Partial defect causes pygmies with normal [GH] and low [IGF].
Growth Hormone Disorders, Site of of defect: Cartilage
caused by resistance to IGF-1
Idiopathic GH Deficiency
Characterized by low GH levels that do not rise after provocative testing.
symptoms: short stature, cherubic appearance, obesity, delayed skeletal age.
Provocative testing: IV administration of insulin or arginine should increase levels of GH. If GH levels do not increase to a level greater than 10 ng/mL that indicates deficiency.
Laron Syndrome
- Genetic mutation in GH receptor
- High incidence in Ecuador
- Short stature, hypoglycemia, poor muscle development, obesity and osteoporosis
- Patients are long-lived and resistant to cancer and diabetes.
5 .Treated with IGF-1 to correct growth and certain metabolic changes.
Hypersecretion of GH
usually due to a pituitary tumor
Pre-puberty = gigantism. increased bone growth and > 7 feet tall
Post-puberty = acromegaly. Some tissues still grow, including the cartilage in the nose, hands, feet, ridges of eyebrow, chin and tongue.
GH deficiency Treatment
GH was extracted from cadavers, however patients began contracting Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. FDA then approved a recombinant GH. Main goal of treatment is to monitor serum IGF-1 levels, and it is used until the epiphyses are fused (puberty) or into adulthood. Causes metabolic effects including acceleration of puberty, pancreatitis, intercranial hypertension, may increase the risk of leukemia and stroke.
Small for gestational age (SGA) Treatment
smaller than most babies after the same number of weeks of pregnancy. GH is used when there is no catch-up growth by age 2.
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) Treatment
causes short stature, polyphagia, obesity, hypogonadism, and mild mental retardation. Affects newborns. GH supports growth, increased muscle mass, lessens polyphagia and obesity.
Turner syndrome (TS) Treatment
affects girls. There are lots of symptoms but short stature is the main, and GH supports growth.
Idiopathic Short stature (ISS) Treatment
shorter than 98.8% of children (2 SD), growing at a rate that will not allow them to reach normal adult height, and growth plates haven’t fused. GH supports growth, but requires higher doses of GH than GH deficient patients. Genetic factors influence dose.
Recombinant human IGF-1
used if patient has GH receptor mutants (Laron dwarfism)
Sermorelin
synthetic GHRH. less effective than GH, and won’t work if the defect is in pituitary production of GH.
GH excess Treatment
Surgery: effective 50% of time
Bromocriptine: dopamine agonist. paradoxical because dopamine normally stimulates GH release
Octreotide: somatostatin analog.
Pegvisomant: GH receptor antagonist.