Mineral metabolism Flashcards
Describe the Diurnal rhythm of T3/T4/TSH
TSH- concentrations are highest midnight to early morning
T3 and T4 don’t really have a rhythm
Where is T3/T4 made?
Which is made in bigger quantity?
T4 is made in follicular cells of thyroid
T3 is not only made by thyroid follicles; Deiodinases are spread all over the body
Type 1 and 2 convert T4 into T3-> peripheral tissues also contribute to T3 concentrations
T4 is produced in larger quantities than T3
T4 vs T3: affinity for binding; free form; half life; signalling
- Affinity for binding: T4>T3
- Free form: T3>T4
- Only free form is capable of signalling-> Free T3 are higher-> more signalling by T3; but T4 has longer half life
- Half life: T4>T3
Which organ senses the changes in calcium levels in the body? What is the response?
Parathyroid gland; releases parathyroid hormone (PTH) into the circualtion
Which organs does PTH act upon? What is the effect?
it can act upon 3 different organs systems: bones, kidney and intestines
1) In bones it increases bone resorption and increases Ca release into the circulation
2) In kidneys, it allows to retain Ca2+ and promotes activation of an inactive form of Vit D to calcitriol, an active form of Vit D
3) Small intestine increases absorption of more Ca from diet
Overall effect: increase Ca levels in the blood
This increased levels is senses by parathyroid gland-> less parathyroid hormone is released
Which cells release calcitonin? Where are they found?
C-type cells (clear cells) of thyroid gland are parathyroid cells (which means that they are outside of follicles
They produce calcitonin
What is the effect of calcitonin?
What is the stimuli for calcitonin secretion?
- Stimulates Ca deposition in bones
- Reduces Ca uptake in kidneys
Overall effect: Ca levels in the circulaiton decrease
Stimuli: rising blood Ca level
What is the Physiological role of calcitonin in humans ?
Physiological role of calcitonin in humans is uncertain
When was rickets first described?
Rickets was described in children (softening and bending of the bones)
What are the remedies for rickets?
Fish liver oil
Sun exposure
UV-irradiation of certain foods
WHat is the active ingredient that result in alleviation of rickets?
Where is it found, what is it’s function and how is it activated>
Vitamin D (collective term of a series of related compounds). Promotes absorption of calcium from the gut
Present in fish liver oil
Inactive precursors can be activated by UV
what are the roles of calcium (6)?
- Major structural component of the skeleton
- Blood clotting (cross-linking of fibrin)
- Regulation of enzyme activities (induction of conformational changes or co-factor)
- “Second messenger” of hormones signals
- Membrane excitability
- Muscle contraction
How does Ca act as a second mesenger of hormone signals?
- GPCR/IP3
Release of hormones from endoplasmic reticulum
How does Ca participate in membrane excitability?
- via Ca linked channels
- Secretion of hormone/neurotransmitters
- Action potential
How does Ca act in muscle contraction?
Triggered by the release of Ca++ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Compartements that store Ca, and the % of total Ca stored in each of them
Which compartment is regulated as the overal impact of hormones
Skeleton (99%)
Intracellular (1%)
Extracellular (0.1%)- regulated as the overal impact of hormones
__ Ca++ levels are tightly regulated
Extracellular and Intracellular Ca++ levels are tightly regulated
Which Ca is the most important?
How is it controlled?
The non-complexed Ca++ is readily available and hence is the most important
Controlled by Vit D and PTH
What % of plasma calcium is ionized (free) calcium
45%
What are the types of bound plasma calcium?
- Plasma proteins (45%)
- Anions
Disequilibrium between bound and unbound Ca++ causes __
Disequilibrium between bound and unbound Ca++ causes tetany
How doe Disequilibrium between bound and unbound Ca++ cause tetany?
E.g. hyperventilation
In hyperventilation, a lot of CO2 is exhaled-> bicarbonate concentrations go down
reduced bicarbonate leads to reduced proton concentration → alkalosis; which causes serum proteins to release their protons to compensate for it
This makes proteins negatively charged -> look for positive ions-> bind positively charged calcium
Since calcium concentration in the circulation are so small, any small change leads to big consequences
Reduction in free serum Ca++ → tetany (spasm of skeletal muscle)

What else, apart from hyperventialtion, can cause tetany?
similarly, blood transfusions in which citrate is the anti-coagulant can cause tetany (due to Citrate chelating Ca++)
Where is Ca stored in the cells?
Stored in the sarcoplasm





