Neuroendocrinology Flashcards by Bethan Williams

Two lobes of the pituitary gland

Posterior

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Condition associated with increased levels of growth hormone

Acromegaly in adults

Gigantism in children

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Condition associated with decreased levels of growth hormone

Dwarfism

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Factors which can increase growth hormone release

Exercise
Sleep
Stress

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Effect of anorexia nervosa on growth hormone

High levels of growth hormone
Decreased levels of IGF 1 which should be released in response to growth hormone
Resistance to growth hormone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hypothalamus effects on prolactin

Dopamine release inhibits prolactin

TRH increases prolactin

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Physiological states causing increased prolactin levels

Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Sleep
Exercise

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Effect of antipsychotics on prolactin release

Remove the inhibitory control of dopamine by D2 receptor blockade

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Effects of hyperprolactinaemia

Galactorrhoea
Gynaecomastia in males
Osteoporosis over long term

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Roles of ADH aside from fluid balance

Attention
Memory
Learning

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Factors which increase ADH release

Pain
Stress
Exercise
Morphine
Nicotine
Barbiturates

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Substance which decreases ADH secretion

Alcohol

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hormones released from the anterior pituitary

GH - growth hormone
LH, FSH
ACTH
TSH
Prolactin
Melanocyte stimulating hormone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hormones released from the posterior pituitary gland

ADH

Oxytocin

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hormones released from the hypothalamus

CRH
GHRH
GnRH
TRH
SST
Dopamine

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Effect of somatostatin on growth hormone

Inhibits release

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hypothalamic hormone which stimulates release of TSH from the pituitary

Thyrotrophin releasing hormone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hormones released by the thyroid in response to TSH release by the pituitary

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

More biologically active form of thyroid hormone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Condition T3 and T4 supplementation can be used as an adjunct for, especially in women

Depression

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Effect of exogenous administration of thyroid hormones on the serotonin system

Increased serotonergic transmission

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Psychotropic medication known to cause hypothyroidism

Lithium

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Impact of hypothyroidism on patients with bipolar disorder

Can cause rapid cycling in previously stable patients

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Physical symptoms of hypothyroidism

Fatigue
Weight gain
Cold intolerance
Dry skin
Constipation
Occasionally a tremor

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Physical symptoms of hyperthyroidism

``` Weight loss Tremor Tachycardia Heat intolerance Eye signs - exophthalmos ```

Mental symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Anxiety Irritability Poor concentration Emotional lability

Mental symptoms of hypothyroidism

Depression Psychomotor retardation Reduced libido Poor memory

Hormone released by the pituitary gland in response to corticotrophin releasing hormone release from the hypothalamus

ACTH

Impact of ACTH release

Cortisol release from the adrenal glands

Effect of cortisol release on the metabolism of glucose

Stimulates gluconeogenesis Increases concentration of glucose in the blood Decreases peripheral tissue sensitivity to glucose

Effect of cortisol on the immune system

Decreases

Peak time of day with highest cortisol levels

Early morning

Factors increasing cortisol release

Viral infections Intense exercise Stress

Effect of chronic stress on cortisol release

Continuous excess of cortisol due to failure of feedback of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal acis

Effect of chronic cortisol excess on the hippocampus

Decreased neurogenesis Shrinkage Impaired memory Compensatory increase in amygdala activity leading to memory bias towards negative events

Disease caused by excess levels of cortisol due to excess ACTH secretion in the pituitary

Cushing's disease

Disease caused by primary cortisol deficiency

Addison's disease

Disease which can be caused by bilateral adrenal removal as a treatment for Cushing's syndrome

Nelson's disease

Disease characterised by hypopituitarism as a result of blood loss during and after childhood

Sheehan's syndrome

Physical symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome

``` Abdominal obesity and thin arms and legs 'Buffalo hump' 'Moon face' Thin skin Hirsutism ```

Mental features of Cushing's Syndrome

``` Depression Anxiety Sleep disturbances Poor concentration Rarely mania and psychosis ```

Physical features of Addison's disease

``` Hyperpigmentation of the skin Nausea, vomiting, poor appetite Low BP Loss of menstrual cycle Loss of body hair ```

Mental features of Addison's disease

Anxiety Irritability Depression Poor concentration

Psychiatric conditions where raised cortisol levels are seen

Depression Mania OCD Schizoaffective disorder

Psychiatric conditions where lowered cortisol levels are seen

Some patients with PTSD Chronic fatigue Fibromyalgia

Effect of dexamethasone administration on cortisol production

Will be suppressed if the HPA axis is intact

Effect of dexamethasone suppression test on psychiatric conditions which caused raised cortisol levels

Cortisol release not suppressed

Type of depression most likely to show dexamethasone suppression test non-suppression

Severe depression with psychotic and melancholic features

Impact of dexamethasone suppression test non-suppression on likelihood of depression responding to antidepressants

No impact

Alternative name for the pineal gland

Epiphysis

Main cells found in the pineal gland

Pinealocytes

Hormones secreted by the pineal gland

Serotonin during the day | Melatonin at night

Part of the body with the highest concentration of serotonin

Pineal gland

Hormone which melatonin is synthesised from

Serotonin

Effect of melatonin on the body

Regulates circadian rhythms

Hormone release increased at the start of sleep

Testosterone

Hormone release increased during slow wave sleep

Growth hormone | Somatostatin

Hormone release decreased during slow wave sleep

Cortisol

Hormone release decreased during REM sleep

Melatonin

Hormone secreted by the stomach which stimulates the cells in the stomach to secrete gastric juice

Gastrin

Hormone secreted by the stomach which inhibits the release of gastrin from the stomach, inhibits the release of secretin and cholecystokinin from the duodenum, and inhibits the release of glucagon from the pancreas

Somatostatin

Hormone secreted by the duodenum which stimulates the pancreas to produce bicarbonate, which neutralises the acidity of the intestines

Secretin

Trigger for secretin to be secreted

When duodenal cells are exposed to the acidic contents of the stomach once it has been emptied

Hormone secreted by the duodenum and jejunum to force the gallbladder to release bile, cause the pancreas to release digestive enzymes, and gives a satiety signal back to the medulla oblongata to reduce appetite

Cholecystokinin

Trigger for duodenum and jejunum to release cholecystokinin

Exposure to food

Hormone which is secreted by endocrine cells in the stomach and acts on the hypothalamus to increase appetite

Ghrelin

Hormone secreted by the adipose cells in the small intestine which acts on the hypothalamus to reduce hunger

Leptin

Neuropeptide secreted by the hypothalamus which has multiple functions, including neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and increasing hunger

Neuropeptide Y

Part of the body where melatonin is synthesised

Pineal gland

Neurotransmitter which melatonin is synthesised from

Serotonin

Function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus

Circadian rhythm

Functions of the preoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus

Secretes GnRH to stimulate release of LH and FSH from anterior pitiuitary Thermoregulation

Function of the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus

Produces oxytocin | Produces ADH

Function of the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

Regulates secretion of oxytocin Regulates secretion of ADH Secretes CRH Secretes TRH

Function of the anterior nucleus of the hypothalamus

Regulates temperature to keep cool

Function of the posterior nucleus of the hypothalamus

Regulates temperature to keep warm

Function of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus

Releases dopamine to pituitary Release GHRH to pituitary Stimulates appetite Reduces appetite in response to leptin

Function of dorsomedial nucleus of hypothalamus

Body weight regulation - stimulates appetite and reduces in response to leptin Rage centre Libido Circadian activity

Function of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

Reduces appetite in response to leptin Sexual behaviour Insulin regulation

Function of the lateral nucleus of the hypothalamus

Stimulates appetite

Function of the septal nucleus of the hypothalamus

Regulates sexual desire

Most prominent function of substance P

Perception of pain