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Block 3 > Neuroendocrinology > Flashcards

Neuroendocrinology Flashcards

1
Q

What is neuroendocrinology?

A

A branch of life sciences dealing with neurosecretion and the physiological interaction between the CNS and endocrine system

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2
Q

What are the 2 types of neurones in the hypothalamus?

A
  1. Parvocellular (small) neurones interact with ANTERIOR pituitary (via hypo-physical portal system)
  2. Magnocellular (large) neurones interact with the POSTERIOR pituitary
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3
Q

What are the 4 different outcomes of pituitary hormones?

A

Secreted into circulation and then go into either:

  1. Target tissues
  2. Adrenal axis (stress)
  3. Thyroid axis(metabolism)
  4. Gonads axis(reproduction)
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4
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

To integrate autonomic responses and endocrine function with behaviour, especially behaviour concerned with basic homeostatic requirements of every day life

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5
Q

What are the 3 ways in which homeostasis is controlled?

A
  1. Behaviour
  2. Neuronal control through the ANS
  3. Hormonal control through hormone release from the pituitary gland initially (gets signal from hypothalamus)
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6
Q

How does the hypothalamus get signals from other brain centres?

A

Through its leaky BBB, the optics, limbic system and visceral ANS input for example can signal to the hypothalamus via certain molecules allowing the endocrine system to feedback to it

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7
Q

What are the 6 major homeostatic needs that the hypothalamus maintains?

A
  1. BP/electrolyte composition: control of drinking, salt appetite, blood osmolality + vasomotor tone
  2. Body temp: metabolic thermoregulation + behaviours like seeking appropriate environment
  3. Energy metabolism: feeding, digestion + metabolic rate
  4. Reproduction: hormonal control of mating, pregnancy + lactation
  5. Stress response: adrenal stress hormones e.g. cortisol
  6. Growth: e.g. GH
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8
Q

The hypothalamus does not just control the neuroendocrine system but also the ___.

A

ANS

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9
Q

How does the hypothalamus have a role in emotional behaviour?

A

Anatomically it is close to the amygdala which gets signals from the pre-frontal cortex allowing it to get signals from here

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10
Q

What are the roles of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus?

A

Autonomic control:

  • Stress (CRH)
  • Energy balance (TRH)
  • Osmoregulation (AVP)
  • Maternal control (Oxy)
  • BP (AVP)
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11
Q

What are the roles of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus?

A

Osmoregulation (AVP)

Maternal control (Oxy)

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12
Q

What are the roles of the arcuate (ARC) nucleus of the hypothalamus?

A

Reproduction (GnRH)

Growth (GHRH)

Lactation (dopamine)

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13
Q

What are the roles of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus?

A

Energy and glucose balance

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14
Q

What are the roles of the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus?

A

Diurnal rhythms

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15
Q

What are the roles of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus?

A

Circadian rhythms

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16
Q

What are the roles of the anterior nucleus of the hypothalamus?

A

Thermoregulation

17
Q

What are the roles of the mamillary body of the hypothalamus?

A

Sleep/wake cycle

18
Q

What are the 4 areas of the hypothalamus?

A
  1. Preoptic area
  2. Anterior (supraoptic) region
  3. Middle (tuberal region)
  4. Posterior (mammillary) region
19
Q

What connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?

A

Pituitary stalk

20
Q

What is narcolepsy associated with?

A

Loss of hypothalamic orexin neurons

21
Q

Describe the hypophysial portal system.

A

Hypophysical portal vessels are on anterior surface of pituitary stalk where vessels arise from primary capillary bed on the median eminence fanning out over the anterior pituitary gland at the pituitary stalk junction

22
Q

What artery supplies blood to the posterior pituitary?

A

Tubero-infundibular artery (branch of superior hypophysial artery) arches across top of stalk-pituitary junction where it enters the anterior pituitary gland passing through to supply blood to posterior pituitary

23
Q

Where is the pituitary gland located?

A

Sella turcica = bony cavity at base of brain

24
Q

What are the key features of the anterior pituitary gland?

A

Develops from pharyngeal epithelium

Contains glandular cells

Parvocellular neurones

Releasing/inhibiting factors via portal system

25
Q

What are the key features of the posterior pituitary gland?

A

Develops from neuronal tissue

Contains axon terminals

Magnocellular neurones

Hormones directly released from large magnocellular axons

26
Q

What hormones does the anterior pituitary release and what is their functions?

A
  1. GH: long bone growth but also liver/muscle
  2. TSH: thyroid hormone (T3/T4) release
  3. ACTH: corticosteroid release from adrenal cortex + kidney
  4. FSH/LH: estrogen/progesterone release from ovaries + testosterone release from testis
  5. Prolactin: milk production
27
Q

What hormones does the posterior pituitary release and what is their functions?

A
  1. ADH: kidney water retention

2. Oxytocin: milk letdown (works with prolactin for this) + uterine SM contractions

28
Q

What are the 3 neuroendocrine feedback systems of the anterior pituitary gland?

A
  1. HPA axis: CRH -> ACTH -> cortisol from adrenal glands
  2. HPT axis: TRH -> TSH -> T3/T4 release from thyroid gland (somatostatin inhibits release)
  3. HPG axis: GnRH -> LH/FSH -> estrogen/progesterone (from ovaries) + testosterone (testes)
29
Q

What is special about prolactin release?

A

No RF and a short loop feedback system

30
Q

What factors are thought to stimulate prolactin secretion?

A
  1. Placental lactogens as additional sources of lactogen, bypassing feedback
  2. Reduced dopamine secretion (as it has an inhibitory effect)
  3. Suckling stimulus may perhaps stimulate PRF (if it exists)
31
Q

Why are feedback systems so complicated?

A

Because there are many different factors downregulating and upregulating the reproductive axis for example, so the axis is impacted by various other things

32
Q

What are some exogenous determinants of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis setpoint?

A

Pathophysiological e.g. illness

Physiological e.g. sleep-wake cycle + internal body clock

Energy metabolism

33
Q

How does thyroid hormones modulate energy metabolism?

A

PVN: increased glucose production + decreased insulin sensitivity in liver

VMH: increased energy expenditure

ARC: increased food intake

-> feedback to HPT axis setpoint

34
Q

Where are magnocellular neurones found?

A

PVN and SON of hypothalamus

35
Q

Why is oxytocin released in a pulsatile signalling fashion?

A

Higher overall release achieved than if the release was just constant

36
Q

What is the effect of low blood pressure (LBP) on the body?

A
  1. Major reduction in BV (more than 10%) stimulates high-pressure baroreceptors (aorta/carotid sinus) and low-pressure baroreceptors (atria of heart)
  2. CN IX + X go to NTS of brainstem stimulating VPN of hypothalamus
  3. Posterior pituitary releases vasopressin which acts on V1 receptor of blood system
  4. Vasoconstriction = increased BP
37
Q

Where are vasopressin V2 receptors found?

A

Kidneys

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