Neurohypophyseal disorders Flashcards
09.10.2019
What are the 2 posterior pituitary hormones?
Vasopressin (=anti diuretic hormone)
Oxytocin
What radiological method is used to visualise the PP?
MRI
-> PP bright spot on the MRI
What are the actions of VP? What receptors does it act on?
a) V1 receptors: arterial SM -> vasoconstriction -> increased BP and also ACTH production
b) V2 receptors in principal collecting duct cells: increases water reabsorption by inserting AQP2 into cell membrane
Diuresis
Increase in urine production
What is the main action of VP?
Principal effect of vasopressin = ANTI-DIURETIC ie increases water reabsorption from renal cortical and medullary collecting ducts via V2 receptors
What happened once VP binds to a V? receptor?
1) G-protein activares adenyl cyclase
2) ATP is transformed into cAMP through AC
3) cAMP activates PKA
4) PKA activates other cellular mediators
5) AQP2 synthesis occurs
6) aggraphores migrate to the apical membrane
7) insertion of AQP2 in apical membrane
8) water enters the cell along osmotic gradient
9) water is reabsorbed on the basolateral side via AQP3 and AQP4
Organum vasculosum
- deviod of a BBB
- communicates with systemic circulation, can sense changes in plasma osmolarity
- one of the 4 circumventricular organs of the brain
Which osmoreceptors act on the release of VP?
- osmoreceptors located in the organum vasculosum
- project into hypothalamic paraventricular and supraopticc nuclei
- osmoreceptors = neurones
How do osmoreceptors sense changes in osmolarity and cause VP release?
- osmoreceptors located in the organum vasculosum sense changes in osmolarity and shrink (due to water release) when it rises
- this shrinking leads to increased firing of osmoreceptors
- firing -> VP release
What are the 2 types of Diabetes Insipidus?
- Cranial/central - absence or lack of circulating VP
- Nephrogenic - end organ (kidney) resistance to VP
- > very rare!!!
Aetiology of cranial DI
Acquired (generally)
- traumatic brain injury
- pituitary surgery
- pituitary tumors (craniopharyngioma)
- metastasis to the pituitary (e.g. breast)
- granulomatous infiltration of median eminence eg TB, sarcoidosis
Congenital - rare
Aetiology of nephrogenic DI
Congenital
- rare (e.g. mutation in gene encoding V2 receptor, aquaporin 2 type water channel)
Acquired
- Drugs (e.g. lithium)
Signs and Symptoms of DI
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Nocturia
- Hypoosmolar urine
- Dehydration (and consequences) if fluid intake is not maintained - can lead to death
Psychogenic polydipsia
- most frequently seen in psychiatric patients, aetiology unclear, may reflect anti-cholinergic effects of medication
- can be in patients told to drink plenty
-> excess fluid intake (polydipsia) and therefore excess urination (polyuria). However, in contrast to DI patients the ability to secrete VP in response to osmotic stimuli is preserved.
What are biochemical features of DI?
- hypernatraemia
- raised urea
- increased plasma osmolarity
- hypo-osmolar urine