physiology of thyroid and the HPT axis Flashcards
HP-thyroid axis
hypothalamus (paravenricular nucleus) -> TRH release -> pituitary gland -> TSH release -> blood -> thyroid gland -> T3/T4 (aka thyroid hormone) release
how is T3/T4 transported through the body
bound to Thyroxine-binding globulins in the blood
role of thyroid hormone on bone
normal bone growth, turnover and mineralisation
role of thyroid hormone on muscle
normal muscular function and development
general role of thyroid hormone in all cells (6)
- increases basal metabolic rate
- increase O2 usage
- LDL uptake (i.e. removal of bad cholesterol from the blood)
- lipolysis
- glyolysis
- gluconeogenesis
what connects the two ‘wings’ of they thyroid gland
isthmus
how much does a normal thyroid gland weigh
15-20g
what is a large thyroid gland known as
a goitre -> may be associated with dysregulation of thyroid hormone biosynthesis
what is the pyramidal lobe of the thyroid
a normal anatomic variant representing a superior sliver of thyroid tissue arising from the thyroid isthmus - some people have a small part that sticks up
what is the thyroid gland made of (histologically)
follulcular cells surrounding colloid
what is the height of the follicular cells dependent on
activation by TSH
what is the colloid
the store of thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland - made of thyroglobulin
what are parafollicular cells and what do they do
they are cells cells situated between follicles that synthesize, store, and secrete calcitonin
what are the 2 prinicipal products of the thyroid gland
- thyroxine (T4)
- triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)
why is iodine key in diet
iodine is a key component to T3/4 formation -> the thyroid hormones are all based on the esterification of 2 tyrosine molecules which are then iodinated
T3 vs T4 iodine structure
T3 has 3 iodines per molecule;
T4 has 4 iodines per molecule
what is reverse T3
an isomer of T3 that is biologically inactive
which thyroid hormone is the most biologically active
T3
T4 is converted into T3 within cells
what is the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland
T4 - it is a store for T3
what is another name for thyroid hormone enzymes
deiodinases
what kind of proteins are deiodinases
selenoproteins -> active Se metal at the active site
what is the cofactor for the deiodinisation reaction (T4->T3)
glutathione
what are the 3 types of deiodinases and where are they expressed
- type 1 -> present in thyroid, liver, kidney;
- type 2 -> expressed everywhere;
- type 3 -> expressed in brain and placenta
which deiodinase is the major converter of T4->T3 in circulation
type 1 deiosinase