Pituitary Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

anterior pituitary

A

glandular portion

contains epithelial cells

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2
Q

posterior pituitary

A

neural portion

contains neural axons

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3
Q

hypothalamus

A

located between optic chiasm and mammillary body

extends axons into the pituitary

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4
Q

magnocellular neurons

A

hypothalamic neurons that extend into the posterior pituitary

release hormones DIRECTLY into circulation via the inferior hypophyseal artery

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5
Q

parvocellular neurons

A

hypothalamic neurons that extend to the median eminence and release hormones into the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system to travel to the anterior pituitary to regulate hormone release

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6
Q

what hypothalamic nuclei contain magnocellular neurons

A

SON (supraoptic)
PVN (paraventricular)

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7
Q

what hypothalamic nuclei contain parvocellular neurons

A

PVN (paraventricular)
POA (pre optic)
ARC (arcuate)

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8
Q

what hormones does the SON release

A

vasopressin
oxytocin

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9
Q

what hormones does the PVN release

A

magnocellular: vasopressin, oxytocin

parvocellular: TRH, CRH, somatostatin

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10
Q

what hormones does the POA release

A

GnRH

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11
Q

what hormones does the ARC release

A

GHRH, dopamine

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12
Q

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

A

stress response hormone

stimulates the adrenal cortex

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13
Q

ACTH stimuli

A

stress, hypoglycemia, hypotension, trauma, infection, inflammation

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14
Q

ACTH inhibitors

A

feedback loops
short: ACTH inhibits CRH
long: cortisol inhibits CRH + ACTH

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15
Q

HPA axis

A
  1. hypothalamus (PVN) –> CRH
  2. anterior pituitary –> ACTH
  3. adrenal cortex –> cortisol, aldosterone, androgens
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16
Q

growth hormone (GH)

A

regulates growth and body size

indirect/anabolic: stimulates liver to produce IGF-1

direct/catabolic: stimulates gluconeogenesis (liver), lipolysis (adipose), and inhibits glucose uptake (muscle)

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17
Q

GH stimuli

A

sleep, stress, starvation, exercise, hypoglycemia, high protein meal

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18
Q

GH inhibitors

A

feedback loops + somatostatin (PVN)

short: GH inhibits GHRH
long: IGF-1 inhibits GHRH + GH

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19
Q

pathway for GH

A
  1. hypothalamus (ARC) –> GHRH
  2. anterior pituitary –> GH
  3. GH –> liver, muscle, adipose
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20
Q

effect of IGF-1

A

anabolic

promotes protein synthesis, bone elongation, cell proliferation, organ growth

21
Q

congenital pituitary dwarfism

A

congenital growth hormone deficiency

causes proportionate dwarfism

common in GSDs

22
Q

cretinism

A

inadequate fetal thyroid hormone

causes disproportionate dwarfism

23
Q

Laron dwarfism

A

failure of GH to stimulate IGF-1

24
Q

gigantism

A

excess GH before growth plate closure

causes proportionate elongation

25
Q

acromegaly

A

excess GH after growth plate closure

causes proliferation of bone, cartilage, and soft tissues in head/extremities

cats: prognathia (jutting out of lower jaw)

can lead to insulin resistance + glucose intolerance (diabetes)

26
Q

GH responsive dermatosis

A

endocrine alopecia that develops with GH deficiency

  • symmetric alopecia
  • non-inflammatory
  • truncal
  • hyperpigmentation
27
Q

prolactin

A

stimulates milk production in breast tissue

28
Q

prolactin stimuli

A

suckling, changes in estrogen/progesterone at end pregnancy

29
Q

prolactin inhibitors

A

dopamine

tonically inhibits prolactin secretion - release from hypothalamus (ARC) must be stopped during prolactin secretion

30
Q

pathway for prolactin

A
  1. hypothalamus (PVN) –> TRH (& dec. dopamine)
  2. anterior pituitary –> prolactin
  3. breast tissue –> milk production
31
Q

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

A

stimulates thyroid hyperplasia/hypertrophy

promotes iodine uptake and hormone production/release

32
Q

function of thyroid hormones

A

temperature regulation (increase metabolic rate), promote GH secretion

33
Q

TSH stimuli

A

decreased temperature, increased nutritional status

34
Q

TSH inhibitors

A

feedback loops + somatostatin

short: TSH inhibits TRH
long: T3/4 inhibits TSH + TRH

35
Q

pathway for TSH

A
  1. hypothalamus (PVN) –> TRH
  2. anterior pituitary –> TSH
  3. thyroid –> T3 + T4
36
Q

what are the posterior pituitary hormones

A

vasopressin + oxytocin

37
Q

where are the posterior pituitary hormones produced

A

hypothalamus (SON + PVN) and released directly into posterior pituitary

38
Q

vasopressin (AVP/ADH)

A

stimulates vasoconstriction and water retention

39
Q

AVP stimuli

A

hypotension + hyperosmolarity (dehydration)

40
Q

AVP inhibitors

A

ethanol, hypotonic water (over hydration)

41
Q

pathway for AVP

A
  1. hypothalamus –> AVP production
  2. posterior pituitary –> AVP secretion
  3. vessels –> vasoconstriction
  4. kidneys –> water retention
42
Q

V1 receptors

A

vasopressin receptors in vascular smooth muscle

causes vasoconstriction

43
Q

V2 receptors

A

vasopressin receptors in kidneys

causes AQP-2 translocation to collecting duct membrane to promote water reabsorption

44
Q

diabetes insipidus

A

deficiency in AVP action or production

clinical signs: PU/PD, hypotonic urine

neurogenic: inability to synthesize/secrete AVP
nephrogenic: inability to respond to AVP

45
Q

oxytocin (OT)

A

stimulates milk let down and uterine contraction

46
Q

oxytocin stimuli

A

suckling, vaginal/cervical distention, estrogen, neonate presence

47
Q

oxytocin inhibitors

A

stress, epinephrine, ethanol

48
Q

pathway for oxytocin

A
  1. hypothalamus –> OT production
  2. posterior pituitary –> OT secretion
  3. mammary gland + uterus