Pituitary Physiology (5/15) Flashcards
Describe post pit development
The posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) develops as an evagination of the ventral hypothalamus. From neural crest cells.
Describe ant pit dev
The anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) is formed from evagination of pharyngeal ectoderm, which initially forms a duct called Rathke’s pouch and later fills in and closes. Develops over weeks 5-20
What TFs guide cellular differentiation during dev
Transcription factors that guide this process include Prop-1 and Pit-1. Inactivating mutations in these transcription factors will cause deficiencies in pituitary hormones.
List the 5 ant pit cell types
- Somatotrope
- Thyrotrope
- Lactotrope
- Gonadotrope
- Corticotrope
What does somatotrope produce?
Growth hormone (GH)
What does thryrotrope produce?
Thyrotropin (TSH)
What does lactotrope produce?
Prolactin (PRL)
What does gonadotrope produce?
LH and FSH
What does corticotrope produce?
Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)
What are the 3 main groups of ant pit hormones?
- Glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, FSH, share alpha unit)
- ACTH (comes from POMC)
- GH and Prolactin (struc homology, can both activate prolactin receptor)
What does LH do?
Stimulates production and secretion of testosterone, preps uterus for implantation of fertilized ovum, stimulates ovulation
What does FSH do?
Stimulates egg and sperm production, stim estrogen synthesis
What does TSH do?
Stim secretion of thyroid hormones by thyroid gland and regulates thyroid cell proliferation and survival
What does ACTH do?
Stim synthesis and secretion of cortisol/adrenal cortex steroids by cortex of adrenal gland and proliferation and survival of adrenal cortex cells
No ACTH: atrophic adrenals
XS ACTH: hypertrophic adrenals
What does prolactin do?
Initiates milk production
What does human growth hormone do?
Stim growth and other effects post natally. Stimulates secretion of IGF-1 from the liver and other organs which is responsible for GH’s anabolic effects. Stimulates lipid and CHO metabolism
Which hormones have the same alpha subunit?
TSH, LH, FSH
What does loss of feedback regulation cause?
Pituitary trophic hormone hypersec and hyperplasia of pit cells like in severe hypothyroidism or hypoadrenalism
How do hypothalamic hormones get to the anterior pituitary?
Via the hypothalamic-pituitary portal system
Note: the portal system has two consecutive capillary beds. First carries hormones to the ant pit and does not reach the systemic circulation. Second carries hormones away from the ant pit and reaches systemic circulation
What are two rhythms in endocrinology?
Circadian (daily), most common
Ultradian (bursts, like GnRH)
Hypothyroidism caused by thyroid gland destruction can lead to hypertrophy of which gland?
Anterior pituitary…loss of negative feedback regulation
Describe CRH/ACTH system
Hypothal–>CRH (neg to hypothal)–>ant pit–>ACTH (neg on ant pit and hypothal)–>adrenal gland–>Cortisol (neg on ant pit and hypothal)
What are the extraadrenal actions of ACTH?
Stimulate lipolysis and inc skin pigmentation
What stimulates ACTH release?
CRH, stress, hypoglycemia, anxiety, depression, alpha and beta adrenergic agonists