pk2

Question 1

What are lactotropes and what is their function?

Answer 1

They are: Acidophils

Function: Release prolactin

Question 2

What do lactotropes appear as when there is no prolactin?

Answer 2

They appear as chromophobes

Question 3

What does an increase in PRL cause in both men and women?

Answer 3

High levels of prolactin can cause FSH and LH to decrease which can decrease spermatogensis in males and inhibt the menstrual cycle in women

Question 4

What are cortictropes and what is their function?

Answer 4

They are: Basophils

Function: Release POMC which is then cleaved into ACTH and B-LPH

Question 5

What are gonadotropes and what is their function?

Answer 5

They are: Basophils

Function: Release FSH and LH

Question 6

What are thyrotropes and what is their function?

Answer 6

They are: Basophils

Function: TSH

Question 7

What are the causes of growth hormone deficiency?

Answer 7

1. Hypothalamic dysfunction: Decreased secretion of GHRH.
2. Anterior pituitary dysfunction: Primary deficiencies in growth hormone secretion.
3. Liver dysfunction: Failure to generate somatomedins (IGFs).
4. Target tissue dysfunction: Deficiency of growth hormone or somatomedin receptors (growth hormone resistance).

Question 8

What is Laron dwarfism, and why is treatment with growth hormone ineffective?

Answer 8

1. A variant of dwarfism characterized by elevated growth hormone levels but ineffective treatment with growth hormone.
2. Caused by defective growth hormone receptors, preventing growth hormone from stimulating IGF production in target tissues.

Question 9

What condition is caused by growth hormone excess, and what is its most common cause?

Answer 9

Acromegaly is caused by growth hormone excess.

Most often due to a growth hormone–secreting pituitary adenoma.

Question 10

What is gigantism, and when does it occur?

Answer 10

Gigantism is caused by excess growth hormone before puberty.

Results in increased linear growth due to stimulation at the epiphyseal plates.