(PM3B) Thyroid Axis Flashcards
What is TRH?
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone
What is TSH?
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Can also be called ‘thyrotropin stimulating hormone’
Where is TRH secreted?
Parvocellular neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus
What is the inflow of blood called in the pituitary gland?
Superior hypophyseal artery
Which organs are involved in the regulation of thyroid hormone release?
(1) Hypothalamus
(2) Anterior pituitary gland
(3) Thyroid
Which organ releases TRH?
Hypothalamus
Which organ releases TSH?
Thyroid
Which hormones provide negative feedback on the regulation of thyroid hormone?
(1) TSH
(2) T3
(3) T4
Which organ releases T3 and T4?
Thyroid
What hormone(s) does the thyroid produce?
(1) T3
(2) T4
What hormone(s) does the anterior pituitary gland produce?
TSH
What hormone(s) does the hypothalamus produce?
TRH
Which organs does the negative feedback of T3/T4 effect?
(1) Anterior pituitary gland
(2) Hypothalamus
What is the cascade of events in thyroid hormone regulation?
(1) Hypothalamus produces TRH
(2) TRH stimulates anterior pituitary gland
(3) Anterior pituitary gland produces TSH
(4) TSH stimulates thyroid
(5) Thyroid produces T3 and T4
(6) T3 and T4 enter bloodstream
(7) Effect of T3 and T4 on target cells
What is the mechanism of action of TSH?
TSH binds to a GPCR of a thyroid follicle epithelial cell. This triggers two pathways.
(1) Activates adenylate cyclase - leads to a cAMP/ PKA-dependent pathway
(2) Activates phospholipase C - leads to PI turnover and production of DAG and IP3 (inositol triphosphate)
What is the structure of a thyroid follicle?
Hollow sphere
Comprised of epithelial cells surrounding a lumen which is filled with a gelatinous colloid
This gelatinous colloid contains thyroglobulin
How does the structure of a thyroid follicle change when the follicle is UNDERactive?
The lumen enlarges
How does the structure of a thyroid follicle change when the follicle is OVERactive?
The lumen reduces in size
What does a ‘C-cell’ in a thyroid follicle do?
Produces calcitonin
This is involved in calcium balance
Where is thyroglobulin made?
Synthesised in the thyroid follicular cells
What does thyroglobulin contain large concentrations of?
Tyrosine
Where can tyrosine be found in large concentrations?
Thyroglobulin
How does iodide (I-) enter the lumen?
Blood -> Follicular cells
via active transport
Then is transported to lumen
What converts iodide to ‘free iodine’?
Thyroid Peroxidase
Where does thyroid peroxidase convert iodide to free iodine?
In the lumen of thyroid follicular cells
What type of iodine is included in the tyrosine residues?
Free iodine
What atom is included in the tyrosine residues?
Free iodine
Where are tyrosine residues found?
Thyroglobulin molecules
What is MIT?
Mono-iodotyrosine (MIT)
Has 1 iodine per tyrosine (T1)
What is DIT?
Di-iodotyrosine (DIT)
Has 2 iodines per tyrosine (T2)
DIT + DIT = ?
T4
Thyroxine
MIT + DIT = ?
T3
Triodothyronine
MIT + MIT = ?
Nothing, they do not couple.
T2 (DIT) cannot be synthesised this way.
What is the first stage of thyroid hormone synthesis?
(1)
Iodide (I-) trapping.
Actively transported into follicles from blood.
What is the second stage of thyroid hormone synthesis?
(2)
Synthesis of TBG
TBG = Thyroxine-Binding Globulin