Reproductive Steroids Flashcards
What do glucocorticoids do?
increase protein turnover & gluconeogenesis; anti-inflammatory
What do androgens do?
maintain functional activity of male reproductivesystem (spermatogenesis, accessory sex organs); anabolic(muscle) and sexual behavioural actions
What do Mineralocorticoids do?
control sodium and potassium balance in the body
What do progestagens do?
Maintain the pregnancy
What do oestrogens do?
maintain functional activity of female reproductive system (menstrual cycle and labour); also actions on cardiovascular system and bone
What tissues do steriod have an affect on?
Many - e.g. brain and nervous systen, liver, kidney, breast, skin and hair etc.
Can steroids affect cancers?
Yes
Why are steroids complex?
Multiple enzyme pathways which can be affected by the availability of substrates. There is different forms, active and inactive triggered by multiple signalling pathways (endocrine and local) with different orgna, tissue and cell interactions that can either be genomic or non genomic. There is also different receptor types with multiple pathways and promotor/receptors. Also the bioavailability of the steroids for its receptor - actions of binding proteins.
How is the human menstrual cycle controlled by steriods?
Folliculogenesis involves high eostrogen and low progesterone until just after ovulation when both are low. It then enters the embryogenesis stage and progesterone increases immensely whilst oestrogen increases once more but not as high.
What does oestrogen do to the endometrium?
Causing endometrium to proliferate
What happens after ovulation?
The empty follicle turns into the corpus luteum which secretes progesterone making the endothelium a secretionary endothelium so it can support the possibly fertilised egg.
How does the theca cell help create oestrogen from the granulosa cell?
It secretes androsteroine which works in the granulosa cell to make oestrogen
What does fertility rely upon?
Co-ordinated interactions between Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, ovary and uterus (the targets).
What is the combined contraceptive pill?
Combination of oestrogen and progesterone which inhibits FSH and LH release preventing follicular development, egg maturation and ovulation.
What are less well defined results of the combined pill?
Unreceptive endometrium
Cervical mucus is hostile to sperm
Egg transport to fallopian tube
What are side affect of the combined pill?
Nausea, vomiting, gain of weight, loss of or increase in libido, peripheral thrombosis and prevents lactation rate.
What is the failure rate of the combined pill?
2 - 8%
What are different formulations of synthetic progesterone?
Microgynon
Logynon
Marvelon
Femodene
Patch (new one each week)