S10 Metabolic and Endocrine Control during Special Circumstances Flashcards
What fuel sources are normally available in the blood?
Glucose (stored as glycogen in liver and skeletal muscle)
Fatty acids (stored at TAG in adipose tissue)
Which fuel sources are availed under special conditions?
Amino acids - converted to glucose or ketone bodies
Ketone bodies - from fatty acids - brain can use this
Lactate - product of anaerobic metabolism in muscle - can be converted back into glucose in the Cori cycle by liver or utilised for TCA cycle by other tissues
What are the anabolic hormones involved in metabolic control?
Insulin
And growth hormone in terms of the fact it increases protein synthesis
What are the catabolic hormones involved in metabolic control?
- glucagon
- adrenaline
- cortisol
- growth hormone - increases lipolysis and gluconeogenesis
- thyroid hormones
Which metabolic processes does insulin lead to the inhibition of?
- gluconeogenesis
- glycogenolysis
- lipolysis
- ketogenesis
- proteolysis
Which metabolic processes does insulin lead to the activation of?
- glucose uptake in muscle and adipose (GLUT4)
- glycolysis
- glycogen synthesis
- protein synthesis
What metabolic processes occur in energy starvation?
- Reduction of blood glucose stimulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex and glucagon from the pancreas
- These stimulate gluconeogenesis and fat and protein breakdown
- Reduced insulin levels and anti-insulin effects of cortisol prevent cells from using glucose - fatty acids are metabolised instead
- The liver starts producing ketone bodies and the brain utilise these instead of glucose
- The kidneys start to contribute to gluconeogenesis
- When fat stored are depleted, protein is used as fuel
- If death occurs, it is because of loss of muscle mass
Why must increase in protein content of diet be gradual if someone is malnourished?
Otherwise get refereeing syndrome (ammonia poisoning)
What are the two main phases of metabolic adaptation during pregnancy?
- anabolic phase - predatory increase in maternal nutrient stores especially adipose
- catabolic phase - maternal metabolism adapts to meet an increasing demand by fetal-placental unit
What happens in the anabolic phase of pregnancy?
- increase in maternal fat stores
- small increase in insulin sensitivity
- nutrients are stored to meet future demands of rapid fetal growth and lactation after birth
This is early pregnancy
What happens in the catabolic phase of pregnancy?
- decreased insulin sensitivity/increased insulin resistance - increase in maternal glucose and free fatty acid concentration - more substrate available for fetal growth
- maternal tissues use fatty acids instead of glucose
Occurs in late pregnancy
What happens in placental transfer?
Most substances are transferred by simple diffusion down concentration gradients
- glucose transfer is by facilitated diffusion via GLUT1 transporters
What is a fetoplacental unit?
In pregnancy, the placenta, fetal adrenal glands and fetal liver control maternal metabolism to ensure the fetus’ survival.
The placenta secretes lots of proteins that can control the maternal hypothalamic pituitary axi
What are anti-insulin hormones in pregnancy? What is the effect on the mother?
Hormones secreted by the placenta that have anti-insulin effects on the maternal metabolism
E.g. corticotropin releasing hormone, human placental lactogen, progesterone
Transient hyperglycaemia after meals due to increases insulin resistance
But hypoglycaemia can occur between meals and at night due to continuous fetal draw of glucose
What effect do oestrogens and progesterone have on pancreatic beta-cells?
They increase the sensitivity of maternal pancreatic beta-cells to blood glucose - so increased insulin synthesis and secretion.
- if the beta-cells don’t respond normally, blood glucose can become very high and gestational diabetes can develop