Semester 1 Flashcards
Are hormones found at high or low concentrations in the blood?
Low
True or false:
Some hormones require days to exert their physiological effects
True
What best describes a paracrine signal?
It acts on an adjacent cell
True or false:
All endocrine organs are made up of a single cell type
FALSE
What active hormones can be formed from the peptide hormone precursor POMC?
Depending on how you cleave POMC effects what products you get
ACTH - adrenocortiocotrophic hormone
CLIP - corticotropinlike intermediate lobe peptide
aMSH or bMSH - melanocyte stimulating hormone
B lipotropin
Y lipotropin
B endorphin
What difference would you expect to see in the cellular morphology of endocrine cells that secrete a) peptide vs b) steroid hormones?
Peptide hormones - dark stained vesicles near cell surface awaiting sign for exocytosis
Large Golgi, ER and ribosomes (dark stained)
Steroid hormones - cells may contain lipid droplets that can be used for de novo generation of steroid hormones
Which group of hormones is NOT stored prior to secretion?
Steroids
Lipophilic (steroid ring structure and fatty acid tail) can move straight through membrane without needing to be transported through it
What hormone is subject to post translational modification?
TSH, testosterone or progesterone?
TSH as it is a peptide hormone
The other 2 are generated from cholesterol, steroid hormones. Don’t need to be translated!
Which of the following hormones is secreted by the hypothalamus?
Oestrogen, prolactin, TRH or T3?
TRH - Because it is a releasing hormone! Causes pituitary to release something
Oestrogen produced in ovaries, prolactin in pituitary and T3 from thyroid
Consider the negative feedback loop regulating cortisol secretion.
What would be the effect of removal of ACTH on the secretion of a) cortisol and b) CRH
decrease in cortisol and increase in CRH.
If we remove ACTH we won’t get any stimulation of adrenal cortex cells and they won’t produce any cortisol!
If there’s no cortisol, there’s no negative feedback system, nothing to tell hypothalamus not to release CRH, so CRH goes up!
How would blockade of the pituitary portal circulation effect secretion of a) follicle stimulating hormone, b) prolactin and c) oxytocin?
A) FSH - levels will decrease as hypothalamus can’t communicate with anterior pituitary that produces FSH
B) prolactin - levels will decrease as it is also produced by anterior pituitary
C) oxytocin - will stay the same as it is produced from posterior pituitary which is stimulated by nerves! Doesn’t use portal circulation like anterior pituitary so isn’t affected!
Why do hormones become so prominent during puberty?
Get a protein called KISS1 - turns on the signalling.
GRH is turned on, hypothalamus starts producing it. Goes to anterior pituitary, stimulates FSH production and LH.
What are the events that occur in the target cell that cause the effects that we see as a result of the hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone?
They are steroid hormones
So inside the cell transcription will be turned on!
What is the function of inter phase in the cell cycle?
It’s when the cell does the majority of its growing
What is NOT part of inter phase?
Pro phase
(Cell cycle phases are Gap 1, Gap 2 and Mitotic M phase and G0)
During the first mitotic phase of Meiosis, the 2 daughter cells produced have what?
Identical DNA
2n DNA = 46 chromosomes! (NOT chromatids, a chromatid is half a chromosome)
What’s it called when you create diversity in homologous chromosome crossing over? (Recombination)!
Crossing over
Where does Spermatogenesis occur?
Seminiferous tubules
Where are the spermatogonia located within the seminiferous tubules?
Between the Sertoli cells and close to the basement membrane
What process occurs as the spermatocytes move towards the lumen of the seminiferous tubules?
Differentiation - they become more specialised
Oogenesis occurs in which structure?
Ovary - secondary oocyte will then move down the Fallopian tube
What highlights the difference between spermatogenesis and oogenesis?
The location of where the processes occur
Whether we are born with the gametes
Movement of the stem cells within the sex organ
What are the roles of calcium?
Structural in bone and teeth
Blood clotting
Muscle contraction
Exocytosis
Cell to cell adhesion
Intracellular signalling cascades - cofactors and secondary messengers
Oocyte fertilisation
True or false:
Type 1 diabetes mellitus can be treated by dietary intervention
False
You treat it with insulin injection as it is an autoimmune disorder (get destruction of cells in islets of langerhaans so they can’t produce insulin)
True or false:
Blood glucose of 8mmol/L would inhibit insulin secretion
False
You would expect 8mmol/L of blood glucose after you’ve eaten a meal = insulin release to taken glucose from blood into cells so they can use it
True or false m:
Conversion of glucose to glycogen is an example a a catabolic reaction
False
That is an anabolic reaction!
A catabolic reaction is the breakdown of a large molecule
Why is it important to routinely measure urinary protein levels in patients with diabetes mellitus?
Gives us a good idea that the patient hasn’t been lying for the rest of month and so blood glucose stays controlled
Causes of protein in urine (proteinuria): poor kidney function
Prolonged elevation of glucose in blood - in tissues like liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue
Prolonged high glucose means it’s covalently linked to proteins (glycosylation) in the tissues - can prevent protein function. Especially in peripheral nerves and kidney, leads to protein in filtrate.
How might the anti inflammatory properties of these glucocorticoid hormones be used therapeutically while minimising possible metabolic side effects?
Glucocorticoids in blood - systemic side effects, want to minimise effects everywhere
The trick is to deliver a high concentration of the drug to where you want the action to happen and not in the bloodstream
The drug is a cortisol or a glucocorticoid analogue, therefore it does NOT participate in the negative feedback system = prolonged high concentration of glucocorticoid
ALWAYS SAY WHERE IT IS LOCATED, WHERE IT PHYSICALLY HAPPENS AND HOW ITS REGULATED BY HORMONES
Spermatogenesis is a process that produces …
During this the process, the stem cells that produce spermocytes called … undergo … to produce spermocytes
It is regulated by … which stimulates the production of … and …
It occurs in the … where the spermatogenic cells produce …
Spermocytes
Spermatogonium
Meiosis
GRH - gonatrophin releasing hormone
LH and FSH
Seminiferous tubules
Sperm
What is deposition?
Process by which osteoblasts incorporate calcium into hydroxyapatite in the construction of bone
What is resorption?
Process by which osteoclasts BREAK DOWN bone and release the minerals - resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone to blood
= dissolves hydroxyapatite
What is reabsorption?
Movement of constituents from the lumen of a tubule back into circulation
What is excretion?
Removal of constituents of fluid from body due to lack of ability to reabsorb them from kidney tubule
What is demineralisation?
Breakdown of calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatites) present on the surface of bone
What is the extracellular fluid ECF?
Body fluid that is NOT contained in cells
Found in blood, lymph, body cavities lined with serous (moisture exuding) membrane, muscular body tissues
What is a G protein coupled receptor?
7 transmembrane receptor protein located in the cell membrane that binds extracellular substances and transmits signals from these substances to an intracellular molecule called a G protein (guanine nucleotide binding protein)
Is vitamin D deficiency related to rickets?
YES
Bow legs form in children as you’ve got soft parts of bone and you’re pressing down with weight!
It’s about differentiation of those cells
Parathyroid hormone and vitamin D are important in the formation of osteoblasts = builds bone. Therefore vitamin D deficiency could lead to rickets
What is the shape of the structural unit of the liver? And what is this unit called?
What feature of these units makes them suited to their job?
Forms a hexagonal shape.
Called a lobule.
Very thin walled sections, only one or two layers of hepatocytes lining each sinusoid = increases the uptake of hepatocytes = large surface area = essential to screen all the blood coming in from GI tract
Also have large numbers of sinusoids = large surface area = happens quickly
What are the functions of the liver?
Red blood cell (erythrocytes) turnover
Digestion (primary function of liver is to produce bile)
Storage
Detoxification
Hormone production
Major site of production of new cholesterol
What does the liver store?
Glycogen
Fat
Steroid hormones (vitamins A, B12, D, E and K)
Minerals iron and copper
What hormone elicits the release of the secondary oocyte from the Graafian follicle?
LH luteinising hormone
A large build up of LH in the anterior pituitary it released when oestrogen levels reach high enough concentration
Pituitary gigantism if usually caused by an adenoma of the pituitary gland, what effect does the tumour have?
Increased growth hormone production and release
Growth hormone stimulates the differentiation of chrondrocytes and ossification of the cartilage at the epiphysis
Spermatogenesis occurs in the …
Seminiferous tubules
During the menstrual cycle which structure produces progesterone?
Corpus luteum
During pregnancy which structure produces progesterone?
Placenta
It also secretes human chorionic gonatropin (hCG), relaxin, corticotropin releasing hormone, human chorionic somatotomammotropin (hCS)
Which part of the spermatozoa provides ATP required for motility and metabolism?
Middle piece
This piece houses mitochondria which are responsible for generating ATP required for cellular metabolism and motility
Calcitriol production by C1 a hydroxylase in the kidney is stimulated by which hormone?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
PTH stimulates the production of calcitriol through an increase in c1 alpha hydroxylase expression levels
Secretion of … from the … regulates the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from gonadotroph cells of the …
GnRH
Hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary
WHAT OCCURS DURING PERIODS OF LOW EXTRACELLULAR CALCIUM CONCENTRATION:
- Detection of low Ca2+ concentration by … on chief cells
- Rapid release of … into the blood
- Stimulation of bone resorption by the action of … and reabsorption of calcium from the …
- Activation of … in the kidney, increasing … levels
- Increases expression of calcium transporters in the … to increase absorption of calcium from the …
Calcium sensing receptors
Parathyroid hormone PTH
Osteoclasts
Kidney tubule
C1 a hydroxylase
Calcitriol
Gut epithelium
Diet
99% of calcium is stored in bone. What are the MAIN ways in which calcium regulation occurs in the body?
Absorption from GI tract, bone resorption and deposition, excretion and reabsorption from the kidney
What is true about steroid hormones?
They are synthesised from cholesterol
What hormone is NOT secreted into the primary capillary bed of the pituitary portal circulation?
Luteinising hormone LH
What hormone is NOT secreted from the human adrenal gland?
Progesterone
What is INCORRECT about Cushing’s syndrome?
Patients have hypoglycaemia
What kind of hormone is human growth hormone hGH?
Peptide - 191 amino acid peptide chain that is cleaved before it can be active at its receptor
What is the function of the hormone inhibin?
Inhibits follicle stimulating hormone FSH release
Ovulation occurs when oocyte is released from a ruptured … follicle
Mature of Graafian (point at which it bursts)
The corpus leuteum produces progesterone in NON pregnant females, what is the function of progesterone?
Stimulates growth of blood vessels that supply the endometrial lining
In a pregnant female which hormone prevents the degradation of the corpus leuteum into a corpus albicans?
Human chorionic gonadotropin hCG - released from placenta
What hormone is secreted periodically through the day?
Growth hormone releasing hormone GHRH
Which hormone stimulates the development and differentiation of spermatozoa and which cells is it released from?
Testosterone from Sertoli cells
And follicle stimulating hormone from gonadotroph cells
Human growth hormone has 2 distinct mechanisms of action. Which of these is NOT a direct action?
Differentiation of chondrocytes
Growth hormone released from pituitary goes to tissues and liver. It has effect on the liver that makes it produce insulin like growth factor 1.
Which hormone stimulates development of primary follicles?
Follicle stimulating hormone FSH
( LH is required for ovulation!)
What is required for the production of oestrogen by granulosa cells?
FSH and LH and the theca cells
A patient complains of aches and pains in his hands, headaches and swelling. The doctor orders a glucose tolerance test to be performed. Why?
What might explain these symptoms?
The doctor suspects that hGH is dysregulated. A glucose tolerance test will increase blood glucose concentrations which should reduce hGH and IGF1 levels
Increased hGH acts on the liver to produce IGF1. IGF1 then acts on bone to increase cell proliferation which causes swelling of joints and explains the pain in joints.
Increased hGH stimulates hGH receptors on cells in epiphyseal plate, stimulating cell proliferation. An increase in bone cell number at the end of bones can reduce space between bones = joint pain.
What might cause altered regulation of growth hormones?
Pituitary adenoma - an anterior pituitary tumour can increase the amount of hormones synthesised and released.
As somatotrop cells constitute a large percentage of the cells of anterior pituitary this is most likely to produce more hGH and as a result IGF1.
What is not an indirect action of hGH alone?
Bone growth
hGH can bind to receptors in epiphyseal plate of bones in young and growing animals = cell proliferation and maturation.
This can be influenced indirectly through IGF1.
What are the 2 distinct mechanisms of action for human growth hormone?
Direct - through action on growth hormone receptors
Indirect - through expression and release of IGF1 insulin like growth factor 1
What is the main function of the liver?
Filter the blood
What brings nutrient rich blood from GI tract to the liver?
Hepatic portal vein - but it has low levels of oxygen
Why is it important that the liver is positioned downstream of the GI tract?
The liver contains many metabolising enzymes which can modify ingested toxins so that they are rapidly excreted from the body
What happens to excess carbohydrates in the liver?
They are stored in the form of glycogen through a process called glycogenesis
If blood concentrations are in a normal range then the body stores glucose as glycogen
What is NOT synthesised by the liver?
Erthropoietin EPO - it is synthesised mainly by the kidneys
What is the role of the gall bladder?
Store + concentrate bile
it is a muscular sac which collects bile from the cystic duct between meals. It is where reabsorption of water and ions occurs, therefore concentrating bile.
Bile can be stored there for up to 12 hours
What is false about the gallbladder?
Contraction of the muscular gallbladder ejects bile through the common bile duct and into the stomach
What is false about bilirubin?
Bilirubin is derived from liver cholesterol molecules
Toxins and endogenous waste products are excreted in the liver through … of amino acids such as … to make the products more … and therefore easier to excrete in the urine and faeces
Conjugation
Glycine
Soluble
What is incorrect about bile salts?
Primary bile salts are mainly conjugated - generated from bile acids in hepatocytes. Primary bile acids are un conjugated and synthesised from cholesterol in hepatocytes. They are the most toxic.
Bile acids are conjugated (eg glycine) to generate bile salts.
Conjugation makes them more hydrophilic, allowing them to create a film around a globule of fat and cholesterol to increase solubility.
What is true regarding bile salts?
Bile salts increase the solubility of fat by creating lipid globules - formation of globules allows bile salts to surround the globule with their hydrophilic side facing outwards. This increases the surface area so that lipases from the pancreas can digest fats more rapidly.
95% bile salts are reabsorbed and recycled - they are recycled through absorption and carried in blood back to liver where they become secondary bile salts, often un conjugated