Set 3 (Part II) Flashcards
What do some cells use as a second messenger of cAMP? What is activated?
- Calcium
- Phospholipase C
How does oxytocin trigger myometrial contractions?
Through the Phospholipase C pathway
Describe the phospholipase C pathway.
- Binding of messenger to receptor activates a G-protein
- Phospholipase C is activated and converts PIP2 to DAG and IP3
- IP3 mobilizes intracellular calcium stores and releases it into the cytoplasm
- Activation of calmodulin, which induces protein to change shape
- Cellular response
What stimuli cause hormone secretion?
- Nervous (stress)
- Ion levels (ex: calcitonin, parathyroid, aldosterone)
- Other hormones
- Environment
How is hormonal secretion usually controlled?
- Negative feedback loop
- Output of a system counteracts a change in input
What is the simplest mechanism of hormone regulation?
When an endocrine gland is sensitive to the physiological changes produced by its target cells
Explain the mechanisms that occur when the plasma concentration of thyroid hormones fall.
- Hypothalamus releases TRH
- Anterior pituitary releases TSH
- Thyroid releases thyroid hormones
- Thyroid hormones signal the hypothalamus to shut off the release of TRH
What is the stimulation for release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
Decrease in blood calcium
What is the action of parathyroid hormone?
- Stimulates osteoclasts in bone to release more calcium from storage in bone tissue
- Stimulates the release of calcitriol from bone
What is an example of a short feedback loop? How?
- Parathyroid hormone in response to low calcium levels
- Each parathyroid gland is senses to changes in the physiological variable its hormone regulates
What is the stimulation for release of calcitonin?
Increased calcium in the blood
What is the action of calcitonin?
- Stimulates calcium uptake by bone (osteoblasts)
- Decreases blood calcium
What is the stimulation for release of calcitriol?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Why do new mothers need to watch their calcium intake?
Because the process of lactation decreases calcium stores
Where is the pituitary gland located?
- In a well-protected location in the brain
- Located on the ventral surface of the brain within the skull
- Difficult to access
What is the infundibulum?
Stem-like stalk that connects the pituitary to the hypothalamus
What is the neurohypophysis?
- Posterior pituitary
- Extension of the nervous system
What is the adenohypophysis?
- Anterior pituitary
- True thyroid gland
What is the function of the hypophyseal portal system?
- Allows deoxygenated blood to be carried down with the hormones produced by the hypothalamus
- Are shuttled directly to the anterior pituitary
- Faster, more direct communication
What does the hypophyseal portal system relay?
Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
Where are the posterior pituitary hormones produced? What is its function?
- Produced in the hypothalamus
- Only responsible for storage
What are the two hormones released by the posterior pituitary?
- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): acts on kidney tubules
- Oxytocin: acts on uterus smooth muscle and mammary glands
What are the two divisions of the anterior pituitary?
- Pars anterior: forms the major portion
- Pars intermedia
What is the tissue of the anterior pituitary composed of? What kind of cell? What kind of connective tissue? How is it vascularized?
- Irregular clumps of secretory cells
- Fine connective tissue fibers
- Surrounded by a rich vascular network
What do somatotrophs secrete?
Growth hormone
What do corticotrophs secrete?
- ACTH
- Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)
What do thyrotrophs secrete?
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
What do lactotrophs secrete?
Prolactin
What do gonadotrophs secrete?
- LH
- FSH
Describe hormone release by the anterior pituitary.
- Neurons synthesize trophic hormones and release into portal system
- Endocrine cells release their hormones into the second set of capillaries for distribution to the rest of the body
How does growth hormone work? What does it stimulate? What is it produced by?
- Produced by somatotrophs
- Promotes growth by stimulating the liver to produce growth factors, which in turn accelerate amino acid transport into cells
How does growth hormone promote growth of bone, muscle, and other tissue?
- Accelerating amino acid transport into the cells
- All processes involve protein anabolism
Why does growth hormone produce a hyperglycemic effect?
- It accelerates mobilization of lipids from cells and speeds up lipid catabolism
- The shift from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism causes a large amount of glucose to remain in the blood = hyperglycemia
What has the opposite effect of growth hormone?
Insulin
What are the three consequences of growth hormone in metabolism?
- Promotes protein anabolism
- Promotes lipid mobilization and catabolism
- Shifts energy use from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism (increases blood glucose)
What are the only two hormones released from the anterior pituitary that have a releasing factor and an inhibiting factor from the hypothalamus?
- Growth hormone
- Prolactin
What is the function of prolactin during pregnancy and after the baby is born? What is it produced by?
- Lactotrophs
- Pregnancy: promotes development of the breasts, anticipating milk secretion
- Birth: stimulates the mother’s mammary gland to produce milk
What are tropic hormones?
- Hormones that have a stimulating effect on other endocrine glands
- Tend to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of the target hormone
Where are tropic hormones secreted by in the anterior pituitary?
Basophils of the pars anterior
What are the four principal tropic hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?
- TSH
- ACTH
- FSH
- LH
What is the function of TSH?
- Promotes and maintains development of the thyroid
- Causes thyroid to secrete T3 and T4 to regulate metabolism
What is the function of ACTH?
Promotes and maintains normal growth and development of the cortex of the adrenal gland