Stress

Question 1

Stress hormones of the adrenal cortex: Mineralcortiocids: aldosterone

Answer 1

Produced in response to changes in ECF volume, BP & stress
Increase water retention and sodium reabsorption

Question 2

Stress hormones of the adrenal cortex: Glucocorticoids (cortisol/corticosterone)

Answer 2

Increase the availability of energy, AA, vascular reactivity, mood, alertness and brain function

HOWEVER may cause immune suppression and other health defects associated with chronic stress

Question 3

Stress and the adrenal medulla: the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 3

Medullary “chromaffin” cells produce adrenaline and noradrenaline due to preganglionic stimulation of the splanchnic nerve. This causes hormone release

Question 4

Stress hormones of the adrenal medulla: Adrenaline/noradrenaline

Answer 4

Reinforces the sympathetic nervous system fight or flight response

Question 5

Stress hormones of the adrenal medulla: Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone / vasopressin

Answer 5

Conserve salt and water to expand the plasma volume; sustain blood pressure when acute loss of plasma volume occurs
Angiotensin II and vasopressin cause arteriolar vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure
Vasopressin Facilitates learning

Question 6

Impact of sress on innate immunity

Answer 6

Increase: local inflammation & allergic responses
Decrease: destruction of diseased and cancerous cells

Question 7

Impact of sress on adaptive immunity

Answer 7

Increase: risk of cancer & infections
Worsens autoimmune disease
Immune “memory is impacted”

Question 8

Chronic stress and immune function

Answer 8

• Worsens inflammatory diseases such as: CVS disease, osteoporosis)
• Increased allergic response can worsen eczema & asthma
• Immune suppression through decreased lymphocyte & natural killer cell function → increased risk of cancer & infection
• Inc. antibody response through ‘Th2 shift’, BUT less new antibodies made

Question 9

Chronic stress: The effects on cardiovascular function

Answer 9

May contribute to hypertension by:

1) increasing sensitivity to sympathetic activity
2) increasing blood volume (↑RAAS/vasopressin)
3) de-regulating parasympathetic control

Question 10

Chronic stress and the Hippocampus

spatial/declarative/explicit memory

Answer 10

Reduced volume, impaired regulation of stress hormones (reversible) LEADS TO Loss of explicit memory, depression

Question 11

Chronic stress and the PFC

Working memory

Answer 11

Hyporesponsive
Disrupts the plastic relationship between the PFC and the hippocampus (loss of flexible memory consolidation) (reversible) LEADS TO Loss of working memory

Question 12

Chronic stress and the Amygdala

emotional/implicit memory

Answer 12

Hyperresponsive and persistent even if stress desists LEADS TO Increased emotional memory, response and anxiety