The thyroid gland Flashcards
What are thyroid follicles made up of?
Follicular cells surrounding colloid.
Where are parafollicular cells found?
Thyroid gland
What do parafollicular cells do?
Regulate calcium levels.
What is the anatomical variant found sometimes in the middle of the thyroid gland called?
Pyramidal lobe.
What do parathyroid glands do?
Regulate calcium levels.
Explain the development of thyroid gland?
Originates from base of tongue. Development of thyroglossal duct. Divides into two lobes. Duct disappears leaving foramen caecum.
Explain production of T3 and T4 in thyroid gland.
TSH binds to TSH receptor. This activates sodium iodide channel protein resulting in active transport of iodide into follicular cell. Iodide ions travel across follicular cell and enter colloid by another channel protein. Binding of TSH also results in production of thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. Iodide ions are oxidised by hydrogen peroxidase and thyroid peroxidase in colloid cell. Iodine is added to thyroglobulin in an iodination reaction to produce monoiodotyrosine (MIT) and diiodotyrosine (DIT) (catalyse by thyroid peroxidase and hydrogen peroxidase); both of which are bound to thyroglobulin. MIT and DIT undergo a coupling reaction to produce T3 and T4 both still bound to thyroglobulin (catalysed by thyroid peroxidase and hydrogen peroxidase). T3,T4 thyroglobulin complex makes it way back into follicular cell where a lysosome breaks down the peptide bonds holding thyroglobulin to T3 and T4. T3 and T4 are released in the bloodstream.
What is thyroglobulin?
Glycoprotein chain that contains tyrosine.
How is 3-monoiodotyrosine made?
Addition of one iodine atom to tyrosine.
How is 3,5 - diiodotyrosine made?
Addition of two iodine atoms to tyrosine.
How is T3 made?
Coupling reaction of MIT and DIT.
How is T4 made?
Coupling reaction of two DIT molecules.
What is the main hormone product released from thyroid gland?
T4.
What happens when T4 enters peripheral tissues?
De-iodination to T3.
What enzyme catalyses conversion of T4 to T3?
Deiodinases.
Why is T4 to T3 conversion important?
T3 is the bioactive form. T3 provides almost all thyroid hormone activity in target cells.
Differences between T3 and T4?
T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone while T3 is the active form. T4 has a greater half life.
What results in reverse T3?
Deiodination of T4 in different position.