Thyroid function in health and disease Flashcards
What comprises the thyroid gland?
- Follicular cells surrounding colloid
- Colloid (glycoprotein mix) contains thyroglobulin (Tg)
- C cells in interstitial spaces secrete calcitonin
- Calcium metabolism
How is thyroid hormone synthesised?
- Follicular cell synthesises enzymes and thyroglobulin for colloid.
- A Na+-I- symporter brings I- into the follicular cell. The pendrin transporter moves I- into the colloid.
- Enzymes add iodine to tyrosine to make T3 and T4
- Thyroglobulin is taken back into the cell in vesicles.
- Intracellular enzymes separate T3 and T4 from the protein
- Free T3 and T4 enter the circulation
Which is the most potent of the thyroid hormones?
T3
What is 80% of T3 (tetraiodothyronine) derived from?
T4
Which enzyme converts T4 to T3?
Deiodinase
What do thyroid hormones bind to in the circulation?
Plasma proteins - because they’re lipophilic
What is the difference between T3 and T4?
- T3: 2 tyrosines and 3 iodides.
- T4: 2 tyrosines and 4 iodides.
What stimulates all steps in thyroid hormone synthesis?
TSH
What is the only known factor to increase TRH?
Cold in infants
What decreases TRH?
Stress
What is the target receptor for thyroid hormones?
Nuclear receptor
What are the whole body tissue actions of thyroid hormones?
- Increased oxygen consumption (thermogenesis)
- Protein catabolism in adults but anabolism in children.
- Normal development of nervous system
What is the action of thyroid hormones at the cellular level?
Increases activity of metabolic enzymes and Na+-K+-ATPase
What are the sympathomimetic effects of thyroid hormones?
Increased heart rate and cardiac output
What are the actions of thyroid hormones?
- Increased BMR & oxygen consumption: calorigenic / heat producing effects
- Modulate metabolism
- Sympathomimetic effect; increased heart rate, cardiac output
- Not essential for life but essential for child growth & development
- Growth promoting
- Fetal life
- After birth essential for GH & IGFs actions
- Nervous system development
- Before & after birth