Adrenal Cortex

Question 1

Main components of the axis

Answer 1

Hypothalamus, paraventricular nucleus, CRH, ADH, ACTH cells, ACTH, adrenal cortex, steroid hormones

Question 2

CRH receptor

Answer 2

Gs linked with cAMP

Question 3

ACTH receptor

Answer 3

Gs linked with cAMP

Question 4

Glucocorticoid and androgen receptor

Answer 4

Nuclear

Question 5

Negative feedback

Answer 5

Glucocorticoids can act at the POMC and the paraventricular nuclei

Question 6

Primary regulator of steroidogenesis

Answer 6

ACTH

Question 7

Rate limiting step of steroidogenesis

Answer 7

Cholesterol delivery into the mitochondria

Question 8

P450scc

Answer 8

Enzyme that converts cholesterol to pregnenolone inside the inner chamber of the mitochondria

Question 9

How cholesterol gets into the mitochondria

Answer 9

A cholesterol channel

Question 10

StAR protein

Answer 10

Protein that gets inserted into the mitochondrial membrane when stimulated by ACTH to let cholesterol in

Question 11

PBR

Answer 11

Resident receptor in the membrane that has to couple with StAR to let cholesterol in

Question 12

Only steroids from adrenal cortex that aren’t regulated by ACTH

Answer 12

Mineralocorticoids

Question 13

Biotransformation of steroids

Answer 13

Converted into less biologically active forms so they’re more water soluble

Question 14

Conjugation of steroids

Answer 14

Form steroid sulphites and glucuronides in the liver to make them even more soluble

Question 15

Excretion of steroids

Answer 15

Urine and bile

Question 16

Genomic effects of steroids

Answer 16

Modification of gene expression

Question 17

Non-genomic effects of steroids

Answer 17

Affect mRNA stability, trans member and currents, calcium levels, and phosphorylation events

Question 18

Physiological functions of androgen

Answer 18

Maybe libido, secondary sex characteristics, dominance behaviour

Question 19

Physiological effects of glucocorticoids

Answer 19

Change carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism, anti inflammatory and immunosuppressive, increases fetal lung surfactant, CNS actions

Question 20

Glucocorticoid deficiency effect on CNS

Answer 20

Anorexia and fatigue, increased smell, taste, and hearing

Question 21

Glucocorticoid excess effect on CNS

Answer 21

Alternating euphoria and depression, impaired learning and memory

Question 22

Addison’s disease

Answer 22

Weight loss, hypoglycemia, depletion of liver and muscle glycogen, increased urea, depression, weakness

Question 23

Waterhouse-Frederichsen syndrome

Answer 23

Adrenal hemorrhage and insufficiency due to meningitidis

Question 24

Cushing’s syndrome

Answer 24

Hyperglycaemia, increased lipolysis and protein catabolism, increased androgens, increased urination

Question 25

Loss of ACTH causes

Answer 25

Glucocorticoid hyposecretion but not mineralocorticoid

Question 26

Congenital adrenal hypoplasia and primary hypoadrenocorticism causes

Answer 26

Hyposecretion of all adrenal steroids

Question 27

Physiological roles of aldosterone

Answer 27

Increases sodium and water reabsorption, decreases potassium

Question 28

3 functions of the mammalian kidney

Answer 28

Glomerular filtration (passive), tubular reabsorption, tubular secretion

Question 29

Where aldosterone affects reabsorption and secretion

Answer 29

In the distal tubule and collecting duct

Question 30

Aldosterone’s effect on DT and CD

Answer 30

Recruits Na/K ATPases in basal membrane, as well as sodium and potassium channels in apical membrane

Question 31

ADH effect on CD cells

Answer 31

Recruits aquaporins so water is recovered

Question 32

Juxtaglomerular apparatus

Answer 32

Associated with distal tubule and glomerulus

Question 33

Macula densa

Answer 33

Sensory cells in juxtaglomerular apparatus that monitor sodium in filtrate and blood pressure in kidney and stimulate release of renin from nearby cells if sodium is low

Question 34

Angiotensinogen

Answer 34

Constituent of blood protein that forms ATI

Question 35

ATII

Answer 35

Converted by ACE in lungs, causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure, also causes release of aldosterone

Question 36

Receptors for ADH

Answer 36

V1A, V1B, V2

Question 37

V1A

Answer 37

ADH receptor that causes vasoconstriction

Question 38

V1B

Answer 38

ADH receptor that causes ACTH secretion and acts via IP3 pathway

Question 39

V2

Answer 39

ADH receptor that decreases urine production, increases salt and water reabsorption and is cAMP dependent

Question 40

Osmoreceptors

Answer 40

Atrial receptors that signal a change in osmolality to the brain to cause ADH release

Question 41

Diabetes insipidus

Answer 41

Central lack of ADH or nephrogenic renal insensitivity to ADH

Question 42

Diabetes insipidus symptoms

Answer 42

Polyuria and polydipsia

Question 43

Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes insipidus

Answer 43

Pitressin, desmopressin

Question 44

Atrial natriuretic peptide

Answer 44

Produced by cardiomyocytes of RA, antagonizes RAAS and defends against corticoid and diet related salt retention, inhibits renin secretion and aldosterone, decreases salt appetite

Question 45

Medullary chromaffin cells

Answer 45

Where catecholamines are produced