The Adrenal Hormones

Question 1

Where is the adrenal gland?

Answer 1

On top of the kidneys

Triangle shape

Question 2

What is the adrenal gland made up of?

Answer 2

Adrenal cortex

Adrenal medulla

Question 3

What does the adrenal gland do?

Answer 3

Secrete different types of hormones

Question 4

What type of compounds do the adrenal cortex secrete?

Answer 4

Steroid compounds

Question 5

Give some examples of the steroid compounds produced by the adrenal cortex?

Answer 5

Glucocoticoids e.g. cortisol
Mineralocorticoids e.g. aldosterone
Sex hormones e.g. testosterone

Question 6

What type of compounds do the adrenal medulla secrete?

Answer 6

Catecholamines

Question 7

Give some examples of the catecholamines produced by the adrenal medulla?

Answer 7

Epinephrine (adrenaline)

Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

Question 8

What happens in zone glomerulosa in the adrenal cortex ?

Answer 8

Secretion of aldosterone

Question 9

What happens in zone fasiculata and reticularis?

Answer 9

cortisol

adrenal androgens

Question 10

What does the adrenal medulla secrete in response to sympathetic nerve stimulation?

Answer 10

Adr and to a lesser extent NA

Question 11

What does the adrenal medulla secrete in response to?

Answer 11

Stress preparing for “fight or flight”

Priming the body for intense physical activity

Question 12

What does the adrenal medulla stimulate release of?

Answer 12

Metabolic “fuels”
Glucose from the liver
Fatty acids from adipose tissue

Question 13

What are the actions of Adr in these tissues mediated by?

Answer 13

Elevations in cyclic AMP levels

Question 14

How do Adr and NA maintain blood pressure?

Answer 14

Ionotropic effects on the heart (increases heart rate) and vasoconstrictor (contracts blood vessels)

Question 15

How are people with hypertension treated?

Answer 15

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (‘beta blockers’) to reduce HR

Question 16

What does failure of the adrenal medulla cause?

Answer 16

Hypotension

Question 17

What is hypotension?

Answer 17

Low blood pressure

Question 18

What is hypertension?

Answer 18

High blood pressure

Question 19

What are examples of tumours of the adrenal medulla?

Answer 19

Pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma

Question 20

What do tumours of the adrenal medulla cause?

Answer 20

Secretion of catecholamines causing hypertension and must be removed by surgery

Question 21

What are adrenocortical hormones?

Answer 21

Steroid hormones

Question 22

What is adrenocortical hormones structure based on?

Answer 22

Cholestrol

Question 23

What are exampels of adrenal Corticosteroids?

Answer 23

Mineralocorticoids- aldosterone
Glucocotortoids- Cortisol
Sex hormone- androgens

Question 24

What do adrenal Corticosteroids act on?

Answer 24

Intracellular nuclear receptors

Question 25

What leads to the transcription of genes?

Answer 25

Receptor plus hormone unfolds and binds to DNA hormone response elements

Question 26

What does the receptor plus hormone unfold and bind to?

Answer 26

DNA at HRB (Hormones Response Elements)

Question 27

What does the receptor hormone complex do once bound to DNA?

Answer 27

Increases RNA polymerase activity Increase production of specific mRNAs Increases protein synthesis

Question 28

What are nuclear (or cytoplasmic) receptors?

Answer 28

Soluble proteins localised within the cytoplasm or the nucleoplasm

Question 29

What does the nuclear receptor have to pass through?

Answer 29

Plasma membrane | Usually by passive diffusion

Question 30

What are the typical ligand?

Answer 30

Lipophilic hormones, with steroid hormones (e.g. testosterone, progesterone and cortisol) and derivatives of vitamin A and D among them

Question 31

What happens when the ligand is binding?

Answer 31

Nuclear receptors pass through the nuclear membrane into the nucleus genes activity

Question 32

What are specific Hormone Responsive Elements (HREs)?

Answer 32

A short sequence of DNA within the promoter of a gene that is able to bind a specific hormone receptor complex and therefore regulate transcription

Question 33

What happens when ligands bind to receptors which unfold?

Answer 33

Bind receptor binds to DNA RN polymerase activity increases Specific mRNA is produced within minutes Protein synthesis- effects in hours to days

Question 34

How does Oestrogen Receptor Agonists activate nuclear receptors?

Answer 34

For hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women (conjugated equine oestrogens)

Question 35

What is glucocorticoid receptor agonist for?

Answer 35

For inflammation (hydrocortisone,; dexamethasone)

Question 36

What is mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist for?

Answer 36

For oedema due to liver cirrhosis and for heart failure (spironolactone)

Question 37

What are oestrogen receptor antagonists?

Answer 37

For the prevention and treatment of breast cancer (tamoxifen)

Question 38

What are androgen receptor antagonists?

Answer 38

Treatment of prostate cancer (Bicalutamide/Casodex)

Question 39

What are agonists?

Answer 39

Agonist drugs mimic the effects of neurotransmitters naturally found in the human brain

Question 40

What are antagonists?

Answer 40

In contrast to agonist drugs which bind to the neurotransmitters in the brain, antagonist drugs do the opposite: they block the brain’s neurotransmitters

Question 41

What does aldosterone do?

Answer 41

Regulate salt and water metabolism Retains Na+ in exchange for K+ Retains water

Question 42

What is the production of aldosterone regulated by?

Answer 42

Renin/Angiotensin system

Question 43

What is the aldosterone antagonist?

Answer 43

Spironolactone- used as a Potassium sparing diuretic

Question 44

What does aldosterone act on?

Answer 44

Distal renal tubules to increase Na+ reabsorption and concomitantly, increased excretion of K+ and H+

Question 45

Where are aldosterone nuclear receptors?

Answer 45

Only occur in the kidneys

Question 46

What is spironolactone?

Answer 46

Competitive antagonist of aldosterone at these receptors

Question 47

What's the effect of interaction of the aldosterone?

Answer 47

Receptor complex with DNA is to increase the number of Na+ channels in the membrane of the renal cell

Question 48

What are the three main actions of glucocorticoids?

Answer 48

Metabolic Negative feed-back on anterior pituitary and hypothalamus Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects

Question 49

What are the metabolic actions of glucocorticoids?

Answer 49

Carbohydrates- decreased uptake of glucose, increased protein breakdown to glucose- hyperglycaemia Proteins- increased breakdown, reduced synthesis Fat- increased breakdown, redistribution

Question 50

What is used to combat stress?

Answer 50

Raise plasma glucose levels to provide energy

Question 51

What does the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity reduce?

Answer 51

Blood vessel dilation and leakage Production of mediators Inflammatory/ immune cells activity

Question 52

What is anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity?

Answer 52

Glucocorticoids inhibit Phospholipase A2 | This block production of Arachidonic Acid, Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes from cell membrane phospholipid

Question 53

When is suppression of inflammation and immune response?

Answer 53

``` Asthma Allergic responses Autoimmune disease Inflammatory conditions Organ transplant Cancer therapy ```

Question 54

What are the adverse effects of glucocorticoids?

Answer 54

``` Suppression of response to infection Suppression of endogenous glucocorticoid synthesis Metabolic effects Osteoporosis Cushing’s syndrome ```