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Regulatory Physiology and Pharmacology > The Hypothalamus-Pituitary Complex > Flashcards

The Hypothalamus-Pituitary Complex Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the HP axis regulate?

A

The function of the thryoid, adrenal and reproductive glands

Growth, lactation, milk secretion and water metabolism

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2
Q

Where is the pituitary?

A

In a pocket of bone at the base of the brain below the hypothalamus close to the medial eminence
Connected to hypothalamus and is connected by a stalk containing nerve fibres and blood vessels

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3
Q

What are the key features of the anterior and posterior pituitary?

A

Anterior - unique blood supply where releasing factors are secreted into from the hypothalamus
Posterior - blood portal system takes hormones away with direct hormonal secretion from the posterior - not synthesised there however

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4
Q

What is the key role of the posterior pituitary?

A

body fluid homeostasis and reproductive function

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5
Q

Where are hormones synthesised for secretion by the posterior pituitary?

A

Magnocellular neurons secrete directly into pituitary
Paraventricular nuclei - oxytocin
Supraoptic nuclei - ADH

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6
Q

What are the pre-prohormones of the posterior pituitary?

A

preprovasophysin

preprooxyphysin

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7
Q

What are Herring Bodies?

A

Axonal swellings due to the storage of secretory granules

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8
Q

What are the main functions of ADH?

A

Maintenance of normal osmolarity of body fluids

Normal blood volume

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9
Q

What are the primary targets of ADH?

A

Cells lining the distal renal tubule

Principle cells of the collecting ducts in the kidney

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10
Q

How does ADH act on the signalling pathways?

A

Binds to V2Rs on basal side of renal cells
V2R is linked to Gs-cAMP-PKA pathway
Stimulates insertion of Aquaporin 2 to apical membrane
Enhances trans-epithlial flow of water from lumen to renal interstitium

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11
Q

What happens in the presence of ADH?

A

Urine flow decreases

Urine Osmolality increases

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12
Q

What is ADH released in response to?

A

increased EC fluid osmolality

decreased blood volume and pressure

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13
Q

How do osmoreceptive neurons respond to changes in osmolality?

A

Respond to changes by shrinking or swelling
Innervate magnocellular neurons of PVN and SON
Increased osmolality stimulates ADH releases

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14
Q

How is blood volume regulated?

A

Cardiovascular volume receptors in the atria

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15
Q

What is the function of oxytocin?

A

stimulates the contraction of uterine smooth muscle during labour

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16
Q

What is the positive feedback mechanism related to oxytocin?

A

Stretching of the cervix stimulates oxytocin release which in turn facilitates labour further as a neuroendocrine reflex
After birth, stretching of cervix lessens, breaking the cycle

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17
Q

How is the anterior pituitary connected to the hypothalamus?

A

hypophyseal portal circulation

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18
Q

What kind of hormones are produced in the anterior pituitary?

A

tropic

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19
Q

What hormones does the anterior pituitary produce?

A 
Prolactin
GH
ACTH
TSH
FSH
LH
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20
Q

How are hormones released from the pituitary?

A

paravicellular neurosecretory cells secrete releasing factors into the capillaries of the pituitary portal system at the median eminance

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21
Q

What are the releasing factors associated with the hormones released?

A 
CRH - ACTH
TRH - TSH
GHRH - GH
Somatostatin - inhibits GH
GnRH - FSH, LH
PRH - Prolactin
Dopamine - inhibits prolactin
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22
Q

What percentage of cells are corticotrophs and what are their target organs?

A

15-20% - adrenal glands, adipocytes and melanocytes

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23
Q

What percentage of cells are thryotrophs and what are their target organs?

A

3-5% - thyroid gland

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24
Q

What percentage of cells are gonadotrophs and what are their target organs?

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A

10-15% - Gonads

25
What percentage of cells are somatotrophs and what are their target organs?
40-50% - All tissues, liver
26
What percentage of cells are lactotrophs and what are their target organs?
10-15% - breasts, gonads
27
What is the key feature of the feedback regulation in the HP-axis?
the ability of hypothalamic releasing hormones to provide negative feedback on the system
28
What is TSH?
a glycoprotein heterodimer composed of an a and b subunit
29
Where does TSH bind?
thyroid epithelial cells with TSH receptors
30
How is TRH released?
according to diurnal rhythm and regulated by various stresses i.e. starvation
31
What does T3 negatively feedback on?
the thyrotropes and TRH-producing neurons
32
What is the role of thyroid hormone?
regulates the body energy metabolism maturation growth development
33
What are the main targets for thyroid hormone?
brain, muscle, cardiovascular system and reproductive tissue
34
How does GH act on tissues?
directly on peripheral tissues and indirectly via IGF-1
35
What are the main sites for GH degradation?
Kidney and Liver
36
How is GH secretion regulated?
GHRH stimulates release | Somatostatin inhibits GH and TSH
37
How might b-adrenergic receptors inhibit GH secretion?
stimulate somatostatin which inhibits GH
38
What are the pathological conditions involving GH?
dwarfism, gigantism, acromegaly
39
How is ACTH synthesised?
CRH promotes POMC gene expression which produces ACTH by proteolytic processing
40
What is the role of ACTH?
to regulate the stress response by regulating the adrenal cortex and the synthesis of adrenocorticosteroids
41
What is a-MSH?
the first 13 aa in ACTH which stimulate melanocytes and can darken skin when ACTH is over-produced
42
How is ACTH regulated?
CRH, ADH, stress, hypoglycaemia | ADH via inferior hypophyseal artery from pituitary
43
How is ACTH secreted?
according to circadian rhythm although can be altered by jetlag Stress both neurogenic and systemic stimulate ACTH secretion
44
How does cortisol act to negatively regulate ACTH?
negatively feedback on pituitary reducing POMC expression and hypothalamus reducing pro-CRH gene expression and CRH release
45
What is Cushing's disease?
a benign tumour of the pituitary gland that produces a large amount of ACTH causing adrenal glands to produce elevated levels of cortisol
46
What does increased cortisol secretion do?
causes a tendency: weight gain characteristically in centripetal fat distribution wasting of extremities, bruising easily and healing poorly buffalo humo moon face high BP, severe fatigue and muscle weakness
47
What regulates LH?
GnRH
48
What regulates FSH?
GnRH and Inhibin cause distinct patterns of LH and FSH secretion
49
When does GnRH preferentially increase LH?
at one pulse per hour
50
When does GnRH preferentially increase FSH?
at 1 pulse per 3 hours
51
What are the different feedback mechanisms for LH and FSH in men and women?
men - testosterone on pituitary and hypothalamus women - progesterone on pituitary and hypothalamus oestrogen on FSH and LH secretion Inhibin negatively feedsback on FSH in men and women
52
What is the action of LH in men?
stimulates leydig cells to synthesise testosterone
53
What is the action of LH in women?
acts on theca cells to produce testosterone which is converted to oestrogen by granulosa cells
54
What is the function of FSH in women?
stimulates maturation of ovarian follicles
55
what is the function of FSH in men?
supports the function of the sertoli cells which support aspects of sperm cell maturation
56
How are FSH and LH regulated?
dopamine, endorphins and prolactin all inhibit GnRH release
57
What can overproduction of prolactin cause and how might this be treated?
amenorrhea | treat with bromocryptine or surgical removal of tumour
58
What stimulates ovulation?
high plasma estadiol which stimulates GnRH and LH surge
59
How is prolactin different from other endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary?
acts on non-endocrine cells to induce physiological changes | secretion is mainly under inhibitory control by the hypothalamus

Regulatory Physiology and Pharmacology (14 decks)

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