Basic principles of endocrinology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different types of action performed by the endocrine system? (give examples)

A
  • Paracrine=the hormone acts locally by diffusing from its source to target cells in the neighborhood. e.g histamine from mast cells
  • Autocrine= acts on the same cell that produced it e.g interleukins
  • Neurocrine= The influence of nerves on endocrine tissue. e.g neurotransmitter noradrenaline.
  • Endocrine= the hormone is distributed in blood and binds to distant target cells e.g insulin
  • Neuroendocrine=released by neurons and carried by blood or other bodily fluids and act on distant cells e.g dopamine inhibition of prolactin release
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2
Q

What are the main characteristics of hormones?

A
  • synthesised and secreted by specialised cells
  • released into circulation
  • exert effects on target cells distant from release site
  • act slowly
  • act either on one cell type ( eg GnRH) or many cells types (e.g oestrogen)
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3
Q

What is the role of the endocrine system?

A
  • maintains homeostasis
  • responds to changes in the environment( food,stress etc)
  • important role in control of: growth, development,puberty,sexual maturation
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4
Q

Which hormones are derived from tyrosine?

A
  • dopamine
  • adrenaline
  • thyroxine
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5
Q

What are the different classes of hormones?

A
  • Tyrosine derivatives
  • Peptide hormones
  • Glycoprotein hormones
  • Steroid hormones
  • Catecholamines
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6
Q

Describe the structure of glycoprotein hormones

A

Alpha and Beta chains with carbohydrate
The alpha chain= species specific- common to all 4 glycoprotein hormones
The beta chain= hormone specific- responsible for specificity

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7
Q

Give eg’s of glycoprotein hormones.

A

LH, FSH, hCG, TSH.

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8
Q

How does GnRH control release of LH& FSH

A
  • Pulsatile release of GnRH release LH and FSH

- Sustained release of GnRH inhibit LH& FSH

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9
Q

What are the different types of hormone release?

A
  • Pulsitile e.g GnRH pulse generator
  • Circadian based on 24hour cycle e.g cortisol
  • Diurnal synchronised to day/night cycle
  • Infradian based on longer than 24hour cycle e.g menstrual cycle
  • Seasonal e.g prolactin
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10
Q

What use can radioimmunoassay ( RIA) have in endocrinology

A

We can use RIA to assess hormone levels. As the conc. of hormone increases, the amount of antibody bound decreases. We can also use enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA)

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11
Q

What is the function of oestrogen receptor alpha

A

Activates transcription

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12
Q

What is the function of oestrogen receptor beta

A

Inhibits transcription

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13
Q

Where are thyroid hormones stored

A

stored in colloid as part of thyroglobulin.

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