Exam 2 - Endocrinology Quiz on Hormones

Endocrine Pharmacology: Hypothalamic & Pituitary

• Key textbooks for study include: Katzung's Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (15th ed, pages 691-710), Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (13th ed), and Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (8th ed, pages 1446-54).
• Lecture objectives for Hypothalamic & Pituitary hormones include explaining their function in stimulation/inhibition of anterior pituitary hormones and posterior pituitary hormones, as well as tissue effects and growth hormone signaling disorders.
• Lecture objectives for GH signaling include explanations of drugs that stimulate and inhibit GH signaling (e.g., rhGH, rhIGF-1, SST analogs, pegvisomant), their mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, and adverse effects.
• Specific drugs regulating water homeostasis, including agonists and antagonists, their mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, and adverse effects, are critical elements for understanding the topic.
• Drugs regulating gonadotropin hormones, including a differentiation between analogs, super-agonists, and antagonists, are needed.
• Knowledge of mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, structural activity relationships (SAR), indications, contraindications, and adverse effects of these drugs is essential.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Endocrine Axes

• The hypothalamus produces releasing hormones that stimulate or inhibit the pituitary.
• The pituitary gland synthesizes and releases hormones that enter the circulation.
• Circulating hormones act on specific endocrine glands and tissues, eliciting a biological response.

Pharmacological Treatments for Endocrine Disorders

• Drugs treat endocrine disorders by mimicking or blocking endogenous hormones.
• Medications may be agonists (stimulating effect) or antagonists (blocking effect).
• Agonists at endogenous receptors (hormone replacement therapy)
• Treatments may address hormone excesses or deficiencies.
• Drugs are used diagnostically to identify endocrine abnormalities.

Hormone Receptors

• Hormones with predominant nuclear receptor function modulate target cell transcription (e.g., steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, vitamin D).
• Hormones with preponderant membrane receptor function trigger rapid effects through signal transduction pathways (e.g., peptide and amino acid hormones).

Classification of Hormones

• Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) are single-chain proteins with significant homology.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) often work through G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Hypothalamus-Pituitary Axis Diagram

• Diagram shows the connection between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
• The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary through releasing factors and the posterior pituitary directly.

Drugs for Growth Hormone Regulation

• GHRH and SST are key regulators of GH secretion and action.
• GH itself, and IGF-1 also play crucial roles in signaling.
• Medical treatments for GH deficiencies and excesses are discussed along with their mechanisms of action.
• Common side effects from treatment are listed.
• Specific instances of use (e.g., pediatric cases, adults) are noted.

Growth Hormone and IGF-1 Signaling Agonists

• Actions and uses of growth hormones, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) for specific indications are outlined.
• Important aspects, including mechanism of action, physiological effects, and half-life are highlighted.
• Clinical applications with indications and side effects for treating growth hormone deficiencies in various patients are discussed.

Increased GH Signaling Benefits

• Conditions that benefit from increased GH signaling are specifically noted along with medical treatments for growth hormone deficiences in various populations.

Somatropin

• Somatropin, recombinant human growth hormone, is used for growth disorders in children and adults.
• Mechanism of action (agonist at GH receptors), pharmacokinetics, common side effects, and drug interactions are described.
• Critical use and contraindications are addressed

Mecasermin

• Mecasermin mimics GH, used in GH-resistant patients.
• Mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and side effects are detailed.

Inhibition of Growth Hormone Release

• Medical procedures and drugs used to inhibit GH release for pathologies such as acromegaly are mentioned.
• The role of neurotransmitters, hormones, and drugs in this type of regulation are covered.

Somatostatin (SST) and Synthetic Analogs

• Describes the roles and functions of SST and its synthetic analogs as regulators of GH release.
• Mechanisms of action, specficities, half-life are presented.
• The detailed structures of SST and synthetic analogs are shown.

Octreotide

• Detailed information about the uses, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and drug interactions of octreotide, a somatostain analog, is provided.

Lanreotide

• Detailed information about the uses, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and drug interactions of lanreotide, a somatostatin analog, is provided.

Pegvisomant

• Detailed information about the uses, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and drug interactions of pegvisomant, a GH receptor antagonist, is provided.

Prolactin Regulation

• Regulation of prolactin, a pituitary hormone critical to lactation.
• Dopamine's role in inhibiting prolactin's release, the conditions that benefit from reducing prolactin secretion, are addressed.
• Medicines are covered that assist in treatment and side effect profiles.

Bromocriptine

• This drug is a D2 dopamine receptor agonist, used to reduce prolactin secretion in various conditions.
• Detailed information about indications, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and side effects is given.

Cabergoline

• Cabergoline is a dopamine receptor agonist, similarly used for prolactin reduction.
• Detailing similar elements as bromocriptine, information is provided on indications, mechanism, pharmacokinetics, and side effects.

Gonadotropin Hormones

• Regulating LH and FSH hormones, including their analogs, and practical applications in various conditions
• Their physiological actions, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and clinical use are elucidated.

GnRH Signal Gonadotropin Hormone Analogs

• The use of GnRH analogs for follicle development, ovulation induction, and related conditions are explored.
• Their usage in clinical contexts, mechanisms, and potential adverse effects are included.

Ufollitropin

• Description of Ufollitropin, a purified FSH hormone from menopausal women.
• Details on clinical use, contraindications, pharmacokinetics, and side effects are given.

Folitropin Beta

• Information on Folitropin beta is provided, a recombinant version of FSH, used in inducing ovulation and fertility.
• Details on mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects are covered.

Luteinizing Hormone Analogs

• Describing specifics of luteinizing hormones, including their analogs' action mechanisms, clinical indications, cautions, and adverse effects, are explained.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

• Overview of hCG, an analog of LH.
• Its medical applications, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and side effects are discussed.

GnRH Receptor Antagonists

• The usage of GnRH antagonists to block GnRH receptors and their consequent hormonal effects are included.
• Details on mechanisms, clinical applications, side effects, and comparative analyses to other GnRH-related medicines are given.

GnRH Analogs and Superagonists

• Describing the differing types of GnRH analogs, mechanisms, clinical utilities, common adverse reactions, and specific examples..

Leuprolide

• Detailing Leuprolide, an GnRH agonist, its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic profile, and clinical applications, along with related side effects.

Ganirelix

• Ganirelix, an GnRH antagonist, details on mechanisms, pharmacokinetic properties, clinical use, side effects, and how it compares to GnRH agonists.

Posterior Pituitary Hormones

• Information about vasopressin and its analogs/antagonists are included.
• Their physiological effects, like controlling fluid balance, are well-explained.

Oxytocin

• Details on oxytocin's roles and uses, focusing on its applications in childbirth and lactation.
• The physiological effects and medical use of the hormone are explained.

Arginine Vasopressin

• Overview of arginine vasopressin (AVP).
• Explains effects in relation to fluid balance, and vascular function.

Desmopressin

• Detailed information on Desmopressin (DDAVP), and its application in various conditions.

Conivaptan

• Information about conivaptan, a vasopressin receptor antagonist.
• Its specifics concerning mechanism of action, clinical indications, pharmacokinetic properties, and potential adverse effects are provided.

Pearls: Hypothalamus & Pituitary Endocrine System Summary

• Highlights key concepts and summarizes the essential roles of the hypothalamic-pituitary system in regulating various physiological functions.

Test your knowledge on various hormones and their functions in the human body. This quiz covers topics related to growth hormone, cortisol, and the role of different glands in hormone production. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of endocrinology!