ENDOCRINOLOGY
Mini-syllabus
Radboud University
,Table of Contents
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction to endocrinology ............................................................................................................ 5
2. Mechanisms of hormone action ......................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Membrane receptors .................................................................................................................... 6
2.1.1 G-protein coupled receptors.................................................................................................. 6
2.1.2 Tyrosine kinases ..................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Intracellular receptors................................................................................................................... 8
2.3 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................... 8
3. The hypothalamus-pituitary axis ........................................................................................................ 9
3.1 Histology of the pituitary .............................................................................................................. 9
3.2 The pituitary ................................................................................................................................ 10
3.3 The hypothalamus ...................................................................................................................... 11
3.3 Hypothalamus-pituitary axis ....................................................................................................... 11
3.4 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 11
4. Endocrinology of the adrenal gland .................................................................................................. 12
4.1 Histology of the adrenal gland .................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Gluco- and mineralocorticoids .................................................................................................... 12
4.3 The stress axis ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.4 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 14
5. Steroids of the adrenal cortex 5.1 RAAS ........................................................................................... 17
5.2 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 17
6. Catecholamines of the adrenal medulla ........................................................................................... 19
6.1 Catecholamines ........................................................................................................................... 19
6.2 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 20
7. Female endocrinology....................................................................................................................... 21
7.1 Histology of the ovary ................................................................................................................. 21
7.2 The HPG-axis ............................................................................................................................... 22
7.3 Cycle irregularities....................................................................................................................... 23
7.4 Contraception ............................................................................................................................. 23
7.5 Fertility ........................................................................................................................................ 23
8. Male endocrinology .......................................................................................................................... 25
8.1 Histology of the testis ................................................................................................................. 25
8.2 The HPG-axis ............................................................................................................................... 26
8.3 Fertility ........................................................................................................................................ 27
1
,9. The thyroid gland and thyroid hormones ......................................................................................... 28
9.1 Histology of the thyroid gland .................................................................................................... 28
9.2 The HPT-axis ................................................................................................................................ 28
9.3 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 31
10. Calcitropic hormones and osteoporosis ......................................................................................... 32
10.1 Endocrine calcium regulation ................................................................................................... 32
10.2 Calcitropic hormones and bone physiology .............................................................................. 33
10.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 34
11. Endocrinology of the pancreas ....................................................................................................... 36
11.1 Histology of the pancreas ......................................................................................................... 36
11.2 The endocrine pancreas ............................................................................................................ 36
11.3 Pancreatic hormones ................................................................................................................ 37
11.4 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 38
12. Endocrinology of the digestive tract ............................................................................................... 40
12.1 The gastrointestinal tract .......................................................................................................... 40
12.2 The gastrointestinal hormones ................................................................................................. 40
12.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 42
13. Leptin and obesity ........................................................................................................................... 43
13.1 Obesity ...................................................................................................................................... 43
13.2 Energy homeostasis theories .................................................................................................... 43
13.3 Peripheral regulation of food intake and body mass ............................................................... 43
13.4 Central regulation of body mass ............................................................................................... 44
14. Growth hormone ............................................................................................................................ 46
14.1 Growth ...................................................................................................................................... 46
14.2 The growth-hormone system ................................................................................................... 46
14.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 47
14.4 Ghrelin....................................................................................................................................... 47
15. Hormones and tumors .................................................................................................................... 48
Appendix I. BRC of lab class .................................................................................................................. 50
Appendix II. Poster of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix III. Consensus poster of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix IV. Peer feedback received ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix V. Peer feedback provided....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2
, Abbreviations
11-β-HSD – 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
ABP – androgen-binding protein
ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin)
ADH – anti-diuretic hormone
AGHD – adult growth hormone deficiency
AgRP – agouti-related protein
AGS – adrenogenital syndrome
AHDS – Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome
Ais – aromatase inhibitors
AME – apparent mineralocorticoid excess
AMH – anti-Mullerian hormone
AR – androgen receptor
ARC – arcuate nucleus
BAH – bilateral hyperplasia
CAH – congenital adrenal hyperplasia
CCK – cholecystokinin
CEH – cholesteryl ester hydrolase
CaSR – calcium sensing receptor
CHT – congenital hypothyroidism
CRH – corticotropin-releasing hormone
CTR – calcitonin receptor
DAG – diacylglycerol
DHT – dihydrotestosterone
DIT – diiodotyrosine
DOC – deoxycorticosterone
DUOX – dual oxygenase
ECL – enterochromaffin-like
EEC – enteroendocrine cell
ENaC – epithelial sodium channel
ENS – enteric nervous system
ER – estrogen receptor
FSH – follicle-stimulating hormone (gonadotropin)
GOAT – ghrelin O-acyl transferase
GC – glucocorticoid
GH – growth hormone
GHS-R – growth hormone secretagogue receptor
GR – glucocorticoid receptor
GRA – glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism
GRH – gonadotropin-releasing hormone
GHRH – growth hormone-releasing hormone
GI – gastrointestinal
GIP – gastric inhibitory peptide
GLP-1 – glucagon-like peptide 1
GOAT – ghrelin O-acyl transferase
GnRH – gonadotropin-releasing hormone
3
Mini-syllabus
Radboud University
,Table of Contents
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction to endocrinology ............................................................................................................ 5
2. Mechanisms of hormone action ......................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Membrane receptors .................................................................................................................... 6
2.1.1 G-protein coupled receptors.................................................................................................. 6
2.1.2 Tyrosine kinases ..................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Intracellular receptors................................................................................................................... 8
2.3 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................... 8
3. The hypothalamus-pituitary axis ........................................................................................................ 9
3.1 Histology of the pituitary .............................................................................................................. 9
3.2 The pituitary ................................................................................................................................ 10
3.3 The hypothalamus ...................................................................................................................... 11
3.3 Hypothalamus-pituitary axis ....................................................................................................... 11
3.4 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 11
4. Endocrinology of the adrenal gland .................................................................................................. 12
4.1 Histology of the adrenal gland .................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Gluco- and mineralocorticoids .................................................................................................... 12
4.3 The stress axis ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.4 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 14
5. Steroids of the adrenal cortex 5.1 RAAS ........................................................................................... 17
5.2 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 17
6. Catecholamines of the adrenal medulla ........................................................................................... 19
6.1 Catecholamines ........................................................................................................................... 19
6.2 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 20
7. Female endocrinology....................................................................................................................... 21
7.1 Histology of the ovary ................................................................................................................. 21
7.2 The HPG-axis ............................................................................................................................... 22
7.3 Cycle irregularities....................................................................................................................... 23
7.4 Contraception ............................................................................................................................. 23
7.5 Fertility ........................................................................................................................................ 23
8. Male endocrinology .......................................................................................................................... 25
8.1 Histology of the testis ................................................................................................................. 25
8.2 The HPG-axis ............................................................................................................................... 26
8.3 Fertility ........................................................................................................................................ 27
1
,9. The thyroid gland and thyroid hormones ......................................................................................... 28
9.1 Histology of the thyroid gland .................................................................................................... 28
9.2 The HPT-axis ................................................................................................................................ 28
9.3 Pathologies.................................................................................................................................. 31
10. Calcitropic hormones and osteoporosis ......................................................................................... 32
10.1 Endocrine calcium regulation ................................................................................................... 32
10.2 Calcitropic hormones and bone physiology .............................................................................. 33
10.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 34
11. Endocrinology of the pancreas ....................................................................................................... 36
11.1 Histology of the pancreas ......................................................................................................... 36
11.2 The endocrine pancreas ............................................................................................................ 36
11.3 Pancreatic hormones ................................................................................................................ 37
11.4 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 38
12. Endocrinology of the digestive tract ............................................................................................... 40
12.1 The gastrointestinal tract .......................................................................................................... 40
12.2 The gastrointestinal hormones ................................................................................................. 40
12.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 42
13. Leptin and obesity ........................................................................................................................... 43
13.1 Obesity ...................................................................................................................................... 43
13.2 Energy homeostasis theories .................................................................................................... 43
13.3 Peripheral regulation of food intake and body mass ............................................................... 43
13.4 Central regulation of body mass ............................................................................................... 44
14. Growth hormone ............................................................................................................................ 46
14.1 Growth ...................................................................................................................................... 46
14.2 The growth-hormone system ................................................................................................... 46
14.3 Pathologies................................................................................................................................ 47
14.4 Ghrelin....................................................................................................................................... 47
15. Hormones and tumors .................................................................................................................... 48
Appendix I. BRC of lab class .................................................................................................................. 50
Appendix II. Poster of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix III. Consensus poster of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix IV. Peer feedback received ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix V. Peer feedback provided....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2
, Abbreviations
11-β-HSD – 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
ABP – androgen-binding protein
ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin)
ADH – anti-diuretic hormone
AGHD – adult growth hormone deficiency
AgRP – agouti-related protein
AGS – adrenogenital syndrome
AHDS – Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome
Ais – aromatase inhibitors
AME – apparent mineralocorticoid excess
AMH – anti-Mullerian hormone
AR – androgen receptor
ARC – arcuate nucleus
BAH – bilateral hyperplasia
CAH – congenital adrenal hyperplasia
CCK – cholecystokinin
CEH – cholesteryl ester hydrolase
CaSR – calcium sensing receptor
CHT – congenital hypothyroidism
CRH – corticotropin-releasing hormone
CTR – calcitonin receptor
DAG – diacylglycerol
DHT – dihydrotestosterone
DIT – diiodotyrosine
DOC – deoxycorticosterone
DUOX – dual oxygenase
ECL – enterochromaffin-like
EEC – enteroendocrine cell
ENaC – epithelial sodium channel
ENS – enteric nervous system
ER – estrogen receptor
FSH – follicle-stimulating hormone (gonadotropin)
GOAT – ghrelin O-acyl transferase
GC – glucocorticoid
GH – growth hormone
GHS-R – growth hormone secretagogue receptor
GR – glucocorticoid receptor
GRA – glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism
GRH – gonadotropin-releasing hormone
GHRH – growth hormone-releasing hormone
GI – gastrointestinal
GIP – gastric inhibitory peptide
GLP-1 – glucagon-like peptide 1
GOAT – ghrelin O-acyl transferase
GnRH – gonadotropin-releasing hormone
3
