Endocrine Physiology

PHYS 2520

Spring 2001

Thursdays, 6PM - 8PM

Room 609 BSB

Instructors: Drs. Thompson and Levine

Required Text: Kacsoh, B., Endocrine Physiology, McGraw Hill, 2000.

Sessions:

Date             Question

18-Jan         Introduction

25-Jan        1. A significant fraction of people with hyperparathyroidism are  hypertensive. Mechanism?

                   2. Recruitment and activation of osteoclasts is indirectly accomplished by PTH. Mechanism?

1-Feb         1. How does estrogen protect against bone loss?

                   2. Hypercortisolism can cause bone loss. PTH can reverse (prevent) this. Mechanism?

8-Feb         1. Exercise increases bone density. Mechanism?

                   2. What is the role of IGF1 (Somatomedin 1) in bone metabolism and growth?

15-Feb WRITING SKILLS CLASS

22-Feb         1. The adrenal medulla secretes both epinephrine and norepinephrine. What determines which of these two compounds will be preferentially secreted.

                    2. Benzodiazepine may alter synthesis of a number of steroid hormones. Mechanism?

1-Mar         1. What is the relationship between insulin mediated fuel stores and fuel store sensing?

                    2. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often associated with obesity. How are adiposity and type 2 diabetes mellitus linked?

15-Mar       1. What is the relationship between activation of IRS1, IRS2 and GLUT4?

                    2. What is the role of insulin in maintaining neural integrity?

22-Mar       1. What is the physiological role of C-peptide?

2. Glyburide stimulates insulin release. Mechanism?

8-Mar        1. Circadian rhythms are a common feature in the pattern of secretion for many hormones. Mehanisms?

                      2. The onset of puberty and regulation of adult levels of secretion of gonadotropins are dependent on the appropriate pattern of secretion of GnRH. Describe the pattern and processes that regulate this pattern.

29-Mar        1. How does the hypothalamus sense body weight?

2. How does the hypothalamus regulate body weight?

5-Apr           1. What determines which follicle will go on to ovulate from each cohort of developing follicles?

2. What regulates the length of time the corpus luteum functions?

12-Apr        1. Estradiol exhibits both positive and negative feedback on gonadotropin secretion. Mechanism?

                    2. Nursing mothers tend to have irregular menstrual cycles. Mechanism?

19-Apr        1. How does the composition of milk change with nursing?

                    2. The placenta does not have 17-alpha hydroxylase. How does it synthesize         estrogen?

   26-Apr Review Session/Components of a presentation

    3-May Final Examination

    10-May Presentations

    17-May Presentations