MCDB 418 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Neuropeptide Y, Ketogenesis

• School: U of M
• Department: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
• Course: MCDB 418
• Professor: Cunming Duan

Document Summary

Neuronal control in medulla = rapid fight/flight response. Variations in plasma acth and cortisol concentrations in a normal human. Rise in acth and cortisol at the end of the dark phase just before waking. Also another rise 3-4am in preparation for morning cortisol/acth spike. Associated with high plasma [acth] (loss of neg. feedback) Get hyperpigmentation (due to loss of neg. feedback on acth) Msh activity - in humans causes synthesis of melanin. Occurs from abnormalities of adrenal or pituitary. Skin changes (atrophy of epidermis leads to thinning of skin) Hirsutism (increased hair growth) due to adrenal androgens. Higher than normal acth and cortisol = obesity. Due to excessive adrenal or ovarian androgen secretion or excessive conversion of androgenic precursors in peripheral tissues. Hirsutism due to mild elevation of androgens (adrenal overproduction or peripheral conversion) Excessive hair growth (most commonly increased facial hair growth) menstrual irregularity or amenorrhea. Virilism due to severe overproduction of androgens.