Endocrine Abstracts

Prolactin is associated with seasonal transitions into and out of anestrus in the mare. The earliest anestrous transitional changes are declining progesterone secretion and a concomitant prolactin decline. Ovarian changes include slowed follicular development and prolonged luteal activity. Dopamine antagonist administration during the autumnal transition prevented a seasonal progesterone decline, suggesting a cause-and-effect between prolactin and progesterone production. The ...

High protein diets suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, but are difficult to adhere to. Understanding the mechanisms by which protein suppresses appetite may establish targets for more acceptable interventions to treat or prevent obesity. Of particular interest is the concept of functional foods or novel products, which aim to potentiate satiety.Receptor systems that respond to amino acids have been identified. However, the specific mechanisms r...

High protein diets suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, but are difficult to adhere to in the long-term. Understanding the mechanisms by which protein suppresses appetite may establish targets for more acceptable interventions to treat or prevent obesity. Of particular interest is the concept of functional foods or novel products which aim to potentiate satiety. However, the specific mechanisms regulating protein-induced satiety are unknown. Protein has a satiating ef...

In pregnant women with thyroid diseases an increased amount of LT4 may be required for the correction of hypothyroidism or treatment of nodular goiter. Aim of this study was to assess the amount of the variations of LT4 requirement in pregnant women with thyroid diseases. To address this issue, we retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 107 women treated with LT4 divided in two groups: 42 euthyroid (E) (affected by nodular goiter (NG) treated with LT4 suppressive therapy) and 65...

High protein diets are highly satiating but hard to maintain. By understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects we may be able to identify new anti-obesity therapies. Protein is broken-down into amino acids in the gut which are detected by a series of nutrient sensors. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is primarily activated by calcium ions, but is positively allosterically modulated by aromatic amino acids, especially L-phenylalanine. Sti...

High protein diets are highly satiating but hard to maintain. By understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects we may be able to identify new anti-obesity therapies. Protein is broken-down into amino acids in the gut which are detected by a series of nutrient sensors. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is primarily activated by calcium ions, but is positively allosterically modulated by aromatic amino acids, especially L-phenylalanine. Sti...

Growing evidence implicates gut microbiota-derived metabolites in metabolic homeostasis. Gut microbial dysbiosis occurs in obesity, while high-fibre and high-protein diets, which improve glucose tolerance and induce weight loss, are associated with the generation of microbial metabolites. Understanding how the gut responds to microbial metabolites may identify mechanisms that induce satiety and improve glucoregulation, revealing novel therapeutic targets. Indole is generated f...

High protein diets suppress appetite, but are difficult to adhere to. Understanding how the gut senses protein may identify mechanisms to drive satiety. Amino acid products of protein digestion are thought to be sensed by G protein coupled receptors in the gut, including the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR). Calcium ions are the major ligand of the CaSR, but aromatic amino acids, particularly L-phenylalanine (L-Phe), allosterically modulate CaSR activity....

High protein diets are effective at promoting weight loss and stimulating the secretion of pancreatic hormones. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects may highlight new potential therapeutic targets. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is stimulated by calcium and plays a critical role in calcium homeostasis. However, it is also found in many tissues unrelated to calcium regulation. CaSR activity can be modulated by aromatic amino acids, most potently by ...

Ingested protein has a greater satiating effect than other macronutrients. The underlying mechanism is unknown, but it has been shown that protein induces greater increases in anorectic gut hormone levels than carbohydrate or fat. It was hypothesised that these effects could be mediated by specific amino acids comprising the protein. We therefore examined the effects of specific amino acids on food intake and gut hormone release. Fasted male Wistar rats received an oral gavage...