Endocrine Abstracts

Oxytocin was suggested to affect sperm volume and ejaculation. The most distal part of the epididymis stores the sperm until ejaculation and was therefore our main focus when investigating parts of the rat epididymis and vas deferens for local differences of the contractile responses to oxytocin in comparison to norepinephrine regarding their usability for targeted drug development. Single loops of the coiled epididymal duct from defined parts of the epididymis and the adjacen...

Introduction: Unilateral adrenalectomy is an effective treatment for aldosterone producing adenoma. However, after adrenalectomy, suppression of the contralateral zona glomerolura (ZG) function can lead to transient hypotension & hyperkalaemia. We present a protracted case of post-operative adrenalectomy related hypoaldosteronism.Case: A 54-year-old hypertensive male with confirmed primary hyperaldoseronism (PRA<0.1 nm/h, aldosterone 1050 pmol/l;...

Since the introduction of national BSPED DKA guidelines we wondered whether the previous variability in DKA guidelines would be abolished.Aim: To explore the variability of guidelines in three regional diabetes networks in South West (SW) and South Central England and to compare them to the current BSPED guidelines.Methods: Within an audit of in-patient care, a copy of the DKA guidelines was requested from 27 services. General layo...

Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) catalyses the first and rate-limiting step of steroidogenesis. CYP11A1 firstly converts cholesterol into 22R-hydroxycholesterol, which relies on mitochondrial steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)-mediated cholesterol import. Two further StAR-independent CYP11A1 reactions facilitate pregnenolone biosynthesis. CYP11A1 deficiency is rare and manifests with adrenal insufficiency (AI), and, in 46,XY individuals, with nor...

Background: The short synacthen test (SST) is commonly used to evaluate the integrity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in children. However, this test is time-consuming, requiring cannulation, several blood samples, and medical observation. Studies in adults have suggested an early morning serum cortisol level could be used to rule out or confirm adrenal insufficiency, reducing reliance on SSTs, however, few studies have evaluated thi...