Endocrine Abstracts

SHOX has been implicated in the regulation of bone growth and modelling. Haploinsufficiency and heterozygous mutations of SHOX are associated with Lerri Weil Dyschondrosteosis (LWD). The cardinal features of LWD are mesomelic limb shortening and Madelung deformity. Histological studies demonstrate premature fusion of the ulna border of the radial epiphysis and disordered osteoblast maturation and orientation. In view of these observations we investigated the role of SHOX in th...

The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of BMP-2 to induce gonadotroph-specific gene expression during pituitary development are poorly understood. We have characterised BMP receptor (BMP-R) expression in two gonadotroph models, the alphaT3-1 and LbetaT2 cells, which represent different stages of gonadotroph development. Signal transduction via BMP-R requires a heterodimeric complex between type I (A or B) and type II receptors. RT-PCR for BMP-R, using sub...