Endocrine Abstracts

Pituitary folliculostellate (FS) cells were originally described in 1953 and comprise up to 10% of the anterior pituitary cell population. These epithelioid cells are thought to be derived from neuroectodermal cells and express S-100, a nervous tissue-selective protein that is used to define FS phenotype. Unlike their endocrine counterparts, they are devoid of secretory granules and were considered non-secretory until relatively recently. Experiments using pituitary slices hav...

Coordinated interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems is of paramount importance in regulating the host's response to inflammation and anoxic stress. Adenosine, released under such conditions in high concentration, modulates a number of inflammatory processes and can regulate the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Although adenosine receptors (ARs) have been described in the pituitary gland, the distribution of the receptor subtypes (A1, ...

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes can be directly related to increasing levels of population obesity and associated insulin resistance. Adipose tissue has neuroanatomically well characterized sympathetic innervation (with activation initiating lipid mobilization), but little evidence to support the presence of a (putatively counter-regulatory) parasympathetic input (Bartness & Song 2007). Parasympathetic actions are mediated through muscarinic acetylcholine receptor...

Introduction-Cushing's syndrome is characterised by hypercortisolaemia, loss of the diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion and loss of negative hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) feedback. Patients with adrenal incidentalomas may manifest some signs of cortisol excess before developing overt Cushing's syndrome. This can be considered as 'Cushing's syndrome in evolution'.Case History-A 47 year old lady with ty...

Folliculostellate (FS) cells are non-hormone producing cells that represent up to 10% of the anterior pituitary gland and may mediate the response of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis to inflammation. Adenosine, released during stress and inflammation, acts at A2b receptors to stimulate growth and secretion of IL-6 from a mouse FS cell line, TtT/GF. We have now extended these studies and investigated how NECA (universal adenosine receptor agonist; 10 micromolar) stimulat...

Introduction: A Mucocele is a collection of mucus enclosed by sinus epithelium within the paranasal sinuses. The pathogenesis is debated but a history of nasal obstruction, nasal surgery, nasal polyps or trauma is common but not universal. Mucoceles can erode local bone structure and invade the orbits. Four cases of sphenoidal mucoceles presenting with headache, 1–15 years post trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery have previously been reported. We present two cases of front...

Introduction: The biochemical diagnosis of acromegaly is based on elevated plasma growth hormone (GH) that fail to suppress after an oral glucose load. Elevated insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) supports the diagnosis. Traditionally GH level of less than 2 miliunits per litre rules out acromegaly. With advent of recent sensitive GH assays, lower levels of GH are increasingly being recognized. We describe a case of acromegaly which differed from the traditional presentation.<...

We present two patients who were originally diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A 23 year old was referred with deteriorating hirsutism. Her menstrual cycle was reported as entirely regular following the menarche at age 13. Examination revealed her to be obese with a body mass index of 33 and hirsute, with a Ferriman and Gallway score of 19. She had a typical PCOS appearance on trans-vaginal ultrasound scan. Additional investigations in endocrine clinic revealed...

Coordinated interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems is of key importance in regulating the host's response to inflammation and anoxic stress. Adenosine, released under such conditions in high concentration, modulates a number of inflammatory processes and can regulate the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Although adenosine receptors (ARs) have been described in the pituitary gland, the distribution of the receptor subtypes (A1, A2A, A...

Background: The clinical presentation of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) can range from an incidental finding on imaging to pituitary hormone deficiencies and visual compromise.Objective: To assess the clinical presentation of patients who had undergone surgical resection of histologically proven NFAs.Methods: Patients presenting to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (histol...