Endocrine Abstracts

The preproglucagon derived peptides glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and oxyntomodulin are all known to inhibit appetite and have been previously shown to activate the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the brainstem. The NTS is involved in the processing of signals transmitted from the periphery to the brain via the vagus nerve. The anorectic effects of peripherally administered glucagon and GLP-1 have been shown to be diminished or ablated by subdiaphragmatic vagot...

Augurin is a putative neuropeptide product of the esophageal cancer-related gene-4. We have previously demonstrated intra-cerebroventricular (ICV) and intra-paraventricular nucleus (iPVN) administration of augurin (71–148) stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in male Wistar rats. This effect was dependent on the release of CRH. Since CRH is known to inhibit feeding, we hypothesised augurin (71–148) would have similar actions. We therefore investigated th...

Nesfatin is an 82 amino acid peptide identified as a novel hypothalamic regulator of feeding. In rodents, central administration of nesfatin acutely inhibits feeding and chronic administration reduces weight gain. Subsequent research has demonstrated nesfatin is involved in the control of puberty in female rats. During puberty i.c.v. administration of nesfatin stimulates release of LH and FSH but has no effect in adult female rats.We investigated the eff...

Alarin is the most recently discovered member of the galanin peptide family, and is encoded by a splice variant of galanin-like peptide (GALP) mRNA. Galanin and GALP are known to regulate energy homeostasis and reproduction. Galanin is thought to mediate its effects via the three-galanin receptors. GALP also binds to these known galanin receptors, but evidence suggests that it may also act via an as yet unknown GALP specific receptor. The role of alarin in energy homeostasis a...

Coupling the release of pituitary hormones to the developmental stage of the oocyte is essential for female fertility. It is thought to require estrogen to have simultaneous positive and negative feedback effects on two spatially-distinct regions of the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus and ‘AVPV’ nucleus. However, the mechanistic basis for this differential effect is not known. Therefore, we mapped the genomic binding of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in bot...