Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The peptide hormone kisspeptin is essential for human reproduction, acting on the hypothalamus to stimulate GnRH secretion. Kisspeptin is emerging as a possible novel therapeutic for women with infertility. However animal studies suggest that kisspeptin may also stimulate pituitary secretion of GH, prolactin, and TSH, which has important implications for its safety. There has been no previous study investigating kisspeptin effects on non-reproductive hormones in hu...

Background: The KISS1 gene, is a critical regulator of normal reproductive function. In humans, KISS1 deletion results in a failure to go through puberty while activating mutations result in central precocious puberty. Administration of kisspeptin induces ovulation in rodents and sheep. However chronic exposure to exogenous kisspeptin-54 leads to profound tachyphylaxis in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea. It is not known whether exogenous kisspeptin can alter the m...

Introduction: Kisspeptin-54 is a recently identified hormone, which potently stimulates GnRH secretion within the hypothalamus. Women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea (HA, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism associated with low body weight) have reduced LH pulsatility causing amenorrhea and infertility. We have previously demonstrated that exogenous administration of kisspeptin-54 acutely stimulates gonadotrophin secretion in women with HA. However, it is not known whether exogenous k...

Background: Genetic deficiency of the hypothalamic hormone kisspeptin, lead to pubertal failure and infertility. Kisspeptin is therefore a critical hypothalamic activator of reproduction. Kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotrophin release in both male and female rodents. However few studies have investigated the effects of kisspeptin-10 on gonadotrophin release in humans, and none have investigated its effects in women. If kisspeptin is to be useful for treating reproductive disea...

Background: Kisspeptin is a novel hypothalamic hormone with powerful stimulatory effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Inactivating mutations in the kisspeptin receptor lead to pubertal failure. We have previously demonstrated that injection of kisspeptin-54 stimulates LH release in healthy men and women. Recent studies in animals suggest that endogenous kisspeptin may be involved in stimulating the GnRH pulse generator. Determining whether exogenous ad...

Hypercalcaemia in pregnancy is a rare but important finding, given the associated potential risks to mother and baby. These include hypertension, pancreatitis, nephrolithiasis and renal failure in the mother and intrauterine growth restriction, neonatal hypoparathyroidism/hypocalcaemia and stillbirth in the baby (1). We present the case of a 26-year-old female with a background of PTH-independent hypercalcaemia of unknown aetiology. This was initially detected at age 6 months ...

Menopause management guidelines advocate a personalised, evidence-based approach to menopause-care. This study explored the current landscape of menopause-care, from both patients’ and healthcare-providers’ perspectives, to better understand barriers to menopause-care across the UK.Methods: A 25-question online patient-survey and a 23-question GP-survey was designed with individuals with lived-experience of menopause to underst...

Introduction: Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder typically due to defective migration of olfactory-axons and GnRH-neurons. KS results in congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH) typically associated with absent (anosmia) or reduced (microsmia) sense of smell. Unilateral hypoplastic/absent olfactory bulbs on MRI are reported, although disturbance in smell is usually bilateral. Here, we present an unusual case of KS with unilateral anosmia....

Introduction: Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare condition characterised by congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH), usually due to defective migration of olfactory axons and GnRH-neurons. KS is typically associated with absent (anosmia) or reduced (microsmia) sense of smell. Unilaterally hypoplastic or absent olfactory bulbs on MRI are reported, although disturbance in smell is usually bilateral. Kisspeptin is a potent stimulator of hypothalamic GnRH-neurons, and endocri...

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most prevalent female sexual health complaint worldwide, affecting 1-in-10 women. It is characterised by a persistent lack of desire for sexual activity and sexual fantasies, causing distress or interpersonal difficulties. Treatment options are limited, however, melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonists have emerged as a promising therapy for HSDD, through unclear mechanisms. Investigating the pathways involved is crucial for our u...