Endocrine Abstracts

Puberty, a crucial biological process, ends up in sexual maturation, reproductive capability and adult body size. It is controlled by hypothalamo–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG), where hypothalamus synthesizes and secretes gonadotropin releasing hormone, which stimulates the adenohypophysis to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH causes formation of sperms and LH stimulates production of testosterone (T). Puberty needs an intact H...

Hypertension or elevated blood pressure (BP) is quantitatively the most important risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), whereas aldosterone contributes significantly in the development and severity of hypertension. Interestingly, parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates aldosterone synthesis by regulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Conversely, RAAS controls PTH secretion, as angiotensin receptor is expressed by human parathyroid tissues a...

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM-2) occurs when pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively make use of the insulin produced by the pancreas. Among other factors causing DM-2, stress is increasingly regarded as one of the causative agents that make the blood glucose levels rise, and cause DM-2. It has also been reported that DM-2 may be one of the commonest cause of hypogonadism, a lack of function in the testes, which adversely affects testosteron...

Hypertension or high blood pressure (HBP) has been counted as the chief cause and most significant factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide. Stress has been defined as an inner process that happens when a person is faced with an ordinant dictation that is perceived to go beyond the resources available to efficaciously respond to it. Cortisol is a hormone released from the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex during the times of stress. This biolo...

Hypertension or elevated arterial blood pressure (BP) is the most common cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The arterial BP is regulated by renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), whereas dysfunctional RAAS may lead to development of hypertension and associated CVDs. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) secreted by parathyroid glands regulates RAAS by directly stimulating aldosterone synthesis in zona glomerulosa cells, which leads to development of hypertension. Conversely, R...

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM-2) is a disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. DM-2 is typically an outcome of combinations of hereditary elements of impaired insulin release and insulin resistance, and natural variables like obesity, overeating, absence of activity, aging and stress. A number of hormones, such as cortisol and growth (GH), have insulin-antagonistic effects. Cortisol is a predominan...

Diabetes mellitus type-II (DM-2) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. DM-2 often leads to hypertension, a prolonged condition of elevated blood pressure (BP). Both hypertension and diabetes have a pathological role in causing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates arterial BP, any pathology in RAAS system may lead to hypertension and rel...

The reawakening of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis at puberty is influenced by a number of hormonal and genetic factors along with certain environmental cues. In boys, puberty is initiated at around 9 years of age as plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) begin to rise leading to development of secondary sex characteristics. The absence of signs of sexual maturation at the age of 14/15 years is regarded as ...

Ghrelin, a putative signal of insufficient energy stores, increases in fasting states, decreases postprandially, and acts as a potent appetite stimulant increasing food intake. Obestatin affects appetite, food preferences to increase daily caloric intake and weight gain. Leptin regulates body fat mass, food intake and energy expenditure. Triiodothyronine (T3) is a determinant of adiposity, thermogenesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, appetite, food intake, and the o...

The acceleration in linear growth at puberty is attributed to the combined physiological effects of both somatotropic and gonadal axes. In synergy, growth hormone (GH) and gonadal steroids (testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)) stimulate longitudinal bone growth through direct stimulation of chondrocytes and osteoblast. Nutrition such as sufficient amount of nutrients including calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium and iron and vitamins like vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin C p...