Endocrine Abstracts

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) represent a population of self renewing pluripotent cells, capable of differentiating into derivatives of the 3 embryonic germ layers and are therefore a promising source material for generation of replacement pancreatic beta cells for transplantation in type 1 diabetes. ES cells can be induced to undergo unregulated differentiation when cultured as floating clusters (embryoid bodies). Successful generation of pancreatic endocrine cells from ES ...

Igfbp5 is the most conserved of the six members of the Igfbp family, which orchestrate the actions of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) systemically via blood and locally within tissues. Igfbp5 is upregulated in key lineages during development (e.g. muscle) and pathologies (e.g. rhabdomyosarcoma).To highlight the range and extent of Igfbp5 actions in vivo, we generated novel lines of transgenic mice t...

The local expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) during pituitary development mediates the commitment of undifferentiated cells to the gonadotroph lineage. In the current study, we have used alphaT3-1 and LbetaT2 cells, which represent different stages of gonadotroph development to examine BMP-2 receptor (BMPR) expression and effects of BMP-2 on cell signalling pathways and cell proliferation. In bone, signal transduction via BMPRs requires heteromeric complexing b...

3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) expression is essential for the synthesis of all classes of steroid hormones, converting delta5beta-hydroxysteroids into hormonally active delta4-3-ketosteroids in NAD+-dependent reactions. Numerous 3beta-HSD isoforms have been described in mouse, rat, human and other mammals, all with distinct tissue and developmentally specific expression, distinct kinetics, with alternative substrate specificity...

Introduction: Fetal fat comprises both brown and white adipocytes. Brown fat possess a unique uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), whose abundance is regulated in part by the prolactin receptor (PRLR), whereas white fat is characterised as secreting leptin. The present study aimed to determine if the relationship between mRNA abundance for each of these molecular indices of adipose tissue function was nutritionally regulated.Methods: Twenty singleton-bearing ewe...

In humans, pregnancy is considered a diabetogenic event1. A similar situation occurs in sows1. The amount of fat in the sows' diet is inversely correlated to glucose clearance time, thus modifying glucose tolerance2. The aim was to investigate the influence of altered maternal diet during gestation (term = 115days) on the glucose tolerance of the sow. Thirty-four pregnant sows were randomly allocated to 4 isocaloric diets for either the first (G1) or second (G2) 60 days of ges...

Introduction: Increased plasma AVP contributes to the peripheral vasoconstrictor response to acute hypoxaemia in the fetus (Giussani et al. J.Physiol. 477, 81, 1994). We have shown that fetal pre-exposure to umbilical cord compression (UCC) sufficient to restrict fetal blood supply by 30%, markedly blunts the subsequent fetal vasoconstrictor response to hypoxaemia (Gardner et al. Circulation 106: 2278, 2002). This study determined whether this blunting is due to an effect on f...

The most appropriate way to manage growth hormone replacement (GH) in the transition to adulthood in children treated with GH for GH deficiency (GHD) is controversial. The GH Research Society suggest that retesting of GH status at final height (FH) is unnecessary in the presence of 'severe organic GHD' and cranial irradiation falls into this etiological category. This recommendation has never been validated.To investigate whether patients diagnosed in ch...