Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Programmed disruption of the methionine cycle elevates plasma homocysteine concentrations leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elements of this cycle are glucocorticoid responsive. Here we measured plasma cortisol, cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione and its breakdown product cysteinyl-glycine in the fed and fasted state in sheep....

Fetal adipose tissue growth is a coordinated process involving the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF) axis. Maternal cold exposure (CE) induced by winter shearing can promote fetal fat growth depending on maternal food. The following study examined the interaction between maternal CE and dietary intake on the mRNA abundance for the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a), the IGF-I and II receptors and the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphatase (G3P)...

MNR has previously been shown to raise BP in the offspring. In rat models of protein restriction the size of the difference reported depends on the measurement method used, with telemetry reporting a smaller increase than tail cuff. Tail cuff measurements have found that global MNR increases BP but this has yet to be tested using telemetry. Evidence suggests that MNR affects offspring glucocorticoids and it is known that corticosterone is involved in the hypertension seen foll...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of testosterone treatment on the pattern of prostate cells proliferation and differentiation and their correlation with transforming growth factor-beta expression. Prostate gland development was compared in intact immature dogs with testosterone treated immature dogs for one month. Proliferation and differentiation pattern of prostatic cells were assessed by histological and immunohistological localization of proliferating cell ...

Neonatal mortality is greater in the leaner commercial porcine genotypes compared to the Meishan breed. Leptin is a 16 kDa protein involved in energy regulation, a number of studies have demonstrated leptin’s presence in maternal milk. Meishan sows have a significantly higher body fat content than commercial pigs, but it is unknown whether they produce more leptin in milk. The extent to which this dietary supply provides the neonate with leptin and any effects on growth a...