Endocrine Abstracts

Kisspeptin-54 is a neuropeptide encoded by the Kiss-1 gene with an important role in the regulation of reproduction and puberty. Acute peripheral or intra-hypothalamic administration of kisspeptin-54 potently stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis via hypothalamic gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. However, the effects of chronic continuous kisspeptin administration are poorly characterised. Our studies investigated the effects of chronic, continu...

BackgroundThe levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is commonly used by gynaecologists and general practitioners as a contraceptive and to treat menorrhagia.ObjectiveTo identify the continuation rate and symptoms associated with early removal of the LNG-IUS before the 5 years effective life-time recommended by the manufacturer.Sample/Setting160 wo...

BackgroundDespite the popularity of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) as a contraceptive and in treating menorrhagia in the UK, patient satisfaction has not been adequately assessed.ObjectivesTo document the patient satisfaction rate with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS).Sample160 women who had a LNG-IUS inserted from 1st...

Cortisol is metabolised by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes (11βHSD1 and 11βHSD2). In immature rat Leydig cells, 11βHSD1 acts as an oxo-reductase whereas, after puberty, the dehydrogenase activity of 11βHSD1 predominates. In adult rats, 11βHSD1 is also highly expressed in caput epididymis, vas deferens and vesicular glands. Recently, 11βHSD1 mRNA and activities have been reported in post-pubertal pig testis. The objective of this stud...

Adult survivors of haematological malignancies are subject to a number of putative insults to the skeleton. Adverse impacts on bone mass include sex-hormone deficiency, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, inadequate nutrition and a generalised catabolic state. We assessed BMD using DXA at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) in 34 women with POF, defined by secondary amenorrhoea, elevated gonadotropins, and low oestradiol levels. Mean age at diagnosis was 29.7 (range 14–45...

The optimal oestrogen dose required to maintain bone mass in young women who develop POF is contentious. We reviewed longitudinal BMD data in 21 women with POF resulting from multi-modality cancer therapy for haematological malignancies. The 21 women were of mean age 30.6 (range 17–45) years at onset of amenorrhoea and weight 64.1+/−11.2 kg. Primary diagnoses were acute myeloid leukaemia (n=12), chronic myeloid leukaemia (n=5), acute lymphocytic leukae...

Public health policy in recent years has favoured a reduction in saturated fats in favour of polyunsaturated fats due to the numerous health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Previous studies have demonstrated that PUFAs modulate gonadal steroidogenesis. We have therefore investigated the hypothesis that PUFAs modify steroidogenesis through affecting components of the cholesterol metabolising machinery, including steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and...

Amongst the different markers of ovarian function, AMH levels and antral follicle count (AFC) are the most objective and reliable predictors of ovarian response in women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Several factors, that have been reported to interfere with ovarian response, are taken into consideration when enrolling women into an IVF programme.The aim of this prospective study was to determine the correlation, if any, between baseline AMH l...

Thyroid hormones play an important roles during pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy the foetus depends entirely on the dam for the supply of nutrients and after parturition for the formation of colostrum. To meet out these needs the dam attempts to reset up its endocrine function including thyroid gland. There is also a change in body metabolic rate and some of the related biochemical components which are mainly controlled by thyroid hormones. Therefore an experiment was...

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) act as precursors for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. PGs both inhibit and stimulate ovarian steroidogenesis. We have therefore examined the hypothesis that high n-3 PUFA diets affect ovarian steroid synthesis through modulating prostaglandin synthesis.Welsh mountain ewes were individually fed a control diet or a diet containing linseed (high in n-3 PUFA) for 6 weeks. To assess the impact of the diet during differe...

BackgroundLeptin is suggested to be a permissive factor for puberty by stimulating the secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamic neurons, and luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormones by pituitary cells.ObjectiveTo document the ultrastructural changes that occur in the ovarian follicles of immature albino rats treated with leptin when compared with controls.Su...

BackgroundLeptin serves as a signal to the central nervous system with information on the critical amount of adipose tissue stores that is necessary for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.ObjectivesTo determine the endometrial histological changes and vaginal cytological alterations, suggestive of ovulation and the onset of the oestrus phase of the oestrus cycle, that occur in the immature ...

ObjectiveTo establish a set of population derived reference ranges for plasma total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and calculated free testosterone (FT) values especially in older men.BackgroundThe age-related decline in testosterone concentrations in men is gradual and both cross-sectional and longitudinal data have shown that there was a small but significant decline in total and free tes...

The goal of this study was to determine whether ghrelin affect the mean plasma concentrations of Luteinizing hormone, insulin and glucose in the male goat. Twenty male goat were randomly divided into 5 groups. Each group received daily intravenous injection of either 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 or 1.6 ug ghrelin/Kg BW. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein every 30 minutes from 6 hours befor till 6 hours after injection of ghrelin. Samples were assayed for plasma LH, INS and g...

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of prostaglandin EP2 – and EP4 -receptor agonists on uterine tissue taken from non-pregnant and pregnant mice.Uterine tissue was taken from non-pregnant animals during dioestrus and from pregnant animals on day 18 of gestation. Samples were set-up for superfusion (Krebs’ solution with 1 μM indometacin at 2 ml/min and 37 °C) as previously described by Senior et a...

Index case and aimsA 26 year old woman was referred to our endocrine clinic with infertility and raised testosterone levels. Clinical examination was completely normal, with no hirsuitism or virilizing features. She had normal gonadotropin and SHBG levels, but had elevated testosterone (6.6 nmol/l (0.5–2.8) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) levels (13.5 umol/l (1.4–11.1)). To exclude the possibility of interference in our direct assa...

Studies have shown that maternal smoking causes intrauterine growth retardation and this may be as a result of endothelial dysfunction. It is possible that the prostaglandins may be involved in this mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional response of segments of human umbilical artery (HUA) to stable thromboxane (U46619) and prostacyclin (cicaprost) mimetics and measure the release of prostacyclin and thromboxane metabolites.Se...

BackgroundOne in 80 pregnancies is ectopic. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the major risk factor for ectopic pregnancy yet knowledge of the pathogenic events that lead from Chlamydial infection to ectopic pregnancy is unclear. Furthermore, a blood test that can reliably differentiate an ectopic from an intra-uterine pregnancy is not available. The innate immune system is likely to offer protection against Chlamydia and the natural anti-...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of estradiol ± different progestogens on body weight in ovariectomised mature female hooded-Lister rats.35 rats were ovariectomised under anaesthesia; following a recovery period animals were divided into 2 groups namely: (1) intermittent hormone dosing weeks 1–6 and 13–18, with no treatment weeks 7–12 and (2) delayed (no treatment in weeks 1–12) hormone treatment dosing weeks 13&...

BackgroundThe role of endocrine testing in idiopathic gynecomastia is controversial. Previous studies suggested that such testing is rarely productive and best done selectively.ObjectivesA retrospective study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of a routine endocrine testing in patients presenting with gynecomastia.MethodsThe medical records of 71 patients wi...

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 acts through its receptors (EP1–4) to influence uterine contractility during gestation and parturition. The aim of the present study was to identify functional EP receptor targets in isolated myometrium from term pregnant, non-labouring donors by use of specific and novel EP agonists.Biopsies of human myometrium were obtained at elective caesarean section from consenting term pregnant women, not in labour ...

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare the effect of metformin, orlistat and pioglitazone on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Methods30 overweight PCOS women were recruited using the Rotterdam criteria (mean age (±S.E.M.) 26(±1.5)yrs and body mass index 35.9(±1.3) kg/m2). Fasting blood was collected at the same time each day on 10 c...

The recent recommendations from the joint ESHRE/ASRM expert panel regarding the definition of PCOS (the so-called Rotterdam Criteria) have given rise to considerable controversy, particularly over the inclusion of anovulatory women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) but without evidence of androgen excess. We reviewed the results of a large series of anovulatory women with PCO who have been treated with low-dose FSH at our centre with the aim of investigating the impact of serum te...

Metformin is commonly used to treat insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and also has direct effects on the ovary. The mechanism of this action is unknown, but could be via insulin-independent pathways, namely AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is an energy sensor, activated when ATP levels are depleted causing an inhibition of anabolic and an activation of catabolic pathways. We hypothesised that in the ovary, metformin acts via</...