Endocrine Abstracts

While axiomatic, it is worth reflecting carefully when planning research. The first step requires careful review of the sequence of processes linking the current state of the art of the evidence, to the hypothesis, then to the question/s testing the hypothesis and on to the nature of evidence required to answer those questions., This is of course required well before any consideration of the “how” those questions can be answered. One of the confounders in this carefu...

Most endocrinologists are aware of biological rhythms. As undergraduates, we might learn about the menstrual cycle in humans, seasonal changes in reproductive physiology in many animal species, and the circadian and ultradian patterns of cortisol secretion. In recent decades, research has started to uncover the full scope of the circadian clock’s influence on physiology (and pathophysiology). It is increasingly clear that we need to account for this in experimental design. In this workshop, I...

Despite well-established sex differences in blood glucose homeostasis, female mice are highly underrepresented in preclinical diabetes research. Reasons for this may be the milder diabetic phenotype often seen in female mice and/or the assumption that the estrus cycle causes excessive variability in blood glucose concentrations. During this workshop talk we will discuss these points and the importance of accounting for sex differences. Using continuous glucose monitoring techn...