Endocrine Abstracts

Propionate upregulates leptin synthesis through the G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) in mice. In contrast to monogastric mammals, ruminants almost entirely depend on short chain fatty acids as energy source, but the reports about the physiological relevance of propionate for leptin secretion in these species are controversial and the importance of the GPR41 for its regulation is not yet clarified. Here we characterise the effects of intravenously infused propionate on the...

Aims: To discover if the addition of DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) and androstenedione aids diagnosis in GP patients with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) as part of their differential diagnosis.Methods: Over two months our laboratory received seventy-nine female General Practice patients whose symptoms / signs led to a differential diagnosis including PCOS. Of these, nine had a raised total testosterone and twenty-seven had a raised free andro...

The human CYP17A1 enzyme exerts two activities, 17a-hydroxylase and 17,20 lyase, catalysing key steps in human adrenal steroid biosynthesis. An in frame deletion of 3 bp in exon 1 of the CYP17A1 gene, resulting in the loss of phenylalanine in position 53 (F53del), is one of the first CYP17A1 mutations described (JBC 1989, 264:18076). Reported patients have invariably presented with severe hypokalaemic hypertension, reflecting 17α-hydoxylase deficiency, and s...

Abstract withdrawn....

Introduction: Obesity caused health problems are increasing. Metabolic syndrome including obesity with insulin resistance, hypertension, and high blood lipid levels increases the risks of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Many studies have reported that heme oxygenase (HO) inducers reduce insulin resistance and severity of inflammatory bowel disease. We investigate the anti-inflammatory effect, one among many positive effects, of regular recreational physical activity ...

Histamine is an important anorexic factor that suppresses food intake via hypothalamic H1 receptors and increases energy expenditure by stimulating lipolysis. Mice with targeted deletion of the key enzyme of histamine biosynthesis, histidine decarboxylase (HDC-KO), are unable to synthesize histamine. These animals display a metabolic phenotype with adult onset obesity, selective increase in visceral fat depots, impaired glucose tolerance and hyperleptinemia. To test the possib...

IntroductionTrue resistance to cabergoline in patients with hyperprolactinaemia has only rarely been reported. We describe a patient with macroprolactinoma who initially responded to cabergoline, but then developed a progressive increase in PRL levels.Clinical caseA 78-year-old male presenting with headache and left temporal hemianopia was found to have a macroprolactinoma with suprasellar/cavernous sinus ext...

Objective: Impaired cognitive function has been demonstrated in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) and acromegaly by using different neuropsychological tests. P300 ERP application is a well established neurophysiological approach in the assessment of cognitive function. However the comparison of the P300 ERPs between GHD and GH excess have not been done yet. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of GHD and acromegaly on cognitive function by using P300 ERPs.</...

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by peripheral immune cells and also by pituitary endocrine cells. MIF exerts its pro-inflammatory actions in the host defence system by blocking the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on the release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reports that pituitary folliculo-stellate (FS) cells show characteristics of immune cells led us to propose that FS cells may serve as an additional source o...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder resulting from the mutations of one of Seven genes involved in adrenal steroidogenesis. The consequent enzyme defects lead to defects of varying severity of steroid biosynthesis. Patients require lifelong substitution treatment and endocrine care.Objectives: One of the many consequences of CAH is reduced fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate th...