Endocrine Abstracts

Endocrinology is fascinating as new hormones are being discovered every year with the power of genomics and scientific advances. The physiology of these novel hormones needs to be investigated in animal studies to determine their mechanism of action and efficacy. These essential animal studies can then highlight potential translational potential of novel hormones. The next step in this translational pathway is first into human studies followed by studies in patient cohorts to ...

Kisspeptin and neurokinin B are 2 novel key hypothalamic hormones which are vital in normal reproductive function. Inactivating mutations for the gene or the receptor for either of these peptides will cause a failure of puberty due to hypogonadtotrophic hypogondaism. In this talk I will present evidence to suggest that kisspeptin is important in sexual and emotional processing in humans (1). In addition I will present evidence which suggests that NK3R (the receptor for NKB in ...

Hot flushes affect 70% of menopausal women and often severely impact physical, psychosocial, sexual, and overall wellbeing. Hormone replacement therapy is effective but is not without risk. Neurokinin B signalling is increased in menopausal women, and has been implicated as an important mediator of hot flushes in animals. We carried out a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre, crossover trial assessed the effectiveness of an oral neurokinin 3 rec...

Infertility affects one in six couples in the UK. Identification of novel factors which are critical to reproductive function could lead to improved therapies for infertility.Kisspeptin has been identified as a key regulator of the reproductive system. Defective kisspeptin signalling causes a failure of reproductive hormone release (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism) in rodents and man leading to a failure to go through puberty.I have...

Diabetes and endocrinology is a specialty in which we study the fascinating area of the physiology of hormones, which can influence the regulation of every organ in our body. Understanding how hormones are dysregulated in pathological states leads to improved diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Rapid progress has been made in the field and there are now many classical endocrine systems, which are well established that we have all learnt about as undergraduate trainees...

Successful reproduction in humans at a population level, is reliant on the careful co-ordination of reproductive hormones with associated behaviours. Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide that is critical for normal hypothalamic function of the reproductive hormonal axis. However beyond its hormonal effects, non-human data suggests an emerging role for kisspeptin in a range of animal behaviours through extra-hypothalamic downstream neuroendocrine pathways. Until recently, the roles of ...

Professor Waljit Dhillo is a Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism and Consultant Endocrinologist, Imperial College London. He completed his medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1994. During this time he also completed an Intercalated BSc in Biochemistry (awarded First Class Honours) funded by the Medical Research Council. He then completed h...

Background: Hypercalcaemia is defined as an elevated serum calcium level above 2.6 mmol/l and occurs in 1 in 1000 of the population. It commonly results from primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) which is usually treated with parathyroidectomy. A less common cause of hypercalcaemia is familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) which is caused by mutations inactivating the calcium-sensing receptor; however FHH is relatively benign and requires no treatment. It is clearly important...

PYY is secreted postprandially from the endocrine L-cells of the gastrointestinal tract. PYY3–36, the major circulating form of PYY, reduces food intake in humans and rodents via high affinity binding to the auto-inhibitory NPY receptor, Y2R, within the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.Aims: To investigate (1) the effects of length of fast on the anorexigenic actions of PYY3–36; (2) the effects of early light phase administrat...

Establishing failure of trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSS) to cure Cushing’s disease in the immediate post-operative period is essential for early surgical re-exploration. However, there is no consensus regarding the definition of apparent cure. We studied whether the dexamethasone-suppressed corticotrophin-releasing hormone test (LDDST-CRH test) immediately following TSS could accurately identify those with Cushing’s disease requiring further definitive treatment.<p...