Endocrine Abstracts

Calcitonin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are members of a family of neuropeptides that exert effects by activating secretin-type G-protein coupled receptors. Calcitonin lowers blood calcium levels and acts to protect against calcium loss from the skeleton during periods of calcium mobilisation. CRH is a key player in the stress response mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Analysis of the phylogenetic distribution of calcitonin-type and CRH-type pep...

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates secretion of the reproductive hormones luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in mammals. Homologs of GnRH have been identified in protostomian and deuterostomian invertebrates, and functional studies suggest an ancient role in regulation of reproductive physiology. The aim of this study was to characterise for the first time a GnRH-type signalling system in an echinoderm, using the starfish Asterias ...