Endocrine Abstracts

Hypothyroidism therapy is based on the administration of appropriate dose of L-thyroxine (L-T4). Absorption of L-T4 takes place in the duodenum and upper tract of the small intestine (jejunum), is maximal when stomach is empty, and is affected by a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including Helicobacter pylori–related gastritis, as well as ingestion of drugs, dietary fibers, and herbal remedies. Failure to achieve a good control of disease may be due to malabsorption...

Context: Women with autoimmune Addison’s disease with normally ovulatory cycles but positive for steroid cells antibodies (StCA) have been considered at risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).Design: Thirty-three women younger than 40 years, with subclinical-clinical Addison’s disease but with normally ovulatory menses, were followed-up for 10 years to evaluate the long-term time-related variations of StCA, ovarian function and follicula...

Erythrocytosis is a frequent adverse event associated with testosterone (T) administration in aged hypogonadal men, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. T administration to aged men reduced hepcidin (Hpc) levels, a cytokine regulating iron availability, suggesting a potential role in deregulated erythropoiesis. Aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of T replacement therapy on Hpc levels in young hypogonadal men.Methods: Fifty-...

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is produced by Leydig cells. In boys, the levels of INSL3 rise at pubertal stage P2 and further increase throughout puberty in close correlation with T and LH concentrations. In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) INSL3 levels have been found very low and increased after short-term hCG treatment. Whether FSH plays a role in regulating INSL3 secretion is questioned. Aim of this study was to evaluate serum INSL3 levels during long-term hCG a...

Prokineticins (PK1 and PK2) are peptides regulating multiple biological processes through two G-protein coupled receptors, PK-R1 and PK-R2. PK2/PKR2 signalling is critical for neurogenesis of olfactory bulb and GnRH migration. Mutant mice lacking PKR2 have abnormal development of olfactory bulb and reproductive system atrophy, suggesting that these genes may be novel candidate for Kallmann syndrome (KS) in humans. Recently, mutations in PK2 and PKR2 genes have been found in ne...