Endocrine Abstracts

Context: Glucocorticoids are known to decrease protein synthesis and impair membrane excitability of muscle fibres. However, their short-term effects on muscle structure and function of healthy subjects remain poorly understood.Objective: To investigate whether steroid administration could decrease the circulating levels of muscle proteins and modify myoelectric indexes of sarcolemmal excitability and fatigability.Design: Single-bl...

Semen quality and reproductive hormones may be affected in men with testicular neoplasia (TN) and lymphoproliferative disorders (LD). We evaluated these parameters before, 6, 12 and 24 months after the end of the oncological treatments in 60 patients with TN, and in 35 patients with LD. The patients were divided on the bases of the basal sperm concentration (A< and B≥ 10 million/ml). FSH, LH, testosterone (T) and inhibin B levels and sperm parameters were evaluated i...

We present a novel heterozygous compound inactivating mutation of the CYP19A1 (P450arom) gene in a 26-year-old 46-XY Caucasian Italian male leading to aromatase deficiency. The patient phenotype resembled those observed in the other estrogen-deficient patients: tall stature with continuing linear growth, bilateral genu valgum, unfused epiphyses and delayed bone age, osteopenia. A dysmetabolic syndrome characterized by overweight (BMI 29), hyperinsulinaemia, low serum HDL and i...

Varicocele is a state of varicosity and tortuosity of the pampiniform plexus around the testis caused by retrograde blood flow. The association between varicocele and male subfertility has been questioned, thus the usefulness of treating varicocele in order to improve fertility is still a matter of debate. Inhibin B levels reflect the functional state of the seminiferous epithelium, and have been found to be a sensitive index of spermatogenesis. Serum inhibin B levels have bee...

Acylated ghrelin (AG) participates in the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis functions, with a predominantly inhibitory effect upon the reproductive system in animals. Animal studies have shown that ghrelin suppresses LH secretion in vivo, decreases LH responsiveness to GnRH in vitro and partially delays the timing of puberty in males. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AG infusion on spontaneous and stimulated gonadotropin secret...

Introduction: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most frequent chromosomal disorders, occurring in 1:500 to 1:1000 live male births, associated to male infertility. Although significant research has been conducted, KS remains frustratingly underdiagnosed with a remarkable portion of cases being unidentified. Under diagnosis may be due to man’s hesitancy about seeking medical counseling, low awareness of KS among health professionals, and failure by health professionals to p...