Endocrine Abstracts

Hormone-responsive reporter plasmids are widely used for the analysis of endocrine responses in target cells. We have investigated the effect of different promoters on reporter gene expression by oestrogen-responsive reporter constructs.Plasmid constructs were transfected into an oestrogen responsive bovine endometrial stromal (BST) cell line. Two reporter gene products were analysed: secreted alkaline phosphatase(SeAP) and beta galactosidase.<p clas...

IGFBP-5 is an important member of the IGF axis in the rodent mammary gland and can function by sequestering IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-I) - a polypeptide growth factor involved in the growth and differentiation of the mammary gland. Removal of free IGF-I results in inhibition of IGF-I signalling through the cell surface Type-I IGF receptor, and since IGFBP-5 is highly up regulated during mammary gland involution in vivo, it is thought to have a pro-apoptotic role...

Public health policy in recent years has favoured a reduction in saturated fats in favour of polyunsaturated fats due to the numerous health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Previous studies have demonstrated that PUFAs modulate gonadal steroidogenesis. We have therefore investigated the hypothesis that PUFAs modify steroidogenesis through affecting components of the cholesterol metabolising machinery, including steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and...

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is viewed as an indolent disease but 5–15% of patients (pts) become refractory to RAI treatment. This is associated with poor prognosis, a 3–6 years life expectancy and accounts for approximately 200 deaths per year in Canada. There is no universal definition of rDCT and management evolves over time, with either monitoring or systemic therapy including LEN. In the Select Study on LEN in DTC, LEN provided a 19.4 month (mo) medi...