Endocrine Abstracts

While axiomatic, it is worth reflecting carefully when planning research. The first step requires careful review of the sequence of processes linking the current state of the art of the evidence, to the hypothesis, then to the question/s testing the hypothesis and on to the nature of evidence required to answer those questions., This is of course required well before any consideration of the “how” those questions can be answered. One of the confounders in this carefu...

While axiomatic, it is worth reflecting carefully when planning research. The first step requires careful review of the sequence of processes linking the current state of the art of the evidence, to the hypothesis, then to the question/s testing the hypothesis and on to the nature of evidence required to answer those questions., This is of course required well before any consideration of the “how” those questions can be answered. One of the confounders in this carefu...

Introduction: The highly active human fetal adrenal gland plays a critical role in long term health. Maternal cigarette smoking alters post-natal health of the fetus and the mechanisms involved may include the fetal adrenal. However, understanding of human fetal adrenal development is limited.Aim: To examine the effects of nicotine, its metabolite cotinine, and cigarette smoke extract on H295R adrenocortical cell line steroidogenic capacity.<p class=...

Introduction: The human masculinisation programming window (8–14 weeks of gestation) sees testis-derived androgen drive the foetus towards a male phenotype. However, there are few systematic studies of human foetal gonad development.Aim: To conduct a pilot analysis of the foetal gonadal proteome at the end of the masculinisation programming window (13–14 weeks of gestation).Methods: Twenty-eight electively terminated foet...

Introduction: The placenta interchanges nutrients, oxygen and waste between mother and fetus, acts as a gate-keeper to protect the fetus and creates an optimal endocrine environment to maintain the pregnancy. Placental insufficiency underpins common pregnancy complications (e.g. intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth). Perturbed expression of molecular transporter proteins in the placental syncytiotrophoblast will affect fetal exposure to harmful drugs/xenobiotics such...

Introduction: The adrenal gland dominates in human fetal steroid endocrinology and produces large amounts of Δ5 androgens. Adrenal development in the human is poorly understood, and species differences make animal models only partially relevant. In this study we measured the steroid content of the human adrenal during fetal development and determined whether maternal smoking affects adrenal steroid concentrations or associated steroidogenic enzymes....

Introduction: The human fetal adrenal has unique structure/function and produces hormones (DHEA, corticoids, catecholamines) that control fetal development, organ maturation and parturition. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has immediate (pre-term delivery, low birth weight) and long-term effects on the offspring (metabolic syndrome, disrupted adrenal function). We performed shotgun proteomics to characterise human fetal adrenal development and to explore adverse effects of m...

Introduction: The human foetal adrenal gland (HFA) is a highly active endocrine organ, producing large amounts of DHEA and DHEAS. Our understanding of HFA development is limited, however, and species differences mean that animal models are only of partial use. Maternal cigarette smoking is known to increase the post-natal risk of health complications of the foetus, and the mechanisms involved may include effects on the HFA.Aim: To examine normal HFA deve...

Background: The potential for a healthy life is programmed by in utero development. Fetal development is impacted by perturbed hormonal signalling, with lifelong consequences. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting over 10% of women, is an important condition linked to an altered prenatal endocrine environment. Women with PCOS have increased androgen concentrations, including during pregnancy. Increased prenatal androgen exposure is associated with a PCOS-phenoty...

Introduction: The repercussions of long-term exposure to low level mixtures of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) which are present, ubiquitously, in the environment are not well understood. Heat-treated sewage sludge, an EDC-rich product used as fertiliser, has been shown to compromise testicular and ovarian development. However, to date, there has been limited investigation in exposed animals of the adrenal glands, the steroid hormone products of which play key roles in f...