Endocrine Abstracts

Neurons expressing the agouti-related protein (AgRP) and the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) are part of the central system responsible for regulating energy balance and food intake. The hypothalamus is sensitive to changes in the inflammatory state. Either high-grade inflammation (e.g., caused by sepsis) or low-grade inflammation (caused by obesity) disturbs the hypothalamic function via inflammatory cytokines. Understanding how these cytokines interact and regulate the circuits ...

Growth hormone (GH) is an important factor involved in the regulation of multiple biological functions. Although the influence of GH is widespread throughout several organs and tissues, the effects of GH on brain functions, such as those related to reproductive functions, are still elusive. GH deficiency or resistance can be related to late puberty onset, lack of sexual maturation and infertility. In contrast, GH therapy can accelerate puberty onset or be used to increase preg...

It is well established that the kisspeptins are the main activators of GnRH neurons and therefore essential for the onset of puberty and reproduction. Previous studies have suggested that kisspeptin neurons are possibly major targets of pro-inflammatory cytokines to regulate reproduction. SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling) are proteins that regulate, as it says, cytokines. They inhibit the transduction of intracellular effects caused by those molecules, once that cytokine...

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 2019, 64(1): 13–27 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/JME-19-0158)...