Endocrine Abstracts

BDNF, a neurotrophin involved in brain development and plasticity, is implicated in the melanocortin regulation of obesity onset. Mice deficient in the orphan nuclear receptor SF-1 have a poorly developed VMH and consequent absence of BDNF in this region. Our studies reveal a role for SF-1 in BDNF expression, and its' implications for hypothalamic obesity. Real-time RT-PCR indicated expression of BDNF exons I, III and IV were dramatically reduced in the VMH of SF-1 heterozygou...

The Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 5A member, Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1, Ad4BP, NR5A1), is critical for steroidogenesis, stress responses, sexual differentiation and body weight regulation in mice. Patients with rare mutations in SF-1 have confirmed its role in male sexual differentiation and adrenal response to physiological stress in humans. In contrast, Liver Receptor Homologue 1 (LRH-1, FTF, CPF, NR5A2) is involved in endoderm development, bile acid and lipid metabolism and...