Endocrine Abstracts

Maternal programming increases the risk of alterations in the offspring’s HPA axis. Previously we showed that maternal undernutrition in sheep induces epigenetic changes in the glucocorticoid receptors (GR) within hypothalamic energy balance pathways, without affecting HPA axis GR. However, these studies focussed on fetal tissues1. Here, we investigated whether GR is epigenetically altered in the HPA axis of adult offspring to determine the status of the pathwa...

CNP belongs to a family of peptides best known for their role in blood pressure regulation and cardiac remodeling. However CNP differs from the cardiac hormones (ANP and BNP) in showing more diverse expression and low circulating plasma concentrations. Genetic studies, as well as showing cardioprotective roles for all three hormones, have revealed a critical role for CNP in promoting linear growth in both rodents and humans. Finding that the aminoterminal bio-inactive fragment...