Endocrine Abstracts

The spinal cord dorsal horn acts as a hub for the modulation of sensory information, relying heavily upon the interplay of a heterogenous cell population (endothelial cells, astrocytes) with sensory neurons. We have identified in rodent models of hyperglycemic neuropathic pain that spinal microvasculature is damaged. A pathological hallmark of chronic pain is astrogliosis, acting as a potent source of inflammatory response and impacting vessel integrity and sensory neuronal ac...

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) is targeted as means of medical intervention for hypertensive associated complications of stroke, heart failure and obesity. Ultimately, the inhibition of Angiotensin II(ANGII)/Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor complex has been key in reducing raised blood pressure. Diabetic neuropathic pain (NP) is highly prevalent in the United Kingdom, associated with an increasingly aged population. There is growing acknowledgment that the vascular com...

Metabolic dysfunction in skeletal muscle disturbs both the critical vascular network and fundamental muscle fibre architecture. However, the molecular drivers during metabolic stress responsible for transmitting these events remain poorly defined. To reveal these we mapped changes in the spatial proteome occurring as a result of impaired metabolic health. We exposed male and female mice (C57/BL6J) to high fat diets and conducted digital spatial profiling (NanoString GEOMX) on ...

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a microvascular complication affecting between 30-50% of people living with diabetes. Current painkillers including non-steroidal pain killers and anti-convulsant are ineffective. At the level of the spinal cord (SC), capillary regression is associated with the onset of NP in diabetic rodent models. Our aim was to investigate angiotensin II mediated pericyte activation in relation to vascular degeneration and the onset of NP. Adult male C57Bl/6J mice w...

Obesity, a complex metabolic disorder characterised by excessive adipose tissue accumulation, is associated with numerous health complications. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity, focusing on the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α). Our findings establish a novel link between HIF1α and the pathogenesis of obesity-related conditions. We uncovered a connection between HIF1α and diabetic neuropathy, a prevalent ...