Endocrine Abstracts

Betacellulin, one of several peptides activating the EGFR (ErbB1) and related receptors, is a multipotent growth factor known to posses the unique ability to promote growth and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells.We investigated the effects of betacellulin overexpression in a recently established transgenic mouse model (Schneider et al., Endocrinology 146, 5237–5246, 2005). In transgenic animals, overall glucose metabolism was improved...

Ketogenic low-carbohydrate/high fat diets (LC-HFD) induce weight loss in both animals and humans. However, a number of unwanted side effects with these diets have been reported. We have previously shown in male rats that LC-HFDs negatively affect bone growth and bone mineral density, possibly due to macronutrient-induced impairments of the GH/IGF-system. Given the importance of dietary macronutrients in the regulation of bone density in male rats, in this study we investigated...