Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The pregnancy-specific condition pre-eclampsia (PE) affects ~2% of women contributing to neonatal and maternal morbidity and has been linked with a deficiency in selenium. The iodothyronine deiodinases all contain selenium and play crucial roles in determining the circulating and intracellular levels of the active thyroid hormone. It is hypothesised that due to the role of deiodinases in extrathyroidal production of T3, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) will be inc...

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) become upregulated very early on in pregnancy and is crucial in maintaining blood pressure. In addition to the peripheral RAS there is a uteroplacental RAS, which is also important in regulating placental function and development. Recent work has shown extra-renal sodium storage in the skin; it is suggested that the placenta may also function as a salt sensing organ and is important in regulating maternal blood pressure.<p c...

Background: PE affects ~2% of pregnancies and is associated with generalised endothelial cell dysfunction. Antioxidant selenoproteins may limit such effects. Serum selenium is lower in mothers and babies affected by PE and associated with lower activity of the selenoprotein glutathione peroxidases. Other selenoproteins, the iodothyronine deiodinases (IDs; D2 and D3) regulate fetal thyroid hormone synthesis. The IDs utilise selenium preferentially; we have reported similar trii...