Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: ACTH stimulates adrenocortical steroid production through the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R). MC2R trafficking and signaling depend on the melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP). The MRAP-homolog MRAP2 also transports the MC2R but prevents effective activation. We investigated expression of these components of the MC2R complex in human adrenal tissues in order to uncover novel regulatory mechanisms and their contribution to ACTH responsiveness.<p cl...

Introduction: Local androgen synthesis in prostate cancer (PC) could contribute to the development of castration-resistant PC (CRPC). Pathways controlling intratumoral steroidogenic enzyme expression in PC are unknown. Since activin has been implicated in regulation of PC growth and steroidogenic enzyme expression in other steroidogenic tissues, we investigated the effect of activin on intratumoral steroidogenesis in PC.Methods: Activin A effects and reg...

Background: Of the currently available treatment regimes for acromegaly, pegvisomant (PEG-V) has the highest efficacy. During PEG-V treatment, GH serum levels increase. The exact mechanism behind this is remains unclear. It could be explained by an ultra-short feedback loop via GH receptors in the anterior pituitary gland.Objective: To assess the level of GH receptor (GHR) mRNA expression in somatotroph adenomas and to evaluate whether GHR blockade by PE...