Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids have profound effects on the brain, particularly during development and during the ageing process. The glucocorticoid metabolising enzymes, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) type 1 and 2, interconvert active corticosterone (or cortisol) and inactive 11keto-derivatives to modify intracellular glucocorticoid levels. Hence, these enzymes add another layer of complexity to glucoocorticoid action in addition to circulating hormone and receptor (MR...

Glucocorticoid signalling is essential for cardiac maturation late gestation. In mice, global glucocorticoid receptor deficiency (GR−/−) severely impairs cardiac function and ultrastructure at embryonic day (E) 17.5. To dissect direct effects of GR deficiency in the heart from effects on other systems, Sm22α-Cre mice were crossed with ‘floxed’ GR mice to generate SMGRKO mice with disrupted GR signalling in cardiomyocytes and vascular smoot...