Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Krüpel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger-type transcription factor expressed in a range of tissues that plays multiple functions. KLF4 is expressed in neural stem cells and is critical to neuronal differentiation. Recent evidence suggests that KLF4 also plays an important role in the central regulation of energy balance. In vitro studies show that KLF4 is a transcriptional regulator of agouti–related protein (AgRP), essential to the hyperph...

Aims (objectives): Energy intake and expenditure are regulated by different signals. One of the molecules implicated is islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin), one of the major secretory products of β-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. It is a peptide that inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion, and can also act through the brain decreasing food intake and inhibiting gastric emptying. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of the chronic cent...

Introduction: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is an orexigenic neuropeptide which is located in the lateral hypothalamus and regulate the energy balance. MCH deficient mice are hypophagic, lean and do not develop hepatosteatosis when fed on high fat diet. The MCH increases food intake and adiposity, so we sought to investigate the role of the MCH on adipocyte and hepatic metabolism.Methods: MCH were chronically administered into the lateral ventricle...