Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin is regarded as an essential adipokine for controlling energy homeostasis, caloric intake reduction and increase of caloric expenditure by negative feedback mechanisms via receptors in the hypothalamus. Puberty is said to be triggered by leptin, which signals the hypothalamus that adequate fat reserves are available for initiation of energetically costly process of reproduction. Leptin activates gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) system, which stimulates luteinizing h...

During the time of puberty, thyroid hormones (THs), thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), influence growth and developmental processes by working in association with growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-1), glucocorticoids, insulin and gonadal steroids. THs have a direct effect on GH secretion, which stimulates IGF system. It has been suggested that THs control increase in bone length through synergy with GH. This investigation determ...

The first signs of puberty are visible around the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. If signs of puberty appear before the designated ages in girls and boys, puberty is viewed as precocious. In peripheral precocious puberty, androgens concentrations increase due to testicular tumours or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Two mutations, R356W and Q318X, and one 8 bp deletion in CYP21A2 gene, causing CAH type of precocious puberty were examined. Blood samples were o...

Vitamin D plays a key role in the control of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), acting as negative regulator of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS), whereas calcium directly affects central blood pressure (BP) control center, nucleus tractus solitarus. We investigated associations between plasma concentrations of vitamin D and calcium and BP in 100 hypertensive CVDs patients and 100 normotensive subjects of 21–60 years. Vitamin D concentrations were measured using EC...