Endocrine Abstracts

The cytosolic calcium concentration is regulated by calcium-processing proteins such as transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 5 (TRPV5), TRPV6, sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1) and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 1 (PMCA1). Those calcium-processing proteins are important for physiological functions in the brain. The effects of steroid hormones on calcium-processing protein expressions in the brains are undescribed. Thus, the effects of steroid ...

NCKX3 (Sodium/potassium/calcium exchanger 3), a novel member of the family of K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, is an important component of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Ca2+ homeostasis has been extensively studied in various cell systems. Dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis can induce the excitotoxic and neurodegeneration in central nervous system. NCKX3 gene is highly expressed in thalamic nuclei, in hippoca...

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have similar structures with steroids hormones, which can interfere with hormone synthesis and normal physiological functions of male and female reproductive organs. Sex steroid hormones influence calcium signaling of the cardiac muscle in early embryo development. Progesterone (P4) has been reported to reduce blood pressure. To confirm the effect of P4, octyl-phenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA) on early differentiation of mouse embryonic st...

The embryoid body test (EBT) is a developmental toxicity test method that assesses the half inhibitory concentrations of substances in the area of embryoid bodies (EBs), and in the viability of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and fibroblasts (3T3 cells). In the previous pre-validation study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the EBT using 26 coded test substances and highly accurate (above 80%) when substances were classified using the predictive model. EBT used two same e...

Introduction: Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k), which is a calcium ion buffering and transporter gene, is known to be regulated by the vitamin D and steroid hormones, and is mainly expressed in mammalian intestine, kidney and uterus. However, CaBP-9k expression in lung has not been studied. Maintaining lung structure using pulmonary surfactant is important for pulmonary gas exchange. Steroids are known to accelerate maturation of the fetal lung and secretion of surfactant. Otherwise th...

Introduction: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) has been associated with several human metabolic disorders and is converted from inactive 11-keto form to glucocorticoid (GC or cortisol). GC overproduction or hypercortisolism is a major diagnostic factor of Cushing syndrome and Anorexia. GCs regulate carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.Materials and methods: Previously we established porcine fibroblasts overexpressing 11&#...

Introduction: Phthalates are chemicals used to improve the plasticity of industrial polymers and used in commercial products such as toys, paints, packaging materials, medicals devices and personal care items. Phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals, have been documented to cause adverse effects to the human health such as breast cancer in female, reduced uroogenital distance and changed the expression of steroidogenesis and folliculogenessis. In this study, we investigated...

Placenta exchanges vital factors including oxygen, carbon dioxide, cation (copper, iron, calcium) and glucose that are essential to fetal growth. Copper, iron, calcium cation and glucose transfer genes are regulated by reproduction-related hormones, vitamin D and human placental lactogen. These molecules are transferred by specific receptors located on cell membrane or cytoplasm in placenta. These substances disturb action of reproduction-related hormones (ex> estrogen, pr...

Hypoxia causes oxidative stress and is known to affect cardiovascular dysfunction and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin is the hormone released primarily from the pineal gland and has been proven to be an antioxidant. Melatonin promotes the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. To confirm the effect of hypoxia on the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) into cardiomyocytes, hypoxia condition induced dur...

Potassium-dependent sodium/calcium exchanger (NCKX3) is expressed in the brain, smooth muscle, the uterus, and intestine. NCKX3 gene plays a role in transporting intracellular calcium and potassium ions across the cell membrane in exchange for extracellular sodium ions. This gene is also associated with calcium metabolism in bones. Tight junctions have functional barriers for material transport and osmotic balance, which are regulated by calcium metabolism. Claudin, o...