Endocrine Abstracts

BackgroundAppetite is complex, however to address the obesity epidemic, therapeutic agents would have to significantly influence appetite. Currently the most effective treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery because it reduces hunger and increases satiety. The satiety gut hormones such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) reduce appetite and food intake. Compared to lean and obese subjects, exaggerated postprandial responses of PYY ...

BackgroundSR141716 (Rimonabant) has been shown to significantly inhibit food intake and reduce body weight in rodents and humans by antagonising CB1 receptors. The gut hormones peptide YY3–36 (PYY3–36) and oxyntomodulin (OXM), released from L-cells in the small intestine inhibit food intake in both rodents and humans and this effect is thought to be mediated via the hypothalamus.Objective<...

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a recently discovered peptide shown to be involved in the modulation of arousal and fear responses. It has also been shown that lateral ventricle administration of NPS causes a significant decrease in food intake. Neuropeptides involved in the modulation of arousal have been shown to be involved in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and food intake.Objective: To examine the effect of NPS on the regulati...

Energy balance is controlled by the arcuate nucleus through integration of peripheral hormonal signals such as leptin, ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1). The commonest reason for young women in the developed world to be underweight is restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN). Constitutionally thinness (CT) has been described in young women who satisfies the WHO definition for moderate to severe underweight (BMI 13–16.9 kg/m2). CT women have...

The increased appetite associated with hyperthyroidism is assumed to be secondary to an increased metabolic rate. However, the role of thyroid hormones in appetite regulation is poorly understood. We hypothesised that thyroid hormones directly regulate food intake and studied the effects of peripheral and CNS administration of tri-iodothyronine (T3) on food intake in male Wistar rats in vivo.A single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 4.5 nmol per ...

The endogenous growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), ghrelin, is an important regulator of energy homeostasis. Peripheral and central administration of ghrelin increase food intake, body weight and fat mass, effects which are mediated by the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R 1a). Although the central actions of ghrelin on adiposity have been extensively studied, the direct peripheral effects of ghrelin on adipose tissue remain poorly understood. This study aimed...

Kisspeptin-54 is a neuropeptide encoded by the Kiss-1 gene with an important role in the regulation of reproduction and puberty. Acute peripheral or intra-hypothalamic administration of kisspeptin-54 potently stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis via hypothalamic gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. However, the effects of chronic continuous kisspeptin administration are poorly characterised. Our studies investigated the effects of chronic, continu...

The kisspeptins are KiSS-1 gene-derived peptides which signal through the G protein coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), and have recently been shown to be critical regulators of reproduction. Acute intracerebroventricular (ICV) or peripheral administration of kisspeptin to rodents and primates, and peripheral administration to humans, stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. This effect is thought to be mediated via the hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (G...

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an agonist at the melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3-R) and MC4-R and stimulates corticosterone release from rat and human adrenal cells. Patients with Cushing's syndrome have elevated levels of serum alpha-MSH. Agouti related protein (AgRP) is an endogenous antagonist at the MC3-R and MC4-R and is expressed in the rat adrenal cortex. AgRP antagonises alpha-MSH-induced corticosterone release from rat and bovine adrenal cells. This ...

Mutation of the GPR54 receptor is associated with a failure of reproductive function. The endogenous neuropeptide agonist for GPR54, kisspeptin, potently stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in rodents and primates.Objective: The present study was designed to determine the effects of elevating circulating kisspeptin levels on LH, FSH and testosterone in male volunteers.Method: Study (i) Volunteers were infused w...