Endocrine Abstracts

The key to a great poster is preparation – as soon as you receive notification of your poster presentation, read the ‘instructions for authors’. Key points to note are:The size of the poster boardsAttendance timesIs there a presentation in front of your poster?Turn-around time of the poster printer.The shape/size of the poster will be dictated by th...

11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) type 2 inactivates cortisol and has not been previously found in ovine or human adipose tissue (1,2). Early-mid nutrient restriction (NR) increases adipose tissue stores in term offspring and upregulates 11βHSD1 mRNA expression in perirenal adipose tissue. We determined the presence of 11βHSD2 mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue of neonatal lambs after early-mid maternal NR.19 twin-beari...

IGF-II and I are key components of postnatal growth and are involved in the proliferation of adipocytes. Cold exposure by winter shearing has been shown to promote growth and development and is dependant upon maternal nutrition. However, the effects on adipose IGF-I and II mRNA have not yet been determined.Thirty-three multiparous ewes of similar body weight were entered into the study, fifteen were shorn (S) during mid gestation and eighteen left unshor...

Increases in proinflammatory pathways and macrophages in adipose tissue (AT) have been implicated in the metabolic complications of obesity (1). Nutrient-restriction (NR) in early to mid gestation reduces maternal plasma cortisol and increases fetal AT (2). Uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 is genetically linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, and has been implicated in macrophage-mediated immunity. The effect of maternal NR in early to mid and late gestation on UCP2 and glucocortico...

There are many theories regarding the function of UCP3, including transportation of fatty acids out of the mitochondria and production of reactive oxygen species. The function of UCP3 may influence the development of obesity and diabetes mellitus. In rodents UCP3 mRNA levels increase after T(sub)3(/sub) treatment. The ancient Meishan breed has enhanced neonatal survival rates than lean commercial breeds (C). Previous studies have demonstrated that plasma T(sub)3(/sub) is lower...

It is well established that the reduced neonatal mortality in Meishan, compared to commercial piglets, is due to resistance to hypothermia and hypoglycaemia. Underlying factors responsible for the differences in survival may include the disparity in plasma tri-iodothyronine (T3) concentrations and UCP expression (Mostyn et al (2004) Journal of Endocrinology, in press). ZD7114 (ZD), a synthetic beta3-adrenoceptor agonist, has been shown to improve thermogenesis in la...