Endocrine Abstracts

We present a commentary based on both history and experiences of the many contributions to steroid biochemistry and endocrinology made in Edinburgh over the past 75 years. Reflections will be made commencing with the contributions of Guy Marrian (1904–1981) and colleagues. Marian, occupied the Chair of Medicine with relation to Medicine (later Medical Biochemistry, then Biochemistry) at Edinburgh University from 1939 until his appointment as Director of the ICRF Laborator...

Recent studies report that nandrolone, a widely used anabolic steroid by athletes to enhance their performance, is produced endogenously in the humans. However, the detection of nandrolone has mainly been indicated by the measurement of its urinary metabolites (19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanone). The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific ELISA for nandrolone to investigate whether the parent steroid can be detected in the urine of healthy volunteer...

3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) expression is essential for the synthesis of all classes of steroid hormones, converting delta5beta-hydroxysteroids into hormonally active delta4-3-ketosteroids in NAD+-dependent reactions. Numerous 3beta-HSD isoforms have been described in mouse, rat, human and other mammals, all with distinct tissue and developmentally specific expression, distinct kinetics, with alternative substrate specificity...

The capacity of the adrenal to produce cortisol is controlled in part by the transcription of 21 hydroxylase(CYP21) and production of androgens by 17 hydroxylase/17-20 lyase(CYP17) in response to secretogoues including ACTH, angiotensin-II(A-II) and forskolin. Both mRNA and protein expression of CYP21 was upregulated in the presence of forskolin and A-II alone and in combination in vitro H-295 adrenocortical cells, as detected by northern and western blotting. Whereas, ...

IGFs act as amplifiers of gonadotrophin (Gn) action in the ovary, but their activity is modulated by IGFBPs. In addition, we have shown IGF-independent inhibitory effects of IGFBP-4 on ovarian steroidogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism of action of IGFBP-4 in ovarian cells.Granulosa cells (GC) and theca were harvested from intact follicles (2.5-14mm) dissected from 8 pairs of ovaries collected with ethics committee a...

Introduction: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a significant cause of morbidity in childhood. We undertook a prospective study to investigate ADRs causing admission to a UK paediatric hospital: this report focuses on corticosteroids (CS).Methods: Three investigators assessed all acute admissions over a 1 year period and identified ADRs by cross-referencing clinical presentations to known ADR profiles using a standardised causality tool.<p class="abs...

Towards the end of pregnancy, when maternal steroidogenesis is stimulated, the fetal adrenal gland undergoes significant developmental changes. To test responsiveness to external stimuli at this stage, we fed pregnant rats with diets containing 0.03% (low), 0.3% (normal) or 3% (high) sodium to manipulate aldosterone synthesis. Dietary sodium variations had no deleterious effects on numbers or weights of foetuses at embryo day 20. Maternal adrenal weights were unaffected by die...

At least 90% of human ovarian cancers originate in the OSE. Most studies indicate that EOC is oestrogen responsive. Paradoxically, ovarian cancer generally occurs after the menopause, which raises the question if oestrogen is involved, where does it come from? We hypothesise that the high circulating concentrations of conjugated (inactive) oestrogens in post-menopausal women are substrates for formation of active oestrogen in the OSE through the hydrolytic enzyme activity of S...

Abdominal surgery and diseases such as endometriosis cause persistent abdominal adhesions leading to pelvic pain, infertility and in severe cases, bowel obstruction. Current treatments are ineffective and the aetiology is unclear, although excessive collagen deposition is a consistent feature. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a key enzyme required for crosslinking and deposition of insoluble collagen.10–12 weeks old female C57Bl/6 mice (3–10 mice per gro...