Endocrine Abstracts

We have previously investigated the ability of glucocorticoids secreted by the adrenal cortex to directly influence gonadal function. In contrast, the primary aim of the present study was to assess whether increased progesterone output from the corpus luteum on day 14 of the ovine oestrous cycle can alter adrenal metabolism (and hence output) of cortisol relative to oestrous cycle day 5. Since cortisol-cortisone inter-conversion by the cloned 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogen...

Cortisol-based therapy is still the most potent anti-inflammatory treatment available for skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of components of the steroidogenic pathway in keratinocytes, though surprisingly none have reported that these cells, which form up to 90% of the epidermis are able to synthesise cortisol1,2. Here, we demonstrate that primary human keratinocytes (PHK) are capable of de no...

Within target cells, cortisol-cortisone inter-conversion is catalysed by both a NADP(H)-dependent, bidirectional type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD1) enzyme and by a NAD+-dependent, unidirectional type 2 11βHSD (11βHSD2) isoenzyme. Since several published studies have reported altered glucocorticoid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the current study assessed whether prenatal exposure of lambs to testosterone propionate...