Endocrine Abstracts

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...

Glucocorticoid, known as cortisol, is a steroid hormone essential to the maintenance of homeostasis, and is released in response to stress and low blood glucose concentration. It is converted from cortisone by 11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β HSD1). The liver plays a major organ in metabolism, has numerous functions, mostly consists of hepatocytes, and is a principal target of cortisol. In murine model, it was observed that too much cortisol or overexpres...