Endocrine Abstracts

Context: Hydrocortisone day curves (HCDC) are used to monitor hydrocortisone replacement by obtaining serum samples to measure cortisol levels throughout the day. Salivary measurement of free cortisol offers a non-invasive alternative to serum measurements.Objective: To validate salivary cortisol measurement as an alternative method to assess the adequacy of hydrocortisone replacement in patients with hypoadrenalism.Setting, patien...

Background: The KISS1 gene, is a critical regulator of normal reproductive function. In humans, KISS1 deletion results in a failure to go through puberty while activating mutations result in central precocious puberty. Administration of kisspeptin induces ovulation in rodents and sheep. However chronic exposure to exogenous kisspeptin-54 leads to profound tachyphylaxis in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea. It is not known whether exogenous kisspeptin can alter the m...

Introduction: Kisspeptin-54 is a recently identified hormone, which potently stimulates GnRH secretion within the hypothalamus. Women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea (HA, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism associated with low body weight) have reduced LH pulsatility causing amenorrhea and infertility. We have previously demonstrated that exogenous administration of kisspeptin-54 acutely stimulates gonadotrophin secretion in women with HA. However, it is not known whether exogenous k...

Background: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an effective treatment for infertility, but can cause the ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is associated with serous effusions, circulatory collapse, and even death. The use of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulates oocyte maturation during IVF, but is also the major cause of OHSS. The hypothalamic neuropeptide kisspeptin stimulates endogenous LH secretion in a GnRH-dependent manner. A more physiologi...

Background: IVF is an effective treatment for infertility, but can cause the ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is associated with serous effusions, cardiac tamponade, circulatory collapse, and even death. Injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulates oocyte maturation during IVF, but is also the major cause of OHSS. The hypothalamic neuropeptide kisspeptin, stimulates endogenous LH secretion in a GnRH-dependent manner. A more physiological stimulus...

Kisspeptin is a crucial activator of reproductive function, stimulating GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus. However, kisspeptin and its receptor are also expressed in other brain regions including the limbic system, which has key roles in emotional processing. Kisspeptin signalling in the limbic system modulates emotional and sexual brain processing during tasks, however the effects of kisspeptin on underlying resting brain activity have not yet been studied. This is vital for o...

Kisspeptin is a crucial activator of reproductive function, stimulating GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus. However, kisspeptin and its receptor are also expressed in other brain regions including the limbic system, which has key roles in emotional processing. Kisspeptin signalling in the limbic system modulates emotional and sexual brain processing during tasks, however the effects of kisspeptin on underlying resting brain activity have not yet been studied. This is vital for o...