Endocrine Abstracts

Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of growth factors, which causes regression of the Mullerian duct in male embryos, and is believed to act in a paracrine fashion after birth to regulate granulosa cell and oocyte function. MIS appears to be an important regulator of primordial follicle recruitment, and is also capable suppressing androgen production. Abnormal ovarian function is implicit in polycystic ovary syndr...

Background: Ghrelin was recently discovered as the natural ligand for the G protein-coupled growth hormone secretagogue receptor and induces GH release through GHS-R1a. The octanoylation of its third serine residue is responsible for GH release and receptor binding. A variant of ghrelin devoid of this modification, desoctanoyl-ghrelin, can neither bind to the receptor nor induce GH release. Ghrelin has also been shown to effect cellular proliferation, being pro-proliferative i...