Endocrine Abstracts

Searching for novel endocrine markers involved in gestational disease (e.g. pre-eclampsia, foetal growth restriction, pre-term labour) remains a challenge. Nonetheless, the placenta is a very useful target tissue as it provides a repository of gene expression transcripts that are uniquely expressed during pregnancy. Here, we have used bio-informatic approaches to identify expressed sequence tag (EST) clusters differentially expressed between 1st trimester and term placentae. T...

The pregnancy associated plasma proteins (PAPP) -A, -B, -C and -D were first isolated from pregnancy serum in 1974. Since, these proteins have been re-characterised; PAPP-B and PAPP-C are now known as pregnancy-specific beta-1 glycoproteins and PAPP-D as placental lactogen. PAPP-A was subsequently found to be a member of the metzincins family of metalloproteases. Recently we have identified a full-length cDNA encoding the preproprotein of pregnancy associated plasma protein-E ...

Endokinin B (EKB) is a recently identified tachykinin whose role is not yet fully understood. EKB displays equivalent affinity for the three tachykinin receptors as substance P (SP) which it is often found co-expressed with. SP has been implicated in a variety of neuroendocrinological responses including stress regulation, and affective and anxiety-related behaviours. An important aspect, therefore, is to dissect a distinct role for EKB from that of SP. Here, we have attempted...

The major source of neurokinin B (NKB), a peptide of the tachykinin family, is the placenta. Little is known of the regulation of NKB or its preferred hypertensive-inducing receptor, NK3, during pregnancy, nor, the mechanisms leading to elevated NKB associated with pre-eclampsia (PE) during the third trimester. Using the pregnant rat we have looked at the changes in NKB and NK3 expression using real time PCR between day 16 and 21 of gestation in the placenta, brain and differe...

The tachykinin neurokinin B (NKB) has prominent roles in neuroendocrine function, behaviour and the control of reproductive processes, yet little is known about its evolution, potential splice variants or the manner in which it is processed. Indeed, the cloning of human TAC3 in 2000 revealed a single gene transcript encoding a single precursor and single tachykinin. Here, we deduce the phylogenetic relationship of a family of NKB peptides, and identify novel TAC3...

Substance P (SP), neurokinin A and neurokinin B (NKB) are vasoactive tachykinins, believed to exert their effects by release from nerve endings to activate three neurokinin receptors. We have found the major source of NKB (TAC3) expression to be the placenta which results in elevated maternal blood levels in pre-eclampsia. Placental NKB appears to increase blood flow in the placenta and uterus but causes pressor effects in the peripheral circulation. Whilst the placenta, is de...

Surgery and radiotherapy are used in the treatment of pituitary tumours. Treatment regimens for pituitary tumours vary depending upon perceived risks of radiotherapy.The aim of the study was to determine whether pituitary disease itself, surgery or radiotherapy, affect cognitive function. This was a controlled prospective design. Two groups were studied, transphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA) pituitary patients (active), and functional endoscopic sinus surger...

Mild symptoms of pre-eclampsia (PE) include hypertension and proteinuria, but more severe cases develop cerebrovascular accident, liver capsule distention, platelet pathology, pulmonary oedema and renal failure. As we have recently reported neurokinin B (NKB) levels to be significantly raised in the plasma of women with PE, the aim of this study is to establish the pathological role of NKB in this disease.NKB acts predominantly through the NK3 receptor, ...