Endocrine Abstracts

The orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) initially wasisolated as a key regulator of the cytochrome P450 steroid hydroxylases.Knockout mice lacking steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) have a complexendocrine phenotype that encompasses adrenal and gonadal agenesis,impaired expression of gonadotropins by pituitary gonadotropes, andstructural abnormalities of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH).These multiple defects complicate efforts t...

Keith Parker, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA AbstractThe son of two clinician-scientists, Keith Parker attended Williams College, and then received his M.D./Ph.D. degrees from Washington University School of Medicine in 1981. His graduate work with Donald Shreffler focused on structure-function relationships of the complement component, C4....

Glucocorticoid excess results in central obesity and insulin resistance/diabetes mellitus. At a pre-receptor level, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) modulates glucocorticoid levels and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. 11beta-HSD1 is a bi-directional NADP(H) dependant enzyme, but keto-reductase activity predominates in-vivo. Recent studies indicate that the enzyme H6PDH ensures reductive metabolism (cortisone to c...

Background. Hypopituitarism is associated with increased VLDL and LDL apoB concentrations, which may be attributable to GHD. Studies examining the effects of GHR on VLDL apoB kinetics have been conflicting, possibly due to differences in the duration of GHR. As yet, the effects of GHR on LDL apoB kinetics are unknown. Aim. To examine the effect of GHR on VLDL and LDL apoB kinetics, and to explore the hypothesis that these effects are dependent on the duration of therapy. Metho...