Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Aromatase cytochrome P450 is uniquely responsible for estrogen synthesis in vertebrates. The protein is expressed in the gonads and other extraglandular tissues. Deregulated expression of aromatase has pathological relevance and targeting the CYP19A1 product could be an effective strategy for treatment of affected tissues. Nevertheless, very little is known concerning the role of protein oligomerisation, glycosylation and degradation. Here we studied the aromatas...

We tested the hypothesis that common genetic variability of β cell mass and/or function genes may influence β cell functional mass in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We studied 590 drug-naive GAD-negative patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (age: median=60.0 yrs; I.Q. range: 52–66; BMI: 29.3 kg/m2; 26.5–32.9). β cell functional mass was assessed by state-of-art mathematical modeling of glucose/C-peptide curves during a 240’ frequently sampled O...

Introduction: LH and hCG act on the same receptor (LHCGR), but it is not known whether they elicit the same cellular and molecular response. This study aims at comparing the activation of cell-signalling pathways and gene expression in response to LH and hCG.Design: We evaluated the activation of cAMP, ERK and AKT-pathways and progesterone production by ELISA and Western blotting in human primary granulosa cells (hGLC) stimulated for up to 36 hours with ...

Background: Patients thyroidectomized for thyroid cancer need variable doses of levothyroxine (LT4) to obtain TSH suppression. A predetermined thyroid function set-point for each individual has been hypothesized, suggesting a genetic influence in the regulation of pituitary-thyroid axis. We hypothesized of the TRHR gene could be associated with a different hypothalamo-pituitary sensitivity to the negative feedback of the thyroid hormones.<p class=...