Endocrine Abstracts

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid peptide, was recently isolated from the stomach of rat, and was identified as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR. Two GHSR subtypes, generated by an alternative splicing of a single gene, have been identified: the full-length type 1a receptor and truncated type 1b. The GHS-R1a is the functionally active, signal transduction form of the receptor. Ghrelin is recognized as an important regulator of growth hormone secr...

Introduction: Visfatin belongs to adipokines, i.e. hormones produced mainly by adipose tissue; its expression and role have been described in many organs, where it regulates energy metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory reactions. Moreover, the level of visfatin changes during pregnancy and in obese women and those with obesity related pregnancy pathologies: preeclampsia (PE), gestational diabetes (GDM) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) its level increases. Th...

Introduction: Asprosin, a novel adipokine, is a circulating hormone mainly secreted by white adipose tissue. Asprosin is encoded by the penultimate 2 exons of the fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. Protein product of FBN1 is profibrillin-1, which undergoes a proteolytic cleavage by furin enzyme to produce mature fibrillin-1 and asprosin. Literature data indicated that asprosin is involved in the development of diabetes, obesity, cardiomyopathy, cancer, and polycystic o...

Introduction: Omentin, also known as intelectin-1 (ITLN1), is a novel adipokine produced predominantly by visceral adipose tissue, which improves insulin sensitivity. Decreased levels of ITLN1 have been reported in the serum of obese and polycystic ovary syndrome patients, as well as in the serum and adipose tissue of obese Meishan (MS) compared to normal weight Large White (LW) pigs. However, the role of ITLN1 in female reproduction at different metabolic status is still unkn...

To maintain proper fertility the balance between formation and luteolysis of corpus luteum (CL) are necessary and strictly controlled events in female reproduction. Degeneration of CL is correlated with apoptosis and autophagy as well as connected with decreased progesterone (P4) level. Resistin is a new key player in the regulation of luteal cells function; our previously study showed that resistin have negative effect on P4 synthesis. Thus the aim of the present study was to...

Background : Omentin, also known as intelectin-1, is a member of the family of adipose tissue-related hormones known as adipokines, that exert anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and cardiovascular protective effects. Omentin expression has been detected in adipocytes as well as in a variety of extra-adipose tissues, including the ovary. Interestingly, omentin expression in the pituitary has been shown to be regulated by pituitary hormones. These observations led us to in...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental pollutants derived from the incomplete combustion of organic materials. In urban and industrial areas, level of pollution with these compounds is high, which leads to numerous negative health effects. Some literature data indicate the involvement of PAHs in the development of obesity, however, there is no data showing the distribution patterns of PAHs in human adipose tissue (AT) and their impact on the process o...

Visfatin is one of adipokines that particularly regulates metabolic homeostasis. Literature data of the last decade indicate also that visfatin participates in the regulation of ovarian follicles’ steroid synthesis and oocyte maturation in women, mice, hens, and cows. However, there is still a gap in knowledge about the effect of this adipokine on the corpus luteum (CL) functions. Our previous study documented visfatin mRNA and protein expression in the porcine CL. Theref...