Endocrine Abstracts

Over the last few years, we have seen increasing numbers of referrals to our regional paediatric endocrine unit with premature sexual maturation (PSM), especially adrenarche and isolated thelarche. Therefore, we audited referrals for PSM over three years, and compared them to published historical data collected over 15 years in another regional paediatric endocrine unit (Bridges et al. 1994).<thead valig...

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a novel peptide isolated from the porcine hypothalamus. Within the hypothalamus GALP mRNA is confined to the arcuate nucleus from which GALP immunoreactive fibres project to the medial preoptic area. Previous studies indicate that GALP may be regulated by leptin. Intracerebroventricular administration of GALP has been shown to stimulate luteinising hormone release. Low circulating levels of leptin lead to the down regulation of the hypothalamic-p...

Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide with a role in the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) in rodents. However, the role of pituitary CART is poorly understood. Previous work in rodents has shown pituitary CART is regulated by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoids. CRH increased pituitary CART release fifteen-fold. Adrenalectomised rats had significantly higher pituitary CART mRNA expression, pituitary CA...

Significant delays in follow up and institution of thyroxine replacement for patients developing post-radioiodine (RAI) hypothyroidism were revealed by a three year retrospective audit. To reduce the incidence of undiagnosed early hypothyroidism and lengthy waits between outpatient visits, a telephone clinic was introduced in August 2000. Thyroid function tests are checked at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Results are checked weekly by a Specialist Registrar. Patients wh...

Relaxin-3 (INSL-7) is a recently discovered member of the insulin superfamily, a group of structurally related hormones whose precursors have a domain arrangement similar to that of pro-insulin. Relaxin-3 mRNA is expressed in the nucleus incertus of the brainstem which has projections to the hypothalamus, an area important in appetite regulation. Relaxin-3 binds with high affinity to the recently discovered previously orphan G-protein-coupled receptor, GPCR135, which is expres...

Hypothalamic Cocaine- and Amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is regulated by circulating glucocorticoids. In adrenalectomised rodents, CART expression is reduced in the arcuate nucleus. However, CART also modulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Acute intracerebroventricular injection of CART peptide significantly increases plasma ACTH and corticosterone but the long-term actions of CART are unknown. The aim of these studies was to determine the effect of l...

The peptides, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are present in the circulation and may act as peripheral anorectic signals. CART, alpha-MSH and GLP-1 may play a role in tumour anorexia, but their roles in anorexia nervosa (AN) are unknown. These studies aimed firstly to measure plasma CART, alpha-MSH and GLP-1 in control and AN subjects and secondly, to measure plasma CART ...

Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) was originally isolated from rat brain but CART is also synthesized and stored in the anterior pituitary. The localisation and factors regulating pituitary CART synthesis are largely unknown.Using a specific assay for the pituitary form of CART, CART(55-102), CART-immunoreactivity was detectable in the medium of the corticotroph cell line, AtT-20 (1.73 ± 0.54 fmols per millilitre per 24h) but not in control medium....

The hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptor, its endogenous agonist, alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone and the endogenous antagonist, Agouti related peptide (Agrp) regulate energy homeostasis. However, the physiological role of the hypothalamic melanocortin receptor, MC3-R and its agonist, gamma MSH are currently unknown. We have previously shown that the MC3/4 agonist, a-MSH has no effect on GnRH release from hypothalamic explants and does not influence plasma gonadotrophins ...

The hypothalamic melanocortin system is a regulator of energy homeostasis. Chronic CNS administration of Agouti related peptide (Agrp) causes increased food intake, increased body adiposity, an inhibition of the HPT axis and a suppression of BAT UCP-1. The ability of Agrp to alter oxygen consumption, a measure of energy expenditure, is unknown.Chronic daily ICV administration of Agrp (1nmol) caused a 54% increase in food intake (food intake, day 7: Agrp...