Endocrine Abstracts

In addition to markers such as FSH and inhibin A or B, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has recently received much attention as a marker of ovarian function. It has become clear that AMH is secreted by the postnatal ovary and is specifically produced by the granulosa cells in growing follicles from the primary to the small antral stage (in mice) or the larger antral follicle stage (in women) that have not undergone cyclic recruitment by FSH.Since AMH is...

The peptides acylated and unacylated ghrelin (AG and UAG) are produced predominantly in the stomach. AG is the only known circulating orexigenic hormone with obesogenic and insulin-desensitising properties. Recent evidence suggests that UAG can inhibit these activities of AG. To investigate potential inhibitory effects of UAG and AZP-531, a UAG analogue, on AG-induced appetite and obesity we used an established rat model of diet induced obesity. Animals were fed a high-fat die...

Ghrelin, the endogenous GH secretagogue, has an important role in metabolic homeostasis. It exists in two major molecular forms: acylated (AG) and des-acylated (DAG). Many studies suggest different roles for these two forms in energy balance regulation. In the present study, we compared the effects of acute intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of AG, DAG and their combination (AG+DAG) to young adult Wistar rats on food intake and central melanocortin system modulation....

Objective: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has recently been evaluated as a marker for follicle reserve and as a new marker for ovarian function in women. In the male, it is produced in Sertoli cells (SC) in the testis. We evaluated serum levels of AMH as a marker of SC function and male fertility by comparing normo- and oligozoospermic men.Materials and methods: Serum levels of AMH were determined by enzyme immunoassay in two groups of men with normal...

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has an important regulatory role both in early folliculogenesis (inhibiting the recruitment of follicles from the primordial pool into the growing phase) and at the antral stage (where it inhibits the action of FSH). In the mouse, AMH action appears to be mediated by a heterodimeric receptor complex comprising a type I receptor and the specific AMH receptor AMHRII, which is essential for AMH signalling in the murine ovary. Post-receptor signalling ...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder associated with infertility and metabolic disturbances. Ovaries of PCOS women contain an increased number of growing follicles. Such an ovarian phenotype is also observed in mice lacking the ovary-specific growth factor anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). To determine the interaction between ovarian and metabolic function, we studied the metabolic phenotype of mice lacking AMH signaling as a model for an altered profile in ovarian ...

The LH receptor is a member of the large receptor family of GTP-binding protein coupled receptors. Mutations in the LH receptor gene cause severe sex hormone-related disease, ranging from very early precocious puberty in boys (activating mutation) to slight undervirilization, severe hypospadias or complete 46XY pseudohermaphroditism (inactivating mutation). Thus, LH receptor gene mutations have profound effects on sex hormone production and on physiology of patients. In additi...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by anovulation, hyperandrogenemia, and polycystic ovaries. Although the etiology of PCOS is poorly understood, the common denominator is a disturbance in the selection of the dominant follicle. TGFβ family members, such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), suppress FSH sensitivity. Therefore their signaling pathway may contribute to the aberrant follicle development in PCOS women. We...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by anovulation, elevated levels of circulating androgens and polycystic ovaries. Although the etiology of PCOS is poorly understood, the common denominator is a disturbance in the selection of the dominant follicle. In PCOS women serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels are elevated. Since AMH reduces FSH sensitivity of growing follicles, the elevated AMH levels in PCOS patients may contribute to the disturbed follicle se...