Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely prescribed to treat a number of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. However, patients receiving GCs often develop adverse metabolic effects such as hyperphagia leading to weight gain and hyperglycaemia. Little is known about the central effects of GCs; however they can act in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), a region involved in the integration of other energy regulatory hormones such as leptin, insulin and ghrelin. Therefore, the ai...