Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Kisspeptin is a novel hypothalamic hormone with powerful stimulatory effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Inactivating mutations in the kisspeptin receptor lead to pubertal failure. We have previously demonstrated that injection of kisspeptin-54 stimulates LH release in healthy men and women. Recent studies in animals suggest that endogenous kisspeptin may be involved in stimulating the GnRH pulse generator. Determining whether exogenous ad...

Background: Millions of men worldwide take anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to boost muscle growth, but risk psychosis, cardiomyopathy, stroke and death. Users avoid stopping AAS because they are fearful of low testosterone symptoms including sexual dysfunction, depression and suicidality. To avoid these symptoms, men often illicitly self-medicate a 2–12-week course of drugs including selective oestrogen receptor modulators to boost testicular function ...

Clinical Endocrinology 2016 84 939–945. DOI: 10.1111/cen.12603...

Background: Hot flushes (HF) affect 70% of menopausal women and can be debilitating. Oestrogen administration is effective but not without risk. Neurokinin B signalling is increased in menopausal women, and is likely critical in the aetiology of their HF. We therefore hypothesised that a neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist could attenuate menopausal flushing.Design: This single-centre, phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover ...

Clinical Endocrinology 2016 84 939–945. DOI: 10.1111/cen.12603...

Background: Hot flushes (HF) affect 70% of menopausal women and can be debilitating. Oestrogen administration is effective but not without risk. Neurokinin B signalling is increased in menopausal women, and is likely critical in the aetiology of their HF. We therefore hypothesised that a neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist could attenuate menopausal flushing.Design: This single-centre, phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover ...

Background: Hot flushes affect 70% of menopausal women, can be long-lasting, and often severely impact on physical, psychosocial, sexual, and overall wellbeing. Hormone replacement therapy is effective but not without risk. Neurokinin B is an important mediator of hot flushes in rodents and elevated hypothalamic expression occurs in menopausal women. Neurokinin B acts via the neurokinin 3 receptor. We therefore hypothesised that neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism could be a nove...

Background: Hypothalamic KNDy neurons have recently been identified as key regulators of reproductive function by releasing three neuropeptides namely kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin. Animal studies show they interact to control pulsatile GnRH release, which is vital for fertility. In animals, kisspeptin stimulates, NKB modulates and the opioid dynorphin inhibits GnRH pulsatility. However, the interaction of these peptides has never been studied in humans. To inve...

Background: Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism (HH) is characterised by hypogonadism in the context of low gonadotrophin levels, frequently due to a defect in hypothalamic function e.g. Kallman’s syndrome. However, no direct test of hypothalamic function currently exists. Kisspeptin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that stimulates endogenous GnRH release. Thus, we investigated whether kisspeptin could be used to interrogate hypothalamic function in men with HH.<p class="abs...

Kisspeptin is a recently identified reproductive hormone which serves as a crucial activator of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal (HPG) axis via stimulation of GnRH neurones. We have previously observed that a single kisspeptin injection increases LH pulsatility while twice daily kisspeptin injections can even advance the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that kisspeptin restores LH pulsatility in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea and can potently...