Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Endocrine disruption in the human fetal testis by environmental agents has been proposed as a possible cause of testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) comprising male reproductive disorders such as testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT), cryptorchidism, hypospadias and low sperm counts. Exposure of fetal rats to the widely used plasticizer di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) results in a TDS-like syndrome due to a reduction in testosterone production. Whether such effects also ...

Investigations of bone disorders which are often inherited have yielded important insights in the molecular mechanisms of bone development, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. However, these studies have been hampered by the lack of available patients and affected families. To overcome this limitation, we have investigated mice treated with the chemical mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) for hereditary bone disorders. Mice were kept in accordance with national welf...

Context: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene. Hypoparathyroidism occurs in 80% of patients with APS1 and has been suggested to result from an autoimmune reaction against the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) on parathyroid cells. Previously, we have detected CaSR-binding antibodies in patients with APS1 using immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry assays.Obj...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients present with or without biochemical hyperandrogenism (HAPCOS or non-HAPCOS, respectively). Although cardiometabolic and hormonal abnormalities have been reported in women with PCOS, particularly those with hypertension, direct comparisons between normotensive (blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mmHg) patients with HAPCOS and non-HAPCOS are scarce. Data on N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in PCO...

Objectives: Oestrogen analysis using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry is problematic, as oestrogens do not readily ionise. This coupled with low concentrations in men, pre-pubertal and post-menopausal women provides an analytical challenge. We investigated N-Methyl Pyridine-3-sulfonyl chloride (NMPS) derivatisation, as described by Wang et al. (Steroids 2015 Apr;96:140-152) to improve sensitivity of 11 oestrogens; oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2), 2-hydroxy-oestr...

Objective: Androgen may be detrimental in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. We investigated possible associations between the (TAAAA)n polymorphism of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) gene promoter, which influences transcriptional efficiency of the SHBG gene and the severity of CAD in women.Methods: One hundred and twenty women (37–82 yrs), undergoing coronary angiography. CAD severity, history of angina, myocardial infa...

THE REGULATION OF ADRENOMEDULLIN AND PROADRENOMEDULLIN N-TERMINAL 20 PEPTIDE IN THE ADRENAL GLAND: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADRENOCORTICAL CELLS AND CHROMAFFIN CELLS.Vakharia K, Hinson JP.Department of Endocrinology, Lab 1.2 Dominion House, Queen Mary University of London, London E, UK.It has been established that the adrenomedullin gene is expressed in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla, and that both adre...

Adrenomedullin and pro-adrenomedullin N terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) are multi-functional peptides that are cleaved from a precursor peptide named proadrenomedullin. It has been well documented that adrenomedullin has an effect on cell growth and differentiation in many cell types. However, the effects of PAMP on cell growth still remain to be elucidated.Using the human endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) and human adrenocortical cell line (H295R), cells were p...

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that metformin can reduce high-fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain and fat accumulation in the liver. However, the results obtained in animal models regarding the implication of metformin in the modulation of other whole-body and tissue-specific parameters, are controversial or need to be further explored. Consequently, we aimed to explore the capacity of metformin in modulating glucose/insulin metabolism, liver function, adiposity, ...

Simultaneous knockout of the neuroendocrine marker genes Ptprn and Ptprn2, which encode the protein tyrosine phosphatase receptors N and N2, respectively, causes infertility of female mice while males are fertile. To clarify the mechanism of sex-specific roles of Ptprn and Ptprn2 in mice reproduction, we analyzed the effects of their double knockout (DKO) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In DKO females, a delay in puberty and lack...