Endocrine Abstracts

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) signal transduction requires heterocomplexing between type II receptors and different type I (α or β) receptors resulting in the activation of different signalling pathways. Previously, we have used αT3-1 and Lβt-2 cell lines, which are representative of different stages of gonadotroph development, to demonstrate differential expression of the receptor isoforms during gonadotroph maturation. BMPR-Iα and II mRNA and ...

A fundamental problem in pancreas biology concerns the dynamics of beta cell mass regulation. While autoimmune or pharmacological destruction of beta cells appears to be irreversible, adult beta cell mass does respond to specific physiological cues such as insulin resistance. This raises the exciting possibility that beta cells have a significant regenerative capacity that could be used to treat diabetes. In support of this notion, recent studies in mouse models of diabetes su...

In 1981 a 33 yr old woman was diagnosed with Graves thyrotoxicosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. At diagnosis her BMI was 19 kg/m2 and she was initially treated with carbimazole and glibenclamide. She had a past medical history of idiopathic lymphoedema, asthma and bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and was regularly reviewed by an ophthalmologist for hyperpigmented maculae.In 1991 she required insulin to control her diabetes and developed progres...

Background: Stress-related illness is commonly referred to the endocrine clinic, and often becomes a diagnosis of exclusion after extensive investigation. We provide evidence that a positive clinical diagnosis can be made without risk of missing organic illness.Methods: 101 consecutive and unselected referrals for ‘fatigue ?endocrine’ between 1/4/95 and 30/3/99 were identified from an endocrine clinic database (81 female, 20 male; mean age 41...

Wnt proteins are morphogens that are involved in morphogenesis, differentiation and stem cell biology in a variety of tissues. In the adrenal cortex, WNT4 is expressed at a higher level in the zona glomerulosa (ZG) and mice deficient in WNT4 have a defect in this zone. In this laboratory we confirmed that WNT4 is expressed at a higher level in the human ZG and showed that this is accompanied by higher expression of a potential antagonist, dickkopf-3 (DKK3). To investigate the ...

We report a 61year old female who presented with severe Cushing's disease 13 years after diagnosed as non-functioning adenoma. First presented in 1992 with visual field defect. MRI showed macroadenoma, suprasellar, and lateral extension. Gonadotrophin and GH were low. At this time there was no clinical suspicion of Cushing's syndrome. Treated with transphenoidal pituitary surgery resulting in improved vision. Immunohistochemistry showed 50% cells positive for ACTH and negative...

Patients with histology confirmed acromegaly who have undergone trans-sphenoidal surgery and radiotherapy often have active acromegaly despite no evidence of adenoma on MRI. Currently 111In Octreotide, a radioactive tracer, is used in the assessment of neuroendocrine tumours, with 70-90 percent sensitivity for detection. Studies to date however have not looked at 111In Octreotide as an alternative measure to assess patients who present with biochemically active acromegaly desp...

Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) has many postulated functions, including possible solute exchange and immunity within the neonatal lung. The effect of maternal nutrition during late gestation on UCP2 abundance in the ovine neonatal lung has not been determined.Twin-bearing ewes of similar age and body weight were individually housed from 110 days gestation. Six controls (C) were fed and consumed 100% of their energy requirements for maintenance and growth of...

Spironolactone (Sp) is an aldosterone-antagonist diuretic, that is traditionally used in the treatment of hirsutism due to its antiandrogenic effects. Sp can inhibit ovarian and adrenal biosynthesis of androgens, compete for the androgen receptor in the hair follicle, and directly inhibit 5alpha-reductase activity. The steroid suppressive effects are so variable that the receptor-blocking action is considered the most important mechanism. It is probable for this reason that co...

The capacity of the adrenal to produce steroids is controlled in part through the transcriptional regulation of steroid enzymes. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), an orphan nuclear receptor is thought to be central to the transcriptional regulation of all steroid hydroxylase enzymes. Recently co-regulatory proteins have been implicated in the modulation of nuclear receptor transcriptional activity. We hypothesised that classic and novel secretogogues, including forskolin, angiote...