Endocrine Abstracts

De novo lipogenesis (DNL) is recognised as potentially contributory to pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and could be a factor in the progression of simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, although it contributes a relatively minor amount of whole body fat compared to dietary lipid. Consequently understanding the lipidome during induced DNL may provide insight into potential biomarkers of DNL that could be clinically relevant in those at risk of ...

Diabetes is one of the main health problems in the world, thus it is well worthwhile to explore alternate treatments made from natural extracts. Cnidoscolus chayamansa, is an endemic plant from the Southeastern of Mexico known for its easy and cheap growing requirements. C. chayamansa contains dihydromyricetin a flavonoid that is believed exerts hypoglycemic effects. We obtained a hydro-ethanolic extract from the leaves of C. chayamansa (EEC), optimi...

Introduction: Recombinant human IGF1 (rhIGF1) improves insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control when administered to people with diabetes. The effects of rhIGF1 on lipid metabolism in vivo are unclear.Objectives: To determine the effects of rhIGF1/rhIGFBP3 administration on fasting lipids, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose homeostasis in recreational athletes. This study was part of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reported to be more prevalent in patients with GH deficiency (GHD) than in the general population. Case control studies have not however been undertaken. Recognition of NAFLD is important due to its association with cardiovascular disease and chronic liver disease.Aims: To determine i) the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with severe GHD compared to age and BMI-matched controls, and, ii) the effect ...

We report a 61-year-old lady with sudden onset diplopia caused by abducent palsy which was initially right- and later left-sided. MRI scanning revealed an extensive sellar and suprasellar mass and the lady was referred to our department for transphenoidal surgery with the imaging diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. Upon close inspection of the films, cavernous sinus invasion of the tumour as a morphologic correlate of the N. VI palsy was missing; however, there was an unusual cont...

In mammals, GHRH is the most important neuroendocrine factor that stimulates the release of GH from the anterior pituitary. In non-mammalian vertebrates, however, the previously named GHRH-like peptides were unable to demonstrate robust GH-releasing activities. In this report, we provide evidence that these GHRH-like peptides are homologues of mammalian PACAP-related peptides (PRP). Instead, GHRH peptides encoded in cDNAs isolated from goldfish, zebrafish and African clawed fr...

Folliculostellate (FS) cells within the anterior pituitary gland produce cytokines and growth factors which are regulated by molecules produced by neighbouring endocrine cells. There are many factors that could potentially be responsible for this intercellular communication that is mediated via connexins (Cx) and gap-junctions. We thus investigated the effect of co-culturing lactotrophs (MMQ) and FS cells (TtT/GF) on Cx43 expression. Our in vitro model system consists o...

We previously showed that adenosine stimulates IL-6 secretion from TtT/GF cells suggesting that adenosine is an important regulator of folliculostellate (FS) cell function. Gap-junction communication is also important for FS cell function so the aim of this study was to investigate the action of adenosine on connexin 43 (Cx 43) expression and intercellular communication.Adenosine production, as measured by reverse-phase fluorescent HPLC, was easily detec...

The nucleoside adenosine is an important regulator of interleukin-6 secretion from the folliculostellate (FS) cells of the anterior pituitary gland but the source of adenosine in this scenario is unknown. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate secretion of adenosine and the expression of adenosine forming and metabolising enzymes in the pituitary gland.Ecto-5/-nucleotidase (CD73), adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase (AD) were ...

BACKGROUND Human and animal evidence indicates that poor maternal nutrition leads to programmed endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in offspring. In humans, endothelial dysfunction has been observed in independent cohorts studied aged 7 and 11, but explanatory molecular mechanisms are lacking. Endothelial function, and synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), relies on nutrient supply of L-arginine, with maternal dietary restriction in r...