Endocrine Abstracts

Annexin 1 (Anx-1), a 37kDa protein, is a member of the super-family of Ca 2+ and phospholipid-binding annexin proteins and acts as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defense and neuroendocrine systems. In the anterior pituitary Anx-1 is expressed mainly by folliculostellate (FS) cells and mediates the early delayed feedback inhibition exerted by GCs on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones. It has been previously demonstrated that TtT/GF...

Archipelago/hCdc4/Fbw7 is the F-box protein specific for recognising and binding phosphorylated cyclin E and targeting it for ubiquitination. Mutations in Archipelago that prevent it from binding to phoshorylated cyclin E have been described in various human cancers including breast, ovarian and endometrial tumours. Previous studies have suggested that cyclin E is over-expressed in corticotroph tumours and other pituitary adenoma subtypes, and we postulated that this may be se...

Hereditary nephrogenic diabetes (di/di) in mice results from a failure of vasopressin (VP)action caused by overactive renal cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. The adult animals pass large amounts of dilute (100 mOsm per kg) urine and have hyperosmotic plasma (40 mOsm per kg greater than wild-type). Their osmotic status is therefore similar to that in Brattleboro rats in which both VP and oxytocin (OT) neurons are hyperactive and the neural lobe is depleted of both OT and VP. The...

A 69-year-old retired pharmacist was referred to our endocrine clinic with an incidental finding of hypokalaemia noted during recent spinal fusion surgery. He has been hypertensive for 6 years. His blood pressure was well controlled on Diltiazem 240 mg and Doxazosin 4 mg, but required 8 tablets of SandoK daily to maintain normokalaemia. His past medical history includes type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease, hypercholesterolaemia and benign prostatic hy...

Case history: A 26 year-old lady was admitted from clinic with severe hypertension and bilateral papilloedema. Six weeks prior to admission she had undergone resection of a massive right upper quadrant lesion that was felt to be of hepatic origin. Histological analysis of the lesion revealed it to be an adrenal phaeochromocytoma and she was thus referred to the endocrine service. Pre-operative biochemical assessment had not been performed but there was no evidence of any blood...

Background: Aldosterone producing cell clusters (APCCs) are microscopic pockets of cells in the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG), which stain densely for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). They exist in 30% of normal adrenal glands and have similar somatic genetic mutations as some aldosterone producing adenomas (APA), especially of CACNA1D. Some APCCs are precursors to APAs. Adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA) cures hypertension in < 50% of patients, maybe bec...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a glucocorticoid-regulated, calcium and phospholipid-binding protein well recognized as an important signalling intermediate in both peripheral systems and the brain. Online adult mouse brain gene libraries have reported ANXA1 mRNA expression in the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles. The SVZ is one of the two largest neurogenic areas of the brain and as ANXA1 plays a known role in cell differentiation and proliferation, we have invest...

A decrease in insulin sensitivity (IS) is associated with increasing visceral adiposity. An inverse correlation has been demonstrated between Intramyo-(IMTG) and intrahepatocellular triglyceride (HCTG) concentrations and IS. Patients with AA have reduced IS but IMTG and HCTG content has not been studied.Eight patients with AA (IGF-I >ULN, median 1.83×ULN (range1.16–4.38) ((6 M), median age 39.5 (range 23–66) years, median BMI 30.6(23.5...

Calcium mobilization from intracellular stores represents an important cell signalling process that is regulated, in mammalian cells, by inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP). Intracellular calcium is important for mobilization of secretory granules to the plasma membrane in preparation for exocytosis. NAADP mobilizes calcium from lysosome-related acidic compartments and it has recently...

Primary hyperaldosteronism usually results from an aldosterone-secreting adenoma of the adrenal cortex (Conn’s adenoma) or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Identification of the anatomical adrenal lesion causing hyperaldosteronism typically involves CT or MR scanning, with lateralisation of aldosterone production confirmed by adrenal vein sampling (AVS). The latter is a technically difficult and invasive procedure, but current non-invasive alternatives (e.g. radiolabelled i...