Endocrine Abstracts

Patients on long term prednisolone therapy have suppression of their hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The short synacthen test (SST) is routinely employed to assess the viability of the HPA axis. However, as this test examines only adrenal function it may fail to identify those patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. The overnight metyrapone test (OMT) may be a better test as it examines the whole HPA axis.We have compared the responses t...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a Ca 2+ and phospholipid binding protein that plays an important role as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host-defence and neuroendocrine-systems. Our previous studies (Christian et al., 1998) in ovarietomised rats +/- oestradiol (E2) replacement suggested oestrogen may exert an inhibitory influence on ANXA1 expression in the pituitary gland. Our more recent finding that ANXA1 knockout mice exhibit unexpected sexual dimorphisms in...

Hydrocortisone reveals its action by activation of transcription of specific genes that is achieved by binding of hormones nuclear receptors (NRs) to cognate sites on DNA and recruiting coactivators of basal transcription machinery. NRs are able to overcome restricting conformation of chromatin by altering chromatin-remodeling machinery (chromatin-remodeling protein complexes, histone and nonhistone modifying enzymes). However, a possibility arise that genomic DNA accessibilit...

Hormone-responsive reporter plasmids are widely used for the analysis of endocrine responses in target cells. We have investigated the effect of different promoters on reporter gene expression by oestrogen-responsive reporter constructs.Plasmid constructs were transfected into an oestrogen responsive bovine endometrial stromal (BST) cell line. Two reporter gene products were analysed: secreted alkaline phosphatase(SeAP) and beta galactosidase.<p clas...

Decondensation of chromatin and the pattern of its packaging in eukariotic nuclei underlie gene expression. It should be outlined that both features are determined not only by the main components of chromatin and nuclear matrix, but also by loosely bound molecules, such as phospholipids, which can interact with nucleoproteins and maintain the degree of chromatin condensation.The steroid hormone estradiol induced changes both of total phospholipid and ind...

The role of 11beta-HSD2 is to provide selective access of aldosterone to the mineralocorticoid receptor by inactivating cortisol. Evidence suggests impaired 11beta-HSD2 activity in some patients with hypertension but also in patients with renal disease where it may contribute to sodium retention, oedema and hypertension. To date these studies have relied upon urinary cortisol metabolite analyses as markers of renal 11beta-HSD2 activity.We have directly a...

Orexins, in addition to regulating food intake and playing a role in the sleep wake cycle, are involved in the activation of HPA axis. Starvation induces metabolic changes in the body, including upregulation of orexin and its receptors in the hypothalamus. We investigated the expression and signalling characteristics of rat orexin receptors at the hypothalamic and adrenal level in food deprived animals and controls. Food deprivation induced both orexin type-1 (OX1R) and type-2...

The role of oestrogens on the regulation of human hair growth is poorly understood. Using whole human scalp hair follicle organ culture, we have recently demonstrated, that human hair growth is inhibited by 17beta-oestradiol, but not by the biologically inactive isomer 17alpha-oestradiol. Using immunohistochemistry, we have also demonstrated the presence of both ERalpha and ERbeta in the pilosebaceous unit and the dermal papilla, a mesenchymal structure that controls the diffe...

BackgroundIdiopathic Addisons disease is characterised by the presence of adrenal antibodies and a documented variable subclinical period. In previously well controlled Type 1 diabetes, it may present with recurrent hypoglycaemia, or worsening erratic glycaemic control.Case ReportA 24 year old with previously well controlled Type 1 diabetes since age 18 months presented with worsening glycaemic control, 2 sto...