Endocrine Abstracts

In late pregnancy, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is less responsive to immune challenge(1). Circulating and brain levels of allopregnanolone (AP), a neuroactive steroid and allosteric enhancer at inhibitory GABAA receptors, increase during pregnancy(2) and AP treatment attenuates stress-induced HPA activity in male rats(3). Here we sought a role for AP in attenuated HPA axis responses to interleukin-1-beta (IL-1B) in pregnant rats. Conscious pregnant (day 21) an...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a member of the annexin family of phospholipid- and calcium- binding proteins with a well-demonstrated role in the inhibitory actions of glucocorticoids on the release of ACTH, TSH, GH and PRL from the anterior pituitary. ANXA1 and ANXA1 truncated peptides have also recently been found to mimic glucocorticoid suppression of LH release (John et al, 2003 J Neuroendocrinol 15, 946-57). Here we test the hypothesis that because ANXA1 mediates some of the inhibi...

The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) is a potent antiproliferative/immunomodulatory steroid hormone with many applications outside calcium homeostasis. This is particularly true in the placenta which can generate 1,25D3 locally via the enzyme 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27b) in both trophoblast and decidua. We have investigated the potential function of 1,25D3 across gestation using human tissue obtained after l...

Introduction:The ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) covers the surface of the ovary, and is subjected to rupture and repair during ovulation. Ovulation bears hallmarks of a wound / heal event, including inflammation. Though integral to ovulation, inflammation may cause cellular damage leading to ovarian tumours, of which >90% are OSE derived. Progesterone, produced in large amounts at ovulation, has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study wa...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effect of treatment with orlistat versus metformin on the hormonal and biochemical features of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)METHODS: 21 Caucasian women with PCOS (mean plus/minus SEM, age 27 plus/minus 0.9 years, and body mass index 36.7 plus/minus 3.3) participated in this prospective, randomised, open labelled, study. All subjects had an eight week run in period of dietary modification and then ...

Cervical dilatation and myometrial contractions are essential processes of both pre-term and term labour. These processes are associated with enhanced production of 2-series prostaglandins (PGs) from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), by feto-placental tissues. Some human epidemiological studies suggest that specific PUFAs can alter the length of gestation. The amnion is a prime site for PG synthesis in the feto-placental unit. Thus perturbations of PG synthesis in this tiss...

Substance P (SP), neurokinin A and neurokinin B (NKB) are vasoactive tachykinins, believed to exert their effects by release from nerve endings to activate three neurokinin receptors. We have found the major source of NKB (TAC3) expression to be the placenta which results in elevated maternal blood levels in pre-eclampsia. Placental NKB appears to increase blood flow in the placenta and uterus but causes pressor effects in the peripheral circulation. Whilst the placenta, is de...

Type I 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MDI) converts thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). In fetal sheep, hepatic 5'-MDI activity increases near term in association with the prepartum cortisol surge. This study investigated the effect of maternal dexamethasone treatment, in clinically relevant doses, on hepatic and renal type I 5'-MDI activity and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in fetal sheep.From 125 days of gestation (term 145 pl...