Endocrine Abstracts

Although the anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous glucocorticoids (GC) upon inflammation are well recognized, the contribution of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), an amplifier of GC action in vivo, in modulating endogenous GC action during inflammation is unknown. Mouse models of arthritis and lung inflammation were used to explore the role of 11β-HSD1 in acute and chronic inflammation. Arthritis was induced in 11β-HSD1−/&#...

One of the hallmarks of parturition in most mammals is a dramatic drop in plasma levels of progesterone (P4), which promotes myometrial relaxation, prior to labor. In humans and some other primates however, the opposite occurs and placental P4 production increases with advancing pregnancy. The expression of nuclear progesterone receptor (PR)-responsive genes is decreased in the primate uterus at term, which suggests ‘functional’ progestin withdrawal involves repressi...

20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20αHSD) has been initially characterized as a progesterone metabolizing enzyme of the ovary mandatory for the final reduction of progesterone blood levels before parturition. As the exact zonal distribution and regulation of adrenal 20αHSD has not been defined, adrenal 20αHSD expression and activity was determined by western blotting, immunohistochemistry and enzymatic assays in wild type BALB/c mice of both genders at diffe...

Men show an age-associated decline in 24-hour circulating testosterone levels, but the reason for this decline is unclear. To shed light on the possible cause we first established that male rhesus monkeys undergo a similar decline in testosterone with age. Testosterone from young adult (∼10 years) and old (∼26 years) unanaesthetized males was measured by RIA from blood samples collected remotely through a vascular catheter, every 30 minutes for 24 hours. In both yo...

AMH causes regression of Müllerian ducts during male fetal development. Recently, AMH was detected in the adult ovary, principally in granulosa cells (GCs). Studies have demonstrated a 1.5–5 fold increase in serum AMH in women with PCOS compared to normal ovulatory women. The AMH rise was assumed to be secondary to increased numbers of follicles. Interestingly, the insulin sensitiser metformin, which is in widespread use in PCOS, caused a significant reduction in ser...

Introduction: 3βHSD catalyses the formation of Δ4-3-ketosteroids including progesterone and androgens. Levonorgestrel (LNG) is an androgenic progestogen used in the LNG intra-uterine system (LNG-IUS). 17βHSD-5 is involved not only in androgen and oestrogen metabolism, but also has 3β-reductase activity.Objective: To determine expression patterns of 3βHSD-1 and -2, and 17βHSD-5 in human endometrium across the normal menstrual...

The primary treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) involves androgen ablation, halting tumour growth through down-regulation of androgen-regulated proliferative genes1. Frequently PCa progresses to an androgen-independent state and untreatable disease. The Androgen receptor (AR) continues to be expressed in many of these tumours, often associated with androgen-independent activation of the AR signalling pathway. Thus, the aim of the study is to understand regulation of...

Annexin A1 (AnxA1) acts as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) actions in 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 release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones. GC cause the externalization of AnxA1. The stress responsiveness of the female rat hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system varies with the estrous cycle, with increased CORT release in resp...