Endocrine Abstracts

Somatotroph adenoma represent 20% of pituitary adenoma. Although often considered as benign, they can induce serious neurological and metabolic complications. GH hypersecretion can be inhibited by somatostatin agonists such as octreotide or lanreotide. However, some GH levels reach normal values in only 50% of treated patiens. The decreased sensitivity to the somatostatin agonists was shown to be related to a lower expression of the sst2 gene.To reverse ...

Animals that are not exposed to endogenous sex steroids during development provide an important model for studying hormone independent development of brain sex differences. Due to gonadal agenesis, male and female steroidogenic factor 1 knockout (SF-1 KO) mice are born phenotypically female. Normally, they die shortly after birth due to adrenal insufficiency. Early corticosteroid injections followed by adrenal transplantation can maintain SF-1 KO mice into adulthood. As severa...

Generation of H2O2 at the apical membrane of thyroid cells is essential for iodination of thyroglobulin. Dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) is the catalytic core of the thyroidal H2O2 generator, and its deficiency leads to congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in humans and mice. The Dual oxidase maturation factor 2 (DUOXA2) is a recently identified endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein required for expression of DUOX2 activity.<p class="abst...

Blood and lymphatic microvessels (MVs) ensure a supply of substances to the organ cells and removal of catabolic wastes into circulation. In endocrine glands, MVs are also involved in transport of hormonal molecules to systemic blood. These functions of MVs are vitally important, and many investigators study MVs in endocrine organs, including thyroid gland.Stereological methods are frequently used to determine 3D features of MVs (number, sizes, density, ...

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased risk of kidney stones. Hypercalciuria and urine oxalate excretion are considered risk factors for urolithiasis in PHPT stone-formers. Recently, the anion-exchanger SLC26A6 has been involved in the oxalate metabolism. Slc26a6-null mice showed hyperoxalemia, hyperoxaluria resulting in dramatic calcium oxalate urolithiasis. We tested the hypothesis that urine oxalate excretion in PHPT patients might be modulat...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by anovulation, elevated levels of circulating androgens and polycystic ovaries. Although the etiology of PCOS is poorly understood, the common denominator is a disturbance in the selection of the dominant follicle. In PCOS women serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels are elevated. Since AMH reduces FSH sensitivity of growing follicles, the elevated AMH levels in PCOS patients may contribute to the disturbed follicle se...