Endocrine Abstracts

Pre-autonomic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) project to sympathetic and parasympathetic motor nuclei in the brain stem, from where the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) are innervated by both branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Studies by our group and by others have shown that these neural pathways modulate glucose and lipid metabolism in liver and WAT. Given the abundant thyroid hormone receptor (TR) expression in the PVN we hypothes...

Epidemiological studies indicate that low circulating concentrations of IGF1 are associated with increased adult risk for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the metabolic syndrome (MS). Although comparable epidemiological data relating to GH concentrations are lacking, GH deficiency (GHD) is associated with many of the features of the MS and increased T2D risk. These data indicate that reduced activity of the GH/IGF1 axis is a risk factor for MS yet IGF1 and GH have ...

Ghrelin was identified in the stomach as the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a). Acylated ghrelin (AG), through interaction with GHS-R1a, exerts many central and peripheral effects, including stimulation of GH secretion and food intake. Unacylated ghrelin (UAG), although unable to bind the GHS-R1a and devoid of endocrine actions is an active peptide, exerting pleiotropic effects through an unknown receptor. UAG has been shown to act as an antag...

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