Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Conventional parameters evaluated in semen analysis show several limits in the diagnostic setting of male infertility and do not provide any useful prognostic tool for assisted reproductive technique (ART). On the contrary, the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) was proposed to discriminate fertile from infertile men and to predict the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment response in infertile men. However, a comprehensive evaluation thereof is not...

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and its related product perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) are anthropogenic fluorosurfactants widely used in consumer products. In general, studies in rodents have supported the conception that PFOS perturbs testis function, such as by inducing Sertoli cell injury. It remains to be demonstrated if similar effects could be reproduced in humans. We sought to examine its effects on human spermatogenesis by using a human Sertoli cell primary culture syst...

Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR) is localized at the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and at the interface between Sertoli cells (SC) and germ cells (GC). Earlier studies indicated that CXADR plays role in BTB function and germ cell migration. However, conventional knockout of CXADR leads to embryonic lethality, making the study of CXADR in the testis impossible. We aim to generate SC-specific CXADR knockout (KO) mice to evaluate the SC-specific function of CXADR on sp...

Introduction: CHH is a genetic syndrome that combines reproductive and brain abnormalities. The brain phenotype has been incompletely characterized. We aimed to study neuroradiological and genetic features in this first Belgian series of patients with CHH.Methods: A series of 56 adult patients (48 males, 8 females) presenting with CHH was investigated for a panel of 16 genes related to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by next generation sequencing on a MiSe...

Chemical-analytical methods are currently in use as the gold standard approach for the detection of androgens, designer androgens and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in serum and urine samples from athletes as well as in sports supplements. These methods are exquisitely sensitive and selective. However, they have the disadvantage in that the androgens that being surveyed for must have delineated structures. Designer androgens or SARMs that have divergent structu...

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a highly heterogeneous condition defined by the occurrence of amenorrhoea, hypoestrogenism and hypergonadotropinism in women under 40. POI onset can be triggered by multiple factors, such as iatrogenic events, environmental conditions, autoimmunity or genetic alterations. When the ovarian insufficiency occurs as a consequence of either chromosomal or genetic alterations, it can be associated with other congenital abnormalities and classif...

Introduction: A primate-specific luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor (LHCGR)-variant was suspected to discriminate between maternal choriogonadotropin (hCG)- and fetal LH-functioning. It is the so-called “LHCGRex6A”, truncated, intracellular receptor isoform produced by alternative cryptic exon stop-codons located between the 6th-7th out of 11 exons. Its function is unknown, although pseudohermaphroditism and 46-XY female-like phenotype were associated with LHCGRex...

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrinopathy affecting approximately 6–18% of women of reproductive age. It is also the most common cause of infertility due to anovulation. PCOS is characterized by menstrual disorders, polycystic or enlarged ovaries on ultrasound, but hyperandrogenism is the central feature of PCOS. Assessing of serum testosterone level (T) or free T is recommended by the guidelines in the diagnosis of PCOS. Diagnostic value o...

Introduction: Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is strongly related to multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Hormonal therapy (HT) in trans persons affects total body fat and body fat distribution, but the effect on VAT and its relation to changes in lipids is unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of one year HT on changes in VAT and its relation with changes in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides after one year of HT.</...

Introduction: Pregnancy leads to extensive adaptations in the female’s body, by changing the secretion and responses to several hormones. GH is required for fetal nutrition, growth during pregnancy and for mammary development and lactation, although its central effects are not completely clarified.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether central GH signaling regulates physiological and metabolic adaptations during pregnancy.<p class...