Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Steroid hormones such as the estrogen 17β-estradiol and the androgen testosterone play an important role in the etiology of hormone dependent diseases. To investigate factors influencing endogenous steroid hormone synthesis also biologically less active glucuronides and sulfates should be considered since they can serve as circulating reservoir for bioactive hormones. As the sensitivity of the available mass spectrometry (MS)-based method is lower for glucuron...

Background: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) are expressed on the surface of granulosa cells, where they form heteromeric complexes, shifting FSH-induced signals to survival pathways and determining the follicular fate.Objectives: We evaluated whether GPER can interact with the luteinizing hormone (LH)/choriogonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LHCGR) and modulate the LH/hCG/dependent signalling pathways...

Background: Testis stimulation with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is one of the empirical treatments proposed for male idiopathic infertility, although early reliable markers to predict its efficacy are still lacking.Objective: To identify the improvement of semen parameters required to predict a priori FSH efficacy in terms of pregnancy achievement.Methods: A real-world study was conducted, enrolling idiopathic infer...

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the master hormone regulating the reproductive axis and its pulsatile secretion is crucial for puberty onset and fertility. Disruption in GnRH neuron development or hypothalamic function can lead to absent or delayed puberty (DP), with a phenotypic spectrum from severe DP to partial or complete Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (HH). We aimed to identify novel genetic etiology of severe DP by screening and identifying variants in associated...

Background: Despite male idiopathic infertility is characterized by semen analysis alteration with gonadotropins within reference ranges, it is still considered a functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (FHH). This simple definition is fundamental to guide the empirical therapeutic approach of these men. However, the number of studies describing total testosterone serum levels (TT) in male idiopathic infertility is still limited.Objective: To evaluate T...

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious and complex pregnancy-related condition, characterized by hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, which can potentially damage liver, brain and kidneys, resulting to an increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. We investigated pregnancy-related steroid hormones such as progestogens, estrogens, androgens, and glucocorticoids to assess maternal and fetal development. We aim to compare steroid hormone profiles throughout pregnancy, ...

Background: Many questions concerning polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain unsolved, such as the long-term evolution of cardiovascular (CV) risk markers and the risk for CV events.Methods: A total of 119 PCOS patients diagnosed in 2009 by NIH criteria at our Unit were evaluated at baseline for cardiovascular risk markers (hypertension, diabetes mellitus-DM, dyslipidaemia, obesity, carotid intima media thickness-cIMT, and epicardial fat thickness-EFT) ...

Background: The control of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal (HPG) axis is a highly complex process, with the hypothalamic arcuate-median eminence complex (Arc-ME) as the master regulating region. The transient activation of the HPG axis is essential for the development and function of the reproductive system. This project’s focus is the transient phase of HPG axis activation within the first weeks and months postpartum (minipuberty). The mechanisms guiding the...

Background: A negative relationship between body mass index (BMI) and serum Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels has been previously reported. Whether this is because of an adverse effect of adiposity on AMH production or the hormone’s dilution in a higher blood volume that accompanies larger body size (‘hemodilution’) is not yet clear. Blood volume can be estimated by body weight, body surface area (BSA) or lean mass (LM). Of note, adipose tissue is poorly ...