Sex steroid hormones as neuroprotective elements in ischemia models
We describe updated data from receptor and signaling events triggered by both hormones, with an emphasis on the mechanisms that have been reported as ‘rapid’ or ‘cytoplasmic actions’. Data showing the therapeutic effects of the hormones, used alone or in combination, are also summarized, with a focus on rodent models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Finally, we draw attention to evidence that neuroprotection by both hormones might be due to a combination of ‘cytoplasmic’ and ‘nuclear’ signaling. (Source: Journal of Endocrinology)
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 13, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Cespedes Rubio, A. E., Perez-Alvarez, M. J., Lapuente Chala, C., Wandosell, F. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Muscarinic M2 receptor promotes vasopressin synthesis in mice supraoptic nuclei
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors have been suggested to be implicated in arginine–vasopressin secretion because intracerebroventricular muscarinic agonist administration induces arginine–vasopressin release into the circulation. Although which subtype is involved in the regulation of arginine–vasopressin secretion is unclear, M2 receptors have been reported to be highly expressed in the hypothalamus. In the present study, M2 receptor-knockout mice were used to elucidate whether M2 receptor regulates arginine–vasopressin synthesis in the paraventricular nuclei and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothala...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 13, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Nagano, H., Sobue, Y., Matsuyama, H., Saito, S., Sakai, H., Alom, F., Tanahashi, Y., Ishii, T., Unno, T. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Haloperidol ameliorates androgen-induced behavioral deficits in developing male rats
The purpose of present study was to infer the potential effects of testosterone increase in some male-based childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Tourette syndrome. Thus, the influence of early postnatal androgen exposure upon the neurobehaviors and its possible neural basis were investigated in the study. Male pup rats received consecutive 14-day testosterone propionate (TP) subcutaneous injection from postnatal day (PND) 7. The TP treatment produced the hyperactive motor behavior and grooming behavior as well as the increased levels of dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter in the mesodopam...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 13, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Qi, C., Ji, X., Zhang, G., Kang, Y., Huang, Y., Cui, R., Li, S., Cui, H., Shi, G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Clusterin deficiency induces lipid accumulation and tissue damage in kidney
In this study, we examined the role of clusterin in renal lipid accumulation in clusterin-knockout mice and NRK52e tubular epithelial cells. Clusterin deficiency increased the expression of SREBP1 and its target genes and decreased malonyl-CoA decarboxylase protein levels in the kidney. Expression of the endocytic receptor, megalin, and scavenger receptor class A was increased in clusterin-deficient mice. Functional analysis of lipid metabolism also revealed that lipid uptake and triglyceride synthesis were increased and fatty acid oxidation was reduced, leading to increased lipid accumulation in clusterin-deficient mice. ...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 13, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Heo, J.-Y., Kim, J.-E., Dan, Y., Kim, Y.-W., Kim, J.-Y., Cho, K. H., Bae, Y. K., Im, S.-S., Liu, K.-H., Song, I.-H., Kim, J.-R., Lee, I.-K., Park, S.-Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Stimulation of growth hormone by kisspeptin antagonists in ewes
Kisspeptin signalling is indispensable for fertility, stimulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and mediating gonadal steroid feedback on GnRH neurons. Moreover, kisspeptin neurons have been implicated in other non-reproductive neuroendocrine roles. Kisspeptin appears to also regulate growth hormone secretion but much of the data appear contradictory. We sought to clarify a potential role of kisspeptin in growth hormone (GH) regulation by examining the effect of kisspeptin antagonists on GH secretion in ewes under various physiological conditions. Our data show clear and robust increases in GH secretion f...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 6, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Smith, J. T., Roseweir, A., Millar, M., Clarke, I. J., Millar, R. P. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Anti-Mullerian hormone overexpression restricts preantral ovarian follicle survival
We examined the effects of AMH overexpression on the stages of ovarian folliculogenesis, and the development of embryos, with a transgenic mouse that overexpresses human AMH in central nervous system neurons under the control of the mouse Thy1.2 promoter (Thy1.2-AMH Tg mice). These mice are severely sub-fertile, despite relatively normal ovulation rates. The embryos of Thy1.2-AMHTg females exhibited delayed preimplantation development and extensive mid-gestation fetal resorption. Young Thy1.2-AMHTg mouse ovaries exhibited only a slight reduction in the rate of primordial follicle activation but large declines in the number...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 3, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Pankhurst, M. W., Kelley, R. L., Sanders, R. L., Woodcock, S. R., Oorschot, D. E., Batchelor, N. J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
FGF21 acts as a negative regulator of bile acid synthesis
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a potent regulator of glucose and lipid homeostasis in vivo; its most closely related subfamily member, FGF19, is known to be a critical negative regulator of bile acid synthesis. To delineate whether FGF21 also plays a functional role in bile acid metabolism, we evaluated the effects of short- and long-term exposure to native FGF21 and long-acting FGF21 analogs on hepatic signal transduction, gene expression and enterohepatic bile acid levels in primary hepatocytes and in rodent and monkey models. FGF21 acutely induced ERK phosphorylation and inhibited Cyp7A1 mRNA expression in prima...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 3, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Chen, M. M., Hale, C., Stanislaus, S., Xu, J., Veniant, M. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Uterine progesterone signaling is a target for metformin therapy in PCOS-like rats
Impaired progesterone (P4) signaling is linked to endometrial dysfunction and infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Here, we report for the first time that elevated expression of progesterone receptor (PGR) isoforms A and B parallels increased estrogen receptor (ER) expression in PCOS-like rat uteri. The aberrant PGR-targeted gene expression in PCOS-like rats before and after implantation overlaps with dysregulated expression of Fkbp52 and Ncoa2, two genes that contribute to the development of uterine P4 resistance. In vivo and in vitro studies of the effects of metformin on the regulation of the uter...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 3, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Hu, M., Zhang, Y., Feng, J., Xu, X., Zhang, J., Zhao, W., Guo, X., Li, J., Vestin, E., Cui, P., Li, X., Wu, X.-k., Brannstrom, M., Shao, L. R., Billig, H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Inducible Wnt16 inactivation: WNT16 regulates cortical bone thickness in adult mice
In conclusion, WNT16 is a crucial regulator of cortical bone thickness in young adult and old mice. We propose that new treatment strategies targeting the adult regulation of WNT16 might be useful to reduce fracture risk at cortical bone sites. (Source: Journal of Endocrinology)
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 3, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Ohlsson, C., Henning, P., Nilsson, K. H., Wu, J., Gustafsson, K. L., Sjogren, K., Tornqvist, A., Koskela, A., Zhang, F.-P., Lagerquist, M. K., Poutanen, M., Tuukkanen, J., Lerner, U. H., Moverare-Skrtic, S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Hormonal and nutritional regulation of postnatal hypothalamic development
The hypothalamus is a key centre for regulation of vital physiological functions, such as appetite, stress responsiveness and reproduction. Development of the different hypothalamic nuclei and its major neuronal populations begins prenatally in both altricial and precocial species, with the fine tuning of neuronal connectivity and attainment of adult function established postnatally and maintained throughout adult life. The perinatal period is highly susceptible to environmental insults that, by disrupting critical developmental processes, can set the tone for the establishment of adult functionality. Here, we review the m...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - April 3, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Sominsky, L., Jasoni, C. L., Twigg, H. R., Spencer, S. J. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Fructose bisphosphatase 2 overexpression increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle is a major tissue for glucose metabolism and can store glucose as glycogen, convert glucose to lactate via glycolysis and fully oxidise glucose to CO2. Muscle has a limited capacity for gluconeogenesis but can convert lactate and alanine to glycogen. Gluconeogenesis requires FBP2, a muscle-specific form of fructose bisphosphatase that converts fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-bisP) to fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P) opposing the activity of the ATP-consuming enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFK). In mammalian muscle, the activity of PFK is normally 100 times higher than FBP2 and therefore energy wasting cycling bet...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - March 24, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Bakshi, I., Suryana, E., Small, L., Quek, L.-E., Brandon, A. E., Turner, N., Cooney, G. J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Lactobacillus acidophilus NS1 attenuates diet-induced obesity and fatty liver
Obesity is a major threat to public health, and it is strongly associated with insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Here, we demonstrated that administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus NS1 (LNS1) significantly reduced obesity and hepatic lipid accumulation, with a concomitant improvement in insulin sensitivity, in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Furthermore, administration of LNS1 inhibited the effect of HFD feeding on the SREBP-1c and PPARα signaling pathways and reduced lipogenesis with an increase in fatty acid oxidation in ex vivo livers from HFD-fed mice. These LNS1 effects were confirmed in HepG2 cells a...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - March 24, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Park, S.-S., Lee, Y.-J., Song, S., Kim, B., Kang, H., Oh, S., Kim, E. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Vitamin D is crucial for maternal care and offspring social behaviour in rats
Early life vitamin D plays a prominent role in neurodevelopment and subsequent brain function, including schizophrenic-like outcomes and increasing evidence for an association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we investigate how early life vitamin D deficiency during rat pregnancy and lactation alters maternal care and influences neurodevelopment and affective, cognitive and social behaviours in male adult offspring. Sprague–Dawley rats were placed on either a vitamin D control (2195 IU/kg) or deficient diet (0 IU/kg) for five weeks before timed mating, and diet exposure was maintained until weaning of offsp...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - March 20, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Yates, N. J., Tesic, D., Feindel, K. W., Smith, J. T., Clarke, M. W., Wale, C., Crew, R. C., Wharfe, M. D., Whitehouse, A. J. O., Wyrwoll, C. S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Metabolic reprogramming in type 2 diabetes and the development of breast cancer
A wealth of epidemiological data has found that patients with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of developing breast cancer. The molecular mechanisms underpinning this relationship are yet to be elucidated; however, this review examines the available evidence suggesting that the metabolic abnormalities observed in type 2 diabetes can predispose to the development of breast cancer. Alterations in substrate availability and the hormonal milieu, particularly hyperinsulinemia, not only create a favorable metabolic environment for tumorigenesis, but also induce metabolic reprogramming events that are required for the transfor...
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - March 19, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Martin, S. D., McGee, S. L. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Metabolic effects of short-term caloric restriction in mice with reduced insulin gene dosage
In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CR can cause weight loss in the context of reduced insulin production, but that CR-improved glucose homeostasis does not occur near the ‘insulin floor’ in young mice. Collectively, these data shed further light on the relationships between CR, insulin and glucose homeostasis. (Source: Journal of Endocrinology)
Source: Journal of Endocrinology - March 1, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Dommerholt, M. B., Dionne, D. A., Hutchinson, D. F., Kruit, J. K., Johnson, J. D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
