High fat diet induces obesity and alters the expression of MCHR1 and OB-Rb in the adipose tissue / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of high-fat (HF) diet on the body weight and the mRNA expression of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) and leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in the adipose tissue in rats, the two important and opposite factors in regulating the body weight.@*METHODS@#Post-weaning rats were divided into 3 groups: the NC group were fed a normal-chow diet (NC) (13% calories from fat), the HF group with a HF-diet (47% calories from fat) and the PHF group pair-fed a HF-diet (47% calories from fat). At the end of 8th week, the gained bodyweight, the plasma melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) and leptin, and the expression levels of MCHR1 and OB-Rb in the adipose tissue were measured.@*RESULTS@#Both the HF-diet and pair-fed HF-diet enhanced the body weight (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Chronic intake of iso-caloric HF-diet and ad libitum HF-diet obviously results in increase in the body weight, serum leptin, and MCH concentration. Diet-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders are possibly correlated with up-regulated expression of MCHR1 and down-regulated expression of OB-Rb in the adipose tissue.

Effect of preventive moxibustion on heat shock proteins and stress hormones in natural menopausal rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of preventive moxibustion at the acupoint of 'Guanyuan" (CV 4) on the stress-related hormones, proteins and genes in natural menopausal rats, and explore its protective mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty eight healthy female SD rats were used in this study, in which 16 rats aged 4 months were used as normal control group, the rest 10-month-old rats with disorder of estrus cycle were randomly divided into 7 groups, including 4 control groups at the age of 10, 12, 14 and 16 months, and 3 preventive moxibustion groups at the age of 12, 14 and 16 months, 16 cases in each group. The 10-month-old rats were treated with preventive moxibustion at the acupoint of "Guanyuan" (CV 4), twice a week for 8 weeks consistently, then observed on the following 12, 14 and 16 months. Its effects on the level of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70), heat shock protein 70 mRNA (HSP 70 mRNA), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in the different nuclei of hypothalamus were examined with radio-immunity, immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the control groups, the expression of HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA was increased in paraventricular, arcuate and supraoptic nucleus, the level of CRH, beta-EP was showed with declining trend in volatility, while the content of ACTH was increased. In comparison to the same-aged control groups, the preventive moxibustion groups were showed that the expression of HSP 70 in the 14-month-old group was lower and the expression of HSP 70 mRNA in the 12 and 16-month-old group was significantly higher in the paraventricular nucleus (all P < 0.05), the expression of HSP 70 in the 12 and 14-month-old groups and HSP 70 mRNA in the 12-month-old group was significantly increased in the arcuate nucleus (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the expression of HSP 70 in the 14-month-old group and HSP 70 mRNA in the 12 and 16-month-old group was significantly decreased in the supraoptic nucleus (all P < 0.05), the content of CRH and ACTH decreased significantly in 14-month group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), but the content of beta-EP obviously went up in the 12-month-old group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Preventive moxibustion at the acupoint of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) can regulate the expression of stress proteins, genes and hormones in the hypothalamus for the natural menopausal rats, which might be playing a protective role.</p>

Clinical study on the postburn change in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormones in severely burned patients / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the postburn dynamic changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormones in severely burned patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty burn patients were enrolled in the study. The plasma contents of total GC (cortisol), ACTH and aldosterone (ALDO) and urinary contents of 17-OHO and 17-KS were determined with radio-immunological assay (RIA) method after burn injury to compare with the normal values which were well established clinically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The postburn plasma and urinary contents of the above indices were increased evidently with two peak values in shock and infectious stages, whilst the majority of he indices were lower than the normal values after 6 postburn weeks (PBWs). The values of these hormones were the lowest in dying patients. On the other hand, the values approached normal levels in those patients whose burn wounds were healing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increases of the plasma and urinary levels of hypothalamus-pituitary -adrenal hormones in severely burned patients were constantly seen. Burn shock and infection seemed to be the two major factors in inducing postburn stress reaction in burn victims. Abrupt decrease of the hormone levels in plasma and or urine indicated adrenal failure predicting a poor prognosis of the burn patients.</p>

Estudo clínico e molecular de duas novas mutaçöes no gene PROP-1(296G>A e 152G>C) em crianças com deficiência de crescimento / Clinical and molecular study of two new muatation in Prop-1(g296>A e 152G>C) gene in children with growth hormone deficiency

PROP-1 (Prophet of Pit-1), um dos fatores de transcriçao específicos hipofisários, está envolvido na diferenciaçao das células da hipófise anterior (somatotrofos, lactotrofos, tirotrofos e gonadotrofos) e mutaçoes no gene PROP-1 podem prejudicar a diferenciaçao destas células durante a organogênese da pituitária, resultando em Deficiência Combinada de Hormônios Hipofisários (DCHH). O fenótipo dos pacientes com mutaçoes do PROP-1 é variável, desde quadros de DCHH grave afetando todos os hormônios adenohipofisários, até quadros mais leves, com deficiências hormonais parciais e nao tao severas. Analisamos o gene PROP-1 de duas famílias cujos filhos apresentam DCHH. Na primeira família, os pais sao primos em primeiro grau, a média de suas estaturas é, baixa (-2 DP da curva de Tanner) e ambos os filhos apresentam baixa estatura (BE), que inicialmente estava compatível com sua altura alvo. O acompanhamento auxológico revelou uma diminuiçao gradativa da velocidade de crescimento e aparecimento progressivo de deficiência de hormônio de crescimento e de outras, deficiências hormonais adenohipofisárias. Na segunda família os pais nao têm história de consangüinidade e a média de suas estaturas está no -1.3 DP da curva de Tanner. O filho mais velho foi levado ao serviço médico por BE e crescimento lento. Seu diagnóstico inicial foi BE por deficiência de GH (DGH). Durante a evoluçao, outras deficiências de hormônios adenohipofisários foram identificadas. Para análise do gene PROP-1, DNA foi isolado de linfócitos...(au)

The neuroimmune-endocrine axis: pathophysiological implications for the central nervous system cytokines and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormone dynamics

Cytokines are molecules that were initially discovered in the immune system as mediators of communication between various types of immune cells. However, it soon became evident that cytokines exert profound effects on key functions of the central nervous system, such as food intake, fever, neuroendocrine regulation, long-term potentiation, and behavior. In the 80's and 90's our group and others discovered that the genes encoding various cytokines and their receptors are expressed in vascular, glial, and neuronal structures of the adult brain. Most cytokines act through cell surface receptors that have one transmembrane domain and which transduce a signal through the JAK/STAT pathway. Of particular physiological and pathophysiological relevance is the fact that cytokines are potent regulators of hypothalamic neuropeptidergic systems that maintain neuroendocrine homeostasis and which regulate the body's response to stress. The mechanisms by which cytokine signaling affects the function of stress-related neuroendocrine systems are reviewed in this article.

Emprego dos Antagonistas do GnRH em Reproduçäo Assistida / GnRH antagonists in assisted reproduction

O desenvolvimento dos antagonistas do hormônio liberador das gonadotrofinas (GnRH) e os princípios de seu uso clínico foram revisados. Os antagonistas do hormônio liberador das gonadotrofinas (GnRH) ligam-se de forma competitiva aos receptores de GnRH e, dessa forma, impedem a açäo estimulatória do GnRH endógeno sobre as células hipofisárias. A vantagem dos antagonistas do GnRH está ligada ao fato de que eles inibem a secreçäo de gonadotrofinas e esteróides sexuais imediatamente após a administraçäo. Os antagonistas do GnRH poderiam ser utilizados no tratamento de leiomiomas uterinos, endometriose, hipertrofia benigna da próstata e nos protocolos de estimulaçäo ovariana controlada, onde já está bem estabelecido o benefício dos agonistas.

Deficiência múltipla hipotálamo-hipofisária: defeito no gene Prophet of Pit-1 (Prop-1) / Hypothalamo-hypophyseal multiple deficiency: deffect in Prophet of Pit-1 (Prop-1) gene

O objetivo desta apresentação é a descrição de uma família que apresenta três indivíduos afetados (duas irmãs e um irmão, filhos de pais consangüíneos, primos de primeiro grau) portadores de deficiência combinada de hormônios hipofisários secundária a mutação no gene Prop-1., cuja investigação clínica, laboratorial e radiologica foi complementada pela análise molecular.

Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone(TRH) Receptor Gene Expression in GH3 Cells Permanently Transfected with a Mutant Gs alpha Gene / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Gs alpha gene mutation, that constitutively increases intracellular cAMP, is found in some acromegalic patients. It was demonstrated that increased intracellular cAMP levels suppress the expression of rat TRH receptor (TRH-R) mRNA. We previously demonstrated that transient expression of a mutant Gs alpha gene suppress the rat TRH-R gene expression in the cultured rat growth hormone-secreting tumor cell line (GH3), whereas TRH-R gene expression in adenomas with Gs alpha gene mutation (gsp oncogene) did not differ from that in tumors without the mutation. The discrepancy suggests the possibilities that the effect of permanent expression of mutant Gs alpha gene on TRH-R gene expression is different from that of transient expression of the mutant gene and hypothalamic hormones including TRH regulate the gene expression. METHODS: We investigated whether permanent expression of the mutant-type Gs alpha does not suppress the TRH receptor gene expression in GH3 cells, and whether TRH suppresses the gene expression by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in vitro transcription. RESULTS: Permanent expression of a mutant-type Gs alpha increased basal cAMP levels up to 1.7-fold relative to the controls, whereas the wild-type cell line did not show increased cAMP levels. Permanent expression of a mutant-type Gs alpha increased TRH receptor mRNA level up to 2.8 fold compared with the controls. Treatment of the permanently transfected GH3 cells with TRH suppressed TRH-R gene expression more prominently compared to the wild type GH3 cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that permanent expression of mutant Gs alpha enhances the expression of TRH-R in GH-secreting pituitary tumors with gsp oncogene, but the gene expression may also be regulated by other factors including TRH.

Leptina: una hormona del tejido adiposo / Leptin: an hormone from the adipose tissue

Se revisa la fisiología de la leptina, hormona que interviene en la regulación de la ingesta de alimentos y del balance energético. Se describe su patrón secretorio durante la vida intrauterina, la infancia y adolescencia. Se analizan las alteraciones que presenta esta hormona en algunas enfermedades como la obesidad exógena y la anorexia nervosa. Se detallan algunas perspectivas futuras para esta hormona

Hipotálamo. Algunos aspectos de su función / Hypothalamus. Some aspects of its function

El hipotálamo tiene funciones endócrinas bien definidas, así como otras de distinta naturaleza, que incluyen: control de la temperatura, la osmolaridad, sed, conducta alimenticia y sexual. Participa en la coordinación de los ciclos sueño-vigilia, ayuda a modular la conducta y el comportamiento, e integra algunos procesos de aprendizaje; además participa en la adaptación que se desencadena durante el éstres agudo o crónico. La activación sostenida de esta respuesta expone a nuestro organismo al efecto sostenido de las hormonas del estrés, con la posibilidad de tener efectos dañinos a varios niveles. Algunos de estos aspectos se señalan en esta revisión

Diferencas na secrecao diaria de leptina em homens e mulheres: possiveis implicacoes na neuroendocrinologia dos transtornos alimentares / Daily secretion differences of leptin in men and women: neuroendocrinology possible implications of eating disorders

Introducao: alteracoes de cortisol e hormonios sexuais sao frequentes em transtornos alimentares. Leptina atua no sistema adrenal/gonadal e sinaliza saciedade para o cerebro. Estudos recentes demonstraram alteracoes de leptina em mulheres com anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa. Objetivos: 1) verificar se ha uma diferenca no padrao de secrecao diaria de leptina entre sexos; 2) comparar hormonios sexuais e leptina em mulheres. Metodo: a leptina plasmatica foi medida em oito homens e seis mulheres normais. Series temporais compostas de valores plasmaticos de leptina, LH (hormonio luteinizante) e estradiol foram avaliados por testes de deteccao de pulsos, analise espectral e cross-correlation. Resultados: a leptina diaria e a amplitude dos pulsos de leptina sao duas vezes maiores nas mulheres que nos homens...

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in control of hypothalamic-pituitary function

Neurons containing neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) are found in various locations in the hypothalamus and, in particular, in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei with axons which project to the median eminence and extend into the neural lobe where the highest concentrations of NOS are found in the rat. Furthermore, nNOS is also located in folliculostellate cells and LH gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland. To define the role of NO in the release of hypothalamic peptides and pituitary hormones, we inected an inhibitor of NOS, Ng- monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) or a releasor of NO, nitroprusside (NP) into the third ventricle (3V) of conscious castrate rats and determined the effect on the release of various pituitary hormones. In vitro, we incubated medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) fragments and studied inhibitors of NO synthase and also releasors of NO. The results indicate that NOergic neurons play an important role in stimulating the release of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), luteinizing hormone releasing-hormone (LHRH), prolactin-RH's, particularly oxytocin, growth hormone-RH (GHRH) and somatostatin, but not FSH-releasing factor from the hypothalamus. NO stimulates the release of LHRH, which induces sexual behavior, and causes release of LH from the pituitary gland. The intrahypothalamic pathway by which NO controls LHRH release is as follows: glutamergic neurons synapse with noradrenergic terminals in the MBH which release nonepinephrine (NE) that acts on alpha1 receptors on the NOergic neuron to increase intracellular free Ca++ which combines with calmodulin to activate NOS. The NOS diffuses to the LHRH terminal and activates guanylate cyclase (GC), cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase causing release of LHRH via release of cyclic GMP, PGE2 and leukotrienes, respectively. Alcohol and cytokines can block LHRH release by blocking the activation of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase without interfering with the activation of GC. GABA also blocks the response of the LHRH neurons to NO and recent experiments indicate that granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) blocks the response of the LHRH neuron to NP by activation of GABA neurons since the blockase can be reversed by the competitive inhibitor of GABAa receptors, bicuculine.

Projeçöes diencefálicas para o córtex motor e o núcleo pedunculopontino do tegmento, imunorreativas ao hormônio concentrador de melanina (MCH) e/ou ao neuropeptídeo EI (NEI): um estudo com múltiplos traçadores neuronais / Diencephalic origns of melanin-concentrating hormone-and neuropeptide EI - immunoreactive projections to pedunculopontine nucleous and motor cortex: a study with multiple neuronal tracers

O hormônio concentrador de melanina (MCH) é um heptadecapeptídeo cíclico descrito pela primeira vez em hipófise de salmäo e posteriormente em alguns mamíferos. Os corpos celulares McH-ir encontram-se localizados em regiöes específicas do sistema nervoso central (SNC) do rato, como a Zona Incerta (EI) e a Área Hipotalâmica Lateral (AHL) enquanto que as fibras apresentam-se espalhadas por todo o neuro-eixo. Indica que a inervaçäo cortical é densa e homogênea por todo o neocórtex, assim como, a inervaçäo de várias regiöes da formaçäo reticular, como o núcleo pedunculopontino do tegmento (PPTg). Faz um estudo com múltiplos traçadores neuronais em ratos albinos machos (Wistar) usando 6 procedimentos distintos. Utiliza injeçöes de Diamidino Yellow (DY) no córtex motor (CxM) e de True Blue (TB) no PPTg. Demonstra a existência de neurônios MCH-ir marcados com ambos os traçadores distintamente, tanto na ZI quanto na AHL. Realiza controle com leucoaglutimina do Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-L) injetado nestes territórios, demonstrando a inervaçäo do CxM e do PPTg originários das regiöes onde as células dupla e triplamente marcada foram encontradas. Conclui que estas células säo também NEI-ir; os resultados envidenciam a presença de colaterais de AHL e ZI para 2 regiöes de SNC envolvidas com o comportamento locomotor. Discute a pesquisa em termos de envolvimento do MCH com o comportamento alimentar, que justamente com o locomotor indica uma atuaçäo na busca do alojamento (a maior quantidade de células marcadas säo originárias de fibras localizadas na regiäo motora das vibrissas), e no sistema reticular ativador ascendente

Effect of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis on the hypothalamic-Pituitary-adrenal axis

To test the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis [HSS], 40 adult Egyptian males were selected. They were composed of 4 groups: Compensated HSS [G1], decompensated HSS [G2], HSS with bilateral gynecomastia [G3] and healthy controls [G4]. They were subjected to full clinical examination and routine laboratory tests in addition to the ACTH and cortisol levels in plasma before [basal level] and after insulin-induced hypoglycemia as a dynamic test. The basal level of plasma ACTH in patients with compensated HSS was found to be significantly lower than that of the control [P <0.05]. It was even lower in the controls and in HSS associated with gynecomastis [P <0.001]. After insulin induced hypoglycemia, the level of ACTH was found to be significantly low in G2 and G3 compared with the controls. The level after stimulation was higher than the basal level in all groups including the controls. On the other hand, the basal level of serum cortisol was significantly low in patients with gynecomastia only compared with the controls. While, after insulin induced hypoglycemia the levels were found to be significantly low in G1 and G3 [P <0.001]. No correlations were found between serum albumin, SGPT or alkaline phosphatase and ACTH or cortisol levels. These findings could have its own application when a patient with HSS should undergo a major surgery

study on the hypothalamic pituitmy gonadal axis in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

The function of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis was studied in males having hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, compensated group [1], decompensated group [2] or associated with some manifestations of endocrinal disturbances, such as gynecomastia [group 3]. A healthy group [4] was used as controls. Some pituitary and gonadal hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay at basal levels and after stimulation of the pituitary to release its reserve of FSH and LH by clomiphene citrate. The level of FSH was found to be significantly low in all patient groups before and after stimulation when compared with the confound to be significantly low in all patient groups before and after stimulation when compared with the controls. The basal level of LH was found to be low only in group 3, but after stimulation it was low in groups 2 and 3. Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between FSH and LH levels in group 3 [with gynecomastia] only. Serum levels of testosterone were found to be low in all groups before and after stimulation. A significant positive correlation was found between basal levels of FSH and testosterone in group 1 and a negative correlation in group 2. Serum prolactin was found to be high in all patient groups before stimulation and in group 3 only after stimulation. On the other hand, serum progesterone was found to be low in group 1 and high in group 3 before and after clomiphene stimulation. Moreover, no correlation was detected between estradiol and progesterone. These findings could be explained on the bases of the effect of estradiol, which is the most biologically strong estrogen. The sustained hyperestrogenism could lead to suppression of the pituitary gland, which is the master gland and plays the role of pacemaker of the endocrine system