Endocrinology

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are used primarily as flame retardants and plasticizers. Previously, we reported that adrenal cells are important targets of individual OPEs. However, real life exposures are to complex mixtures of these chemicals. To address this, we exposed H295R human adrenal cells to varying dilutions (1/1000 K to 1/3 K) of a Canadian household dust based OPE mixture for 48 h and evaluated effects on phenotypic, lipidomic, and functional parameters. Using a high-content screening approach, we assessed phenotypic markers at mixture concentrations at which there was greater than 70% cell survival; the most striking effect of the OPE mixture was a 2...

Glucoprivic feeding is one of several counter-regulatory responses (CRRs) that facilitates restoration of euglycemia following acute glucose deficit (glucoprivation). Our previous work established that glucoprivic feeding requires ventrolateral medullary (VLM) catecholamine (CA) neurons that coexpress neuropeptide Y (NPY). However, the connections by which VLM CA/NPY neurons trigger increased feeding are uncertain. We have previously shown that glucoprivation, induced by an anti-glycolygic agent 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), activates perifornical lateral hypothalamus (PeFLH) neurons and that expression of NPY in the VLM CA/NPY neurons is required for glucoprivic feeding...

Burgeoning evidence suggests that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may disseminate into blood vessels at an early stage, seeding metastases in various cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. Simultaneously, the early-stage CTCs that settle in metastatic sites (termed disseminated tumor cells or DTCs) can enter dormancy, marking a potential source of late recurrence and therapy resistance. Thus, the presence of these early CTCs poses risks to patients but also holds potential benefits for early detection, treatment, and opportunities for possibly curative interventions...

Sirt3 is a mitochondrial protein deacetylase functioning in energy metabolism, regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and aging. Although Sirt3 loss has negative effects on fertility of oocytes during in vitro fertilization and on progesterone production in granulosa cells, Sirt3's function in Leydig cells remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated Sirt3 activity in Leydig cells, focusing on androgen production. To do so, we performed immunohistochemistry to confirm Sirt3 localization in gonads and observed strong Sirt3 immunostaining in Leydig cells of human testes and of Sirt3+/+ and Sirt3+/- mouse testes, while Sirt3-/- mouse testis tissue was negative...

BACKGROUND: Corticotrophs are susceptible to lymphocyte cytotoxicity, as seen in hypophysitis, suggesting that an immunological approach may be a potential strategy for corticotroph-derived tumors. OBJECTIVES: We aimed clarify whether corticotroph tumors that induce hypercortisolemia (ACTHomas) could be targets for immunotherapy. METHODS: Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were immunohistochemically analyzed. ACTHomas (Naïve: ACTHomas without preoperative treatment) were compared with other pituitary tumors, and further divided into three different cortisol-exposed milieus: Naïve, Met (ACTHomas with preoperative metyrapone), and SCA (silent corticotroph adenomas)...

Ovarian endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder. Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), a nuclear receptor for estradiol, plays an important role in the development of ovarian endometriosis. Here, we investigated the biological significance of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) in ovarian endometriosis and the mechanism by which it regulated ERβ. We used immunohistochemical assays to verify that AURKA and ERβ were highly expressed in ectopic endometrial tissues. Cell proliferation and colony formation assays were used to demonstrate that AURKA promoted the proliferation of endometriosis cells...

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a transcription factor for genes mediating diverse, cell-specific functions, including trophic effects as well as promoting fluid/electrolyte homeostasis. It was reported that in intercalated cells, phosphorylation of the MR at serine 843 (S843) by ULK1 inhibits MR activation and that phosphorylation of ULK1 by mTOR inactivates ULK1, and thereby prevents MR inactivation. We extended these findings with studies in M1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells stably expressing the rat MR and a reporter gene...

Androgenic actions of gonadal testosterone are thought to be a major mechanism promoting sex differences in body composition across the lifespan. However, this inference is based on studies of androgen receptor (AR) function in late adolescent or emerging adult rodents. Here we assess body composition and AR expression in skeletal muscle of rats at defined ages, comparing wild-type (WT) to transgenic HSAAR rats which overexpress AR in skeletal muscle. Male and female HSAAR and WT Sprague Dawley rats (N = 288) underwent DXA scanning and tissue collection at post-natal day (PND) 1, 10, 21, 42, 70, 183, 243, and 365...

Early puberty poses a significant challenge for male Atlantic salmon in aquaculture due to its negative impact on growth and welfare. The regulation of puberty in vertebrates involves two key reproductive hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and their gonadal receptors. In male mice lacking FSH receptor, testes size is reduced, but fertility is maintained, while medaka and zebrafish with a disrupted fshr gene exhibit near normal testis size and fertility. In these fishes both Fsh and Lh are present during puberty and Lh may rescue fertility, while in salmonid fish only Fsh is present in the circulation during puberty...

CONTEXT: IRE1α and PERK, which are endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane proteins, regulate unfolded protein response (UPR). These molecules have recently gained attention as a novel therapeutic target in secretory tumors. The roles of UPR in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To clarify UPR profiling of PitNETs and to investigate the effect of pharmacological modulation of UPR by KIRA8, a newly-developed IRE1α-specific inhibitor...

The proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells (GCs) is a crucial process in follicular development. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism of follicular proliferation and differentiation of GCs needs further research. Studies have reported that follicular fluid exosomes are involved in regulation of proliferation of GCs, but the specific mechanism is unclear. This study demonstrated that LOC102163816 is upregulated in porcine GCs treated with follicular fluid exosomes. Further study defined LOC102163816 to be a novel long non-coding RNA that is highly homologous to human metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and enriched in porcine follicular fluid exosomes...

The arcuate nucleus kisspeptin (ARNKISS) neurons represent the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator that likely drives pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in all mammals. Using an improved GCaMP fiber photometry system enabling long-term continuous recordings, we aimed here to establish a definitive profile of ARNKISS neuronal activity across the murine estrous cycle. As noted previously, a very substantial reduction in the frequency of ARNKISS neuron synchronization events (SEs) occurs on late proestrus and extends into estrus...

Maternal nutritional status can affect development and metabolic phenotypes of their progeny in animals. The effects of maternal diet are thought to be mediated mainly by changes inside oocytes such as organelles, maternal RNAs, and metabolites. However, to what extent each factor contributes to offspring phenotypes remains uncertain, especially in viviparous mammalian systems, where factors other than oocytes, such as placenta and milk, need to be considered. Here, using the medaka fish as an oviparous vertebrate model, we examined whether maternal high-fat diet (mHFD) feeding affects offspring development, and what kind of changes occur in the contents of mature eggs...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with infertility and poor reproductive outcomes. The follicular fluid (FF) microenvironment plays a crucial role in oocyte development. This review summarizes evidence elucidating the alterations in FF composition in PCOS. Various studies demonstrated a pronounced proinflammatory milieu in PCOS FF, characterized by increased levels of cytokines, including but not limited to interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α, C-reactive protein, and IL-1β, concomitant with a reduction in anti-inflammatory IL-10...