Electronic Library of Scientific Literature



ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS



Volume 30 / No. 4 / 1996



ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HYPOTHALAMO-PITUITARY DYSFUNCTION AND PERIPHERAL ENDOCRINE FUNCTION IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE OBESE MEN

Z. Ostrowska, B. Buntner, K. Zwirska-Korczala, M. Pardela, M. Drozdz

1st Department of Pathophysiology and Clinical Biochemistry, 2nd Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Silesian School of Medicine, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland

The relationship between hypothalamo-pituitary function and various hormonal factors (insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormones, sex steroid hormones, SHBG, IGF-I) was investigated in 34 obese men (16 normotensive and 18 hypertensive) and 15 healthy male volunteers aged 35 to 50 years. Hyperinsulinaemia in obese men was associated with altered hypothalamo-pituitary function as indicated by impaired GH, PRL and cortisol secretion in response to insulin induced hypoglycaemia. On the other hand, hyperinsulinaemia and disorders in GH, PRL and cortisol release were associated with lower levels of reverse triiodothyronine, gonadotropins, testosterone, 17-corticoids and SHBG and higher levels of triiodothyronine, estradiol, 17-hydroxycorticoids and IGF-I. Various disorders of hypothalamo-pituitary axis and adrenal, thyroid and testicular function occur more frequently in hypertensive obese men with android distribution of adipose tissue.

Key words: Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis - Adrenal Cortex - Thyroid - Testes - Normotensive and Hypertensive Obese Men
pp. 173 –184


EFFECT OF K[^+] ON THE PHOSPHORYLATION OF RIBONUCLEOPROTEINS IN THE ADRENOCORTICAL TISSUE

V.M. Poushkariov, D.P. Prudiev, N.D. Tronko, A.S. Mikosha

Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kiev 254114, Ukraine

The effect of potassium ions on the phosphorylation of ribonucleoproteins (RNP) in guinea pig adrenocortical tissue was studied. Increase of K[^+] concentration in the incubation medium to 8.5 mmol/l, when stimulation of aldosterone production was observed, resulted in a decrease of membrane free RNP phosphorylation. Decrease in K[^+] concentration to 0.5 mmol/l caused the enhancement of label incorporation into the RNP. Staurosporine and phorbol ester raised the level of phosphorylation at 3.5 and 8.5 mmol/l K[^+]. The phosphate incorporation into membrane-bound polyribosomes was also enhanced, when the content of K[^+] in the medium was increased from 3.5 to 8.5 mmol/l, but removing of membranes by Triton X-100 resulted in a lowering of polyribosomes labelling. It is thus apparent that the phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of polyribosomes and RNP took part in the regulation of aldosterone biosynthesis by K[^+].

Key words: Potassium Ions - Andrenal Cotex - Phosphorylation - Ribonucleoproteins - Protein Kinase C - Protein Synthesis
pp. 185-193


COMPARISON OF OVARIAN FOLLICLES (STAGE, NUMBER AND ESTRADIOL CONCENTRATION) IN HIGH FECUNDITY OLKUSKA SHEEP, LOW FECUNDITY POLISH MOUNTAIN SHEEP AND THEIR CROSSBREEDS

D. Gebarowska, E. Wierzchos, M. Murawski, E. Gregoraszczuk

Laboratory of Animals Endocrinology and Tissue Culture, Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland;
Department of Sheep & Goats Breeding, Academy of Agriculture, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

The objective of this study was to identify whether high ovulation rate in high fecundity Polish Olkuska Sheep results from within ovary differences by comparing the number, size and estradiol concentration in ovarian follicles obtained from high fecundity ewes of Olkuska breed, non prolific Polish Mountain Sheep and the crossbreed between them. The ovaries were obtained after laparotomy from the anesthetized animals on the 17th day after the onset of estrus. The diameter of individual follicles was estimated with the use of operating microscope with a calibrated scale in the ocular. Dissected follicles were stored at -20 °C for the estradiol estimations in the homogenates. The mean number of highly estrogenic and medium follicles in crossbreed was significantly lower than that in Olkuska and significantly higher than that in Polish Mountain. However, mean estradiol level in high estrogenic and medium follicles in three investigated groups was not significantly different. Mean ovulation rates were 3.1 for Olkuska, 1.5 for Polish Mountain and 2.2 for crossbreed. It is concluded that, like in Booroola sheep, the increased number of follicles that mature and ovulate results from the differences within the ovary. The recruitment of ovulatory follicles in high fecundity Olkuska sheep, lasts longer than in non prolific Polish Mountain sheep and similar tendency has been observed in crossbreed.

Key words: Follicular Dynamics - Estradiol Secretion - F-gene - Sheep
pp. 195 – 200


SERUM, SALIVARY AND URINARY CORTISOL LEVEL IN THE EVALUATION OF ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

B. Kos-Kudla, B.Buntner, B. Marek, Z. Ostrowska, E. Swietochowska

1st Department of Pathophysiology and Clinical Biochemistry, Silesian Academy of Medicine, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland

56 patients with bronchial asthma (32 women and 24 men) and 31 healthy volunteers (19 women and 12 men) were investigated. The evaluation of the usefulness of salivary and urinary cortisol levels and urinary cortisol metabolites in 24-hr urine was conducted using the correlation coefficient between the cortisol level in the salivary or urine and that in blood serum. Very high correlation was found between the serum and salivary cortisol level (r=0.817). The correlation coefficient between the serum and urinary cortisol level in basal conditions was 0.759, while that between the saliva and urinary level was 0.723. A moderate degree of correlation (r=0.381) was demonstrated between serum cortisol level and 17-OHCS in urine. From these results it was concluded that salivary and urinary free cortisol level estimations may be a useful and non-invasive screening method of evaluating the glucocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex in asthma patients.

Key words: Adrenal Cortex - Salivary, Serum and Urinary Cortisol - Bronchial Asthma
pp. 201 – 206


INTRACELLULAR INSULIN SIGNALLING, GLUCOSE TRANSPORT, AND IN VIVO INSULIN ACTION IN SELECTED RAT MODELS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE
Review

D. Gasperikova, E. Sebokova, I. Klimes

Diabetes and Nutrition Research Group, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 833 06 Bratislava, Slovakia

pp. 207 – 228