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Pharmacological Research Apr 2020Patients with uncontrolled hypertension are at risk for cardiovascular complications. The majority of them suffers from unidentified forms of hypertension and a fraction... (Review)
Review
Patients with uncontrolled hypertension are at risk for cardiovascular complications. The majority of them suffers from unidentified forms of hypertension and a fraction has so-called secondary hypertension with an identifiable cause. The patient's medications, its use of certain herbal supplements and over-the-counter agents represent potential causal factors for secondary hypertension that are often overlooked. The current review focuses on drugs that are likely to elevate blood pressure by affecting the human endocrine system at the level of steroid synthesis or metabolism, mineralocorticoid receptor activity, or by affecting the catecholaminergic system. Drugs with known adverse effects but where benefits outweigh their risks, drug candidates and market withdrawals are reviewed. Finally, potential therapeutic strategies are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Catecholamines; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Endocrine System; Humans; Hypertension; Mineralocorticoids
PubMed: 31212012
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104311 -
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Oct 2019Urocortins (Ucns), peptides belonging to the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family, are classified into Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3. They are involved in regulating... (Review)
Review
Urocortins (Ucns), peptides belonging to the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family, are classified into Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3. They are involved in regulating several body functions by binding to two G protein-coupled receptors: receptor type 1 (CRHR1) and type 2 (CRHR2). In this review, we provide a historical overview of research on Ucns and their receptors in the mammalian endocrine system. Although the literature on the topic is limited, we focused our attention particularly on the main role of Ucns and their receptors in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and thyroid axes, reproductive organs, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and other tissues characterized by "diffuse" endocrine cells in mammals. The prominent function of these peptides in health conditions led us to also hypothesize an action of Ucn agonists/antagonists in stress and in various diseases with its critical consequences on behavior and physiology. The potential role of the urocortinergic system is an intriguing topic that deserves further in-depth investigations to develop novel strategies for preventing stress-related conditions and treating endocrine diseases.
Topics: Animals; Endocrine System; Endocrine System Diseases; Research; Stress, Physiological; Urocortins
PubMed: 31585551
DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0480-2 -
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 2015Some of the earliest reports of the effects of cannabis consumption on humans were related to endocrine system changes. In this review, the effects of cannabinoids and... (Review)
Review
Some of the earliest reports of the effects of cannabis consumption on humans were related to endocrine system changes. In this review, the effects of cannabinoids and the role of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the regulation of the following endocrine systems are discussed: the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, prolactin and oxytocin, thyroid hormone and growth hormone, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Preclinical and human study results are presented.
Topics: Animals; Endocannabinoids; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Lactation; Male; Oxytocin; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Prolactin; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Signal Transduction; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones
PubMed: 26408166
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20825-1_11 -
Heart (British Cardiac Society) Jul 2019
Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Endocrine System; Female; Humans; Postpartum Period; Puerperal Disorders
PubMed: 31201263
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315060 -
Hormones (Athens, Greece) 2010
Topics: Animals; Endocrine Disruptors; Endocrine System; Endocrine System Diseases; Environment; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans
PubMed: 20363716
DOI: 10.1007/BF03401275 -
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology... Nov 2018The endocrine system is responsible for growth, development, maintaining homeostasis and for the control of many physiological processes. Due to the integral nature of... (Review)
Review
The endocrine system is responsible for growth, development, maintaining homeostasis and for the control of many physiological processes. Due to the integral nature of its signaling pathways, it can be difficult to distinguish endocrine-mediated adverse effects from transient fluctuations, adaptive/compensatory responses, or adverse effects on the endocrine system that are caused by mechanisms outside the endocrine system. This is particularly true in toxicological studies that require generation of effects through the use of Maximum Tolerated Doses (or Concentrations). Endocrine-mediated adverse effects are those that occur as a consequence of the interaction of a chemical with a specific molecular component of the endocrine system, for example, a hormone receptor. Non-endocrine-mediated adverse effects on the endocrine system are those that occur by other mechanisms. For example, systemic toxicity, which perturbs homeostasis and affects the general well-being of an organism, can affect endocrine signaling. Some organs/tissues can be affected by both endocrine and non-endocrine signals, which must be distinguished. This paper examines in vitro and in vivo endocrine endpoints that can be altered by non-endocrine processes. It recommends an evaluation of these issues in the assessment of effects for the determination of endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals. This underscores the importance of using a formal weight of evidence (WoE) process to evaluate potential endocrine activity.
Topics: Animals; Endocrine Disruptors; Endocrine System; Humans; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 30217484
DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.09.002 -
Veterinary Pathology Mar 2016Ferrets have become more popular as household pets and as animal models in biomedical research in the past 2 decades. The average life span of ferrets is about 5-11... (Review)
Review
Ferrets have become more popular as household pets and as animal models in biomedical research in the past 2 decades. The average life span of ferrets is about 5-11 years with onset of geriatric diseases between 3-4 years including endocrinopathies, neoplasia, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiomyopathy, splenomegaly, renal diseases, dental diseases, and cataract. Endocrinopathies are the most common noninfectious disease affecting middle-aged and older ferrets. Spontaneous neoplasms affecting the endocrine system of ferrets appear to be increasing in prevalence with a preponderance toward proliferative lesions in the adrenal cortex and pancreatic islet cells. Diet, gonadectomy, and genetics may predispose ferrets to an increased incidence of these endocrinopathies. These functional proliferative lesions cause hypersecretion of hormones that alter the physiology and metabolism of the affected ferrets resulting in a wide range of clinical manifestations. However, there is an apparent dearth of information available in the literature about the causal relationship between aging and neoplasia in ferrets. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the anatomy and physiology of endocrine organs, disease incidence, age at diagnosis, clinical signs, pathology, and molecular markers available for diagnosis of various endocrine disorders in ferrets.
Topics: Age of Onset; Aging; Animals; Endocrine System; Endocrine System Diseases; Ferrets; Models, Animal; Pets
PubMed: 26936751
DOI: 10.1177/0300985815623621 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021
Topics: Endocrine System; Endocrine System Diseases; Humans; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 34803933
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.789386 -
Mitochondrion Mar 2021Early-life adversity (ELA), which includes maltreatment, neglect, or severe trauma in childhood, increases the life-long risk for negative health outcomes. Mitochondria...
Early-life adversity (ELA), which includes maltreatment, neglect, or severe trauma in childhood, increases the life-long risk for negative health outcomes. Mitochondria play a key role in the stress response and may be an important mechanism by which stress is transduced into biological risk for disease. By responding to cues from stress-signaling pathways, mitochondria interact dynamically with physiological stress responses coordinated by the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Preclinical evidence suggests that alterations in mitochondrial function and structure are linked to both early stress and systemic biological dysfunction. Early clinical studies support that increased mitochondrial DNA content and altered cellular energy demands may be present in individuals with a history of ELA. Further research should investigate mitochondria as a potential therapeutic target following ELA.
Topics: Adverse Childhood Experiences; Animals; Central Nervous System; Endocrine System; Humans; Immune System; Mitochondria; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 33484871
DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2021.01.005 -
Current Topics in Developmental Biology 2013Teleosts are the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates, and many species undergo morphological, physiological, and behavioral transitions, "metamorphoses," as... (Review)
Review
Teleosts are the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates, and many species undergo morphological, physiological, and behavioral transitions, "metamorphoses," as they progress between morphologically divergent life stages. The larval metamorphosis that generally occurs as teleosts mature from larva to juvenile involves the loss of embryo-specific features, the development of new adult features, major remodeling of different organ systems, and changes in physical proportions and overall phenotype. Yet, in contrast to anuran amphibians, for example, teleost metamorphosis can entail morphological change that is either sudden and profound, or relatively gradual and subtle. Here, we review the definition of metamorphosis in teleosts, the diversity of teleost metamorphic strategies and the transitions they involve, and what is known of their underlying endocrine and genetic bases. We suggest that teleost metamorphosis offers an outstanding opportunity for integrating our understanding of endocrine mechanisms, cellular processes of morphogenesis and differentiation, and the evolution of diverse morphologies and life histories.
Topics: Animals; Biodiversity; Endocrine System; Fishes; Metamorphosis, Biological; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 23347518
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385979-2.00005-8