Kaitlyn A Colglazier, Noyonika Mukherjee, Christopher J Contreras, Andrew T Templin
{"title":"RISING STARS: Evidence for established and emerging forms of β-cell death.","authors":"Kaitlyn A Colglazier, Noyonika Mukherjee, Christopher J Contreras, Andrew T Templin","doi":"10.1530/JOE-23-0378","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-23-0378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>β-Cell death contributes to β-cell loss and insulin insufficiency in type 1 diabetes (T1D), and this β-cell demise has been attributed to apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis has been viewed as the lone form of programmed β-cell death, and evidence indicates that β-cells also undergo necrosis, regarded as an unregulated or accidental form of cell demise. More recently, studies in non-islet cell types have identified and characterized novel forms of cell death that are biochemically and morphologically distinct from apoptosis and necrosis. Several of these mechanisms of cell death have been categorized as forms of regulated necrosis and linked to inflammation and disease pathogenesis. In this review, we revisit discoveries of β-cell death in humans with diabetes and describe studies characterizing β-cell apoptosis and necrosis. We explore literature on mechanisms of regulated necrosis including necroptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis, review emerging literature on the significance of these mechanisms in β-cells, and discuss experimental approaches to differentiate between various mechanisms of β-cell death. Our review of the literature leads us to conclude that more detailed experimental characterization of the mechanisms of β-cell death is warranted, along with studies to better understand the impact of various forms of β-cell demise on islet inflammation and β-cell autoimmunity in pathophysiologically relevant models. Such studies will provide insight into the mechanisms of β-cell loss in T1D and may shed light on new therapeutic approaches to protect β-cells in this disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141261777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nawal A Yahya, Steven R King, Bo Shi, Aisha Shaaban, Nicole E Whitfield, Chunmei Yan, Richard J Kordus, Gail F Whitman-Elia, Holly A LaVoie
{"title":"Differential regulation of STARD1, STARD4 and STARD6 in the human ovary.","authors":"Nawal A Yahya, Steven R King, Bo Shi, Aisha Shaaban, Nicole E Whitfield, Chunmei Yan, Richard J Kordus, Gail F Whitman-Elia, Holly A LaVoie","doi":"10.1530/JOE-23-0385","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-23-0385","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cells actively engaged in de novo steroidogenesis rely on an expansive intracellular network to efficiently transport cholesterol. The final link in the transport chain is STARD1, which transfers cholesterol to the enzyme complex that initiates steroidogenesis. However, the regulation of ovarian STARD1 is not fully characterized, and even less is known about the upstream cytosolic cholesterol transporters STARD4 and STARD6. Here, we identified both STARD4 and STARD6 mRNAs in the human ovary but only detected STARD4 protein since the primary STARD6 transcript turned out to be a splice variant. Corpora lutea contained the highest levels of STARD4 and STARD1 mRNA and STARD1 protein, while STARD4 protein was uniformly distributed across ovarian tissues. Cyclic AMP analog (8Br-cAMP) and phorbol ester (PMA) individually increased STARD1 and STARD4 mRNA along with STARD1 protein and its phosphoform in cultured primary human luteinized granulosa cells (hGCs). STARD6 transcripts and STARD4 protein were unresponsive to these stimuli. Combining lower doses of PMA and 8Br-cAMP blunted the 8Br-cAMP stimulation of STARD1 protein. Increasing cholesterol levels by blocking its conversion to steroid with aminoglutethimide or by adding LDL reduced the STARD4 mRNA response to stimuli. Sterol depletion reduced the STARD1 mRNA and protein response to PMA. These data support a possible role for STARD4, but not STARD6, in supplying cholesterol for steroidogenesis in the ovary. We demonstrate for the first time how cAMP, PMA and sterol pathways separately and in combination differentially regulate STARD4, STARD6 and STARD1 mRNA levels, as well as STARD1 and STARD4 protein in human primary ovarian cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11267794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141199445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Zhou, Yanan Zhang, Youwen Yuan, Fei Teng, Jiayang Lin, Xueru Ye, Yaojin Pan, Huijie Zhang
{"title":"Reduced serum CLCF1 levels in hyperthyroidism patients and T3-treated mice.","authors":"Xuan Zhou, Yanan Zhang, Youwen Yuan, Fei Teng, Jiayang Lin, Xueru Ye, Yaojin Pan, Huijie Zhang","doi":"10.1530/JOE-23-0412","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-23-0412","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Characteristic symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, heart palpitation, and sweating. Thyroid hormones (TH) can stimulate thermogenesis through central and peripheral mechanisms. Previous studies have shown an association between dysfunction of cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) and cold-induced sweating syndrome, with recent research also indicating a link between CLCF1 and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether CLCF1 and TH have synergistic or antagonistic effects on thermogenesis. This study aims to investigate the influence of thyroid hormone on circulating CLCF1 levels in humans and explore the potential possibilities of thyroid hormone in regulating energy metabolism by modulating Clcf1 in mice. By recruiting hyperthyroid patients and healthy subjects, we observed significantly lower serum CLCF1 levels in hyperthyroid patients compared to healthy subjects, with serum CLCF1 levels independently associated with hyperthyroidism after adjusting for potential confounders. Tissue analysis from mice treated with T3 revealed a decrease in CLCF1 expression in BAT and iWAT of C57BL/6 mice. These findings suggest that TH may play a role in regulating CLCF1 expression in adipose tissue.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141261760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elisa Villalobos, Allende Miguelez-Crespo, Ruth A Morgan, Lisa Ivatt, Mhairi Paul, Joanna P Simpson, Natalie Z M Homer, Dominic Kurian, Judit Aguilar, Rachel A Kline, Thomas M Wishart, Nicholas M Morton, Roland H Stimson, Ruth Andrew, Brian R Walker, Mark Nixon
{"title":"ATP-binding cassette family C member 1 constrains metabolic responses to high-fat diet in male mice.","authors":"Elisa Villalobos, Allende Miguelez-Crespo, Ruth A Morgan, Lisa Ivatt, Mhairi Paul, Joanna P Simpson, Natalie Z M Homer, Dominic Kurian, Judit Aguilar, Rachel A Kline, Thomas M Wishart, Nicholas M Morton, Roland H Stimson, Ruth Andrew, Brian R Walker, Mark Nixon","doi":"10.1530/JOE-24-0024","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-24-0024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glucocorticoids modulate glucose homeostasis, acting on metabolically active tissues such as liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Intracellular regulation of glucocorticoid action in adipose tissue impacts metabolic responses to obesity. ATP-binding cassette family C member 1 (ABCC1) is a transmembrane glucocorticoid transporter known to limit the accumulation of exogenously administered corticosterone in adipose tissue. However, the role of ABCC1 in the regulation of endogenous glucocorticoid action and its impact on fuel metabolism has not been studied. Here, we investigate the impact of Abcc1 deficiency on glucocorticoid action and high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity. In lean male mice, deficiency of Abcc1 increased endogenous corticosterone levels in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue but did not impact insulin sensitivity. In contrast, Abcc1-deficient male mice on HFD displayed impaired glucose and insulin tolerance, and fasting hyperinsulinaemia, without alterations in tissue corticosterone levels. Proteomics and bulk RNA sequencing revealed that Abcc1 deficiency amplified the transcriptional response to an obesogenic diet in adipose tissue but not in skeletal muscle. Moreover, Abcc1 deficiency impairs key signalling pathways related to glucose metabolism in both skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, in particular those related to OXPHOS machinery and Glut4. Together, our results highlight a role for ABCC1 in regulating glucose homeostasis, demonstrating diet-dependent effects that are not associated with altered tissue glucocorticoid concentrations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11301423/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141199436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael Merkhassine, Reilly W Coch, Carol E Frederick, Lucinda L Bennett, Seth A Peng, Benjamin Morse, Bethany P Cummings, John P Loftus
{"title":"Glucagon infusion alters the circulating metabolome and urine amino acid excretion in dogs.","authors":"Michael Merkhassine, Reilly W Coch, Carol E Frederick, Lucinda L Bennett, Seth A Peng, Benjamin Morse, Bethany P Cummings, John P Loftus","doi":"10.1530/JOE-24-0051","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-24-0051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glucagon plays a central role in amino acid (AA) homeostasis. The dog is an established model of glucagon biology, and recently, metabolomic changes in people associated with glucagon infusions have been reported. Glucagon also has effects on the kidney; however, changes in urinary AA concentrations associated with glucagon remain under investigation. Therefore, we aimed to fill these gaps in the canine model by determining the effects of glucagon on the canine plasma metabolome and measuring urine AA concentrations. Employing two constant rate glucagon infusions (CRI) - low-dose (CRI-LO: 3 ng/kg/min) and high-dose (CRI-HI: 50 ng/kg/min) on five research beagles, we monitored interstitial glucose and conducted untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on plasma samples and urine AA concentrations collected pre- and post-infusion. The CRI-HI induced a transient glucose peak (90-120 min), returning near baseline by infusion end, while only the CRI-LO resulted in 372 significantly altered plasma metabolites, primarily reductions (333). Similarly, CRI-HI affected 414 metabolites, with 369 reductions, evidenced by distinct clustering post-infusion via data reduction (PCA and sPLS-DA). CRI-HI notably decreased circulating AA levels, impacting various AA-related and energy-generating metabolic pathways. Urine analysis revealed increased 3-methyl-l-histidine and glutamine, and decreased alanine concentrations post-infusion. These findings demonstrate glucagon's glucose-independent modulation of the canine plasma metabolome and highlight the dog's relevance as a translational model for glucagon biology. Understanding these effects contributes to managing dysregulated glucagon conditions and informs treatments impacting glucagon homeostasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11301426/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141174641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorena González, Ma Eugenia Díaz, Johanna G Miquet, Ana I Sotelo, Diego Fernández, Fernando P Dominici, Andrzej Bartke, Daniel Turyn
{"title":"ERRATUM: GH modulates hepatic epidermal growth factor signaling in the mouse.","authors":"Lorena González, Ma Eugenia Díaz, Johanna G Miquet, Ana I Sotelo, Diego Fernández, Fernando P Dominici, Andrzej Bartke, Daniel Turyn","doi":"10.1530/JOE-09-0372e","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-09-0372e","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":"262 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11376211/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141446333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Zhou, Chao Lian, Yingfei Lu, Tianming Wang, Chengcheng Zhao, Cuilan Zhang, Min Gong, Jianquan Chen, Rong Ju
{"title":"Maternal androgen exposure induces intergenerational effects via paternal inheritance.","authors":"Yu Zhou, Chao Lian, Yingfei Lu, Tianming Wang, Chengcheng Zhao, Cuilan Zhang, Min Gong, Jianquan Chen, Rong Ju","doi":"10.1530/JOE-23-0368","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-23-0368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition resulting from the interaction between environmental factors and hereditary components, profoundly affecting offspring development. Although the etiology of this disease remains unclear, aberrant in utero androgen exposure is considered one of the pivotal pathogenic factors. Herein, we demonstrate the intergenerational inheritance of PCOS-like phenotypes in F2 female offspring through F1 males caused by maternal testosterone exposure in F0 mice. We found impaired serum hormone expression and reproductive system development in prenatal testosterone-treated F1 male and F2 female mice (PTF1 and PTF2). In addition, downregulated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase and binding proteins induced mRNA hypomethylation in the PTF1 testis, including frizzled-6 (Fzd6). In the PTF2 ovary, decreased FZD6 protein expression inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and activated Forkhead box O3 (FoxO3) phosphorylation, which led to impaired follicular development. These data indicate that epigenetic modification of the mTOR signaling pathway could be involved in the intergenerational inheritance of maternal testosterone exposure-induced impairments in the PTF2 ovary through male PTF1 mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141161817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Lovdel, Karla J Suchacki, Fiona Roberts, Richard J Sulston, Robert J Wallace, Benjamin J Thomas, Rachel M B Bell, Iris Pruñonosa Cervera, Gavin J Macpherson, Nicholas M Morton, Natalie Z M Homer, Karen E Chapman, William P Cawthorn
{"title":"Deletion of Hsd11b1 suppresses caloric restriction-induced bone marrow adiposity in male but not female mice.","authors":"Andrea Lovdel, Karla J Suchacki, Fiona Roberts, Richard J Sulston, Robert J Wallace, Benjamin J Thomas, Rachel M B Bell, Iris Pruñonosa Cervera, Gavin J Macpherson, Nicholas M Morton, Natalie Z M Homer, Karen E Chapman, William P Cawthorn","doi":"10.1530/JOE-24-0072","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-24-0072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) comprises >10% of total adipose mass in healthy humans. It increases in diverse conditions, including ageing, obesity, osteoporosis, glucocorticoid therapy, and notably, during caloric restriction (CR). BMAT potentially influences skeletal, metabolic, and immune functions, but the mechanisms of BMAT expansion remain poorly understood. Our hypothesis is that, during CR, excessive glucocorticoid activity drives BMAT expansion. The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) amplifies glucocorticoid activity by catalysing intracellular regeneration of active glucocorticoids from inert 11-keto forms. Mice lacking 11β-HSD1 resist metabolic dysregulation and bone loss during exogenous glucocorticoid excess; thus, we hypothesised that 11β-HSD1 knockout mice would also resist excessive glucocorticoid action during CR, thereby restrining BMAT expansion and bone loss. To test this, we first confirmed that 11β-HSD1 is expressed in mouse and human bone marrow. We then investigated the effects of CR in male and female control and 11β-HSD1 knockout mice from 9 to 15 weeks of age. CR increased Hsd11b1 mRNA in adipose tissue and bone marrow. Deletion of Hsd11b1 did not alter bone or BMAT characteristics in mice fed a control diet and had little effect on tibial bone microarchitecture during CR. Notably, Hsd11b1 deletion attenuated the CR-induced increases in BMAT and prevented increases in bone marrow corticosterone in males but not females. This was not associated with suppression of glucocorticoid target genes in bone marrow. Instead, knockout males had increased progesterone in plasma and bone marrow. Together, our findings show that knockout of 11β-HSD1 prevents CR-induced BMAT expansion in a sex-specific manner and highlights progesterone as a potential new regulator of bone marrow adiposity.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11301425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141161726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jane Stremming, Eileen I Chang, Alicia White, Paul J Rozance, Laura D Brown
{"title":"IGF-1 infusion increases growth in fetal sheep when euinsulinemia is maintained.","authors":"Jane Stremming, Eileen I Chang, Alicia White, Paul J Rozance, Laura D Brown","doi":"10.1530/JOE-24-0058","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-24-0058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a critical fetal anabolic hormone. IGF-1 infusion to the normally growing sheep fetus increases the weight of some organs but does not consistently increase body weight. However, IGF-1 infusion profoundly decreases fetal plasma insulin concentrations, which may limit fetal growth potential. In this study, normally growing late-gestation fetal sheep received an intravenous infusion of either: IGF-1 (IGF), IGF-1 with insulin and dextrose to maintain fetal euinsulinemia and euglycemia (IGF+INS), or vehicle control (CON) for 1 week. The fetus underwent a metabolic study immediately prior to infusion start and after 1 week of the infusion to measure uterine and umbilical uptake rates of nutrients and oxygen. IGF+INS fetuses were 23% heavier than CON (P = 0.0081) and had heavier heart, liver, and adrenal glands than IGF and CON (P < 0.01). By design, final fetal insulin concentrations in IGF were 62% and 65% lower than IGF+INS and CON, respectively. Final glucose concentrations were similar in all groups. IGF+INS had lower final oxygen content than IGF and CON (P < 0.0001) and lower final amino acid concentrations than CON (P = 0.0002). Final umbilical oxygen uptake was higher in IGF+INS compared to IGF and CON (P < 0.05). Final umbilical uptake of several essential amino acids was higher in IGF+INS compared to CON (P < 0.05). In summary, maintaining euinsulinemia and euglycemia during fetal IGF-1 infusion is necessary to maximally support body growth. We speculate that IGF-1 and insulin stimulate placental nutrient transport to support fetal growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11212460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140897918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Graham W Aberdeen, Jeffery S Babischkin, Gerald J Pepe, Eugene D Albrecht
{"title":"Estrogen stimulates fetal vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvascularization.","authors":"Graham W Aberdeen, Jeffery S Babischkin, Gerald J Pepe, Eugene D Albrecht","doi":"10.1530/JOE-23-0364","DOIUrl":"10.1530/JOE-23-0364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We recently showed that the ratio of capillaries to myofibers in skeletal muscle, which accounts for 80% of insulin-directed glucose uptake and metabolism, was reduced in baboon fetuses in which estrogen was suppressed by maternal letrozole administration. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis, the present study determined the impact of estrogen deprivation on fetal skeletal muscle VEGF expression, capillary development, and long-term vascular and metabolic function in 4- to 8-year-old adult offspring. Maternal baboons were untreated or treated with letrozole or letrozole plus estradiol on days 100-164 of gestation (term = 184 days). Skeletal muscle VEGF protein expression was suppressed by 45% (P < 0.05) and correlated (P = 0.01) with a 47% reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of capillaries per myofiber area in fetuses of baboons in which serum estradiol levels were suppressed 95% (P < 0.01) by letrozole administration. The reduction in fetal skeletal muscle microvascularization was associated with a 52% decline (P = 0.02) in acetylcholine-induced brachial artery dilation and a 23% increase (P = 0.01) in mean arterial blood pressure in adult progeny of letrozole-treated baboons, which was restored to normal by letrozole plus estradiol. The present study indicates that estrogen upregulates skeletal muscle VEGF expression and systemic microvessel development within the fetus as an essential programming event critical for ontogenesis of systemic vascular function and insulin sensitivity/glucose homeostasis after birth in primate offspring.</p>","PeriodicalId":15740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11227038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140912126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}