Translocator protein (TSPO) is a key member of the mitochondrial cholesterol transport complex in steroidogenic tissues. To assess the function of TSPO, we generated two lines of Cre-mediated Tspo conditional knockout (cKO) mice. First, gonadal somatic cell-targeting Amhr2-Cre mice were crossed with Tspo-floxed mice to obtain F1 Tspo Amhr2 cKO mice (Tspo(fl/fl);Amhr2-Cre(/+)). The unexpected Me...

BACKGROUND Salt-wasting represents a relatively common cause of emergency admission in infants and may result in life-threatening complications. Neonatal kidneys show low glomerular filtration rate and immaturity of the distal nephron leading to reduced ability to concentrate urine. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted for infants hospitalized in a single Institution from 1(st) ...

Selenomethionine (Se-Met) is the major dietary form of selenium (Se). While Se is a required nutrient, it can also influence the physiological stress response because it stimulates greater concentrations of cortisol in blood plasma of exposed fish. However, little is known about the effects of exposure to Se on the ability to cope with a secondary stressor. In the current study, female rainbow ...

Adrenocorticotropic hormone can stimulate lipolysis and suppress leptin expression in murine adipocytes. These effects are mediated via the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2-R), which is expressed when 3T3-L1 cells are induced to undergo adipogenesis. In this study, we have characterized the mc2-r promoter in the murine adipocyte, one of the few extra-adrenal sites of expression and a cell type that...

BACKGROUND Adenomas of the adrenal gland are rare causes of virilization in childhood. CASE REPORT A girl aged 2 years and 4 months presented with pubarche, distinct clitoral hypertrophy, tall stature, and increased height velocity. Plasma testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were elevated. Androgens remained unchanged after adrenocorticotropic hormone, and dexamethasone administrations. U...

Cushing’s syndrome is a challenging disease in which excess cortisol is secondary to diverse tumors with complex molecular mechanisms. The syndrome has been categorized as corticotropindependent or corticotropin-independent. Approximately 20% of cases — mainly cortisol-secreting unilateral adenomas or carcinomas — are considered corticotropin-independent. Cushing’s syndrome rarely (in <2% of ca...

For decades, geneticists, as well as breeders of “fancy” pets, have been interested in the interaction of the melanocortin 1 receptor locus (Mc1r; also known as melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor, Mshr) with the Agouti locus because of the array of coat colors that alterations at these loci generate. In the simplest case, a mouse with two wild-type Mc1r alleles and two recessive Agouti all...

Two melanocortin receptors (MC1 and MC3R) have been identified as main transducers of the anti-inflammatory effects of natural and synthetic melanocortins. In this study, we have taken advantage of the recent description of the selective MC3R agonist [D-Trp]-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and of the recessive yellow (e/e) mouse, bearing a nonfunctional MC1R, thereby incrementing our knowl...