Visualizing hormone actions in the brain

Review: Vaspin (SERPINA12) Expression and Function in Endocrine Cells

Proper functioning of the body depends on hormonal homeostasis. White adipose tissue is now known as an endocrine organ due to the secretion of multiple molecules called adipokines. These proteins exert direct effects on whole body functions, including lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, inflammation, and reproduction, whereas changes in their level are linked with pathological events, such as infertility, diabetes, and increased food intake. Vaspin-visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor, or SERPINA12 according to serpin nomenclature, is an adipokine discovered in 2005 that is connected to the development of insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation. A significantly higher amount of vaspin was observed in obese patients. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest findings about vaspin expression and action in endocrine tissues, such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adipose tissue, thyroid, ovary, placenta, and testis, as well as discuss the link between vaspin and pathologies connected with hormonal imbalance.

Microstructural white matter abnormalities in hypothyroidism evaluation with diffusion tensor imaging tract-based spatial statistical analysis

PURPOSE

Hypothyroidism is presented in a wide range from neuropsychiatric problems including depression, memory and cognitive disorders to poor motor coordination. Against the background of morphologic, functional and molecular changes on the white and grey matter of the brain, we aimed to investigate the effects of hypothyroidism on white matter (WM) integrity using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).

METHODS

Eighteen patients with hyperthyroidism and 14 age-sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in this study. TBSS was used in the diffusion tensor imaging study for whole-brain voxel wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) of WM.

RESULTS

When compared to the control group, the whole brain TBSS revealed extensive reductions of FA in the supratentorial WM including corticospinal tract, posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), uncinate fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus (p < 0.005). The ROI analyses showed RD increment of superior longitudinal fasciculus, AD decrement of cingulum (CIN), external capsule, PLIC and corpus callosum (CC) in patients with hypothyroidism (p < 0.005). Autoimmune and non-autoimmune hypothyroidism patient subgroups showed a significant difference in terms of hippocampus FA, CIN MD, CC MD, CC AD, CIN RD, SLF RD, CC RD (p < 0.005). CIN FA values showed a negative correlation with the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.007, r = - 852).

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results of TBSS analyses represented FA and AD decrement, and RD increment in several WM tracts and indicates the demyelination process underlying pathophysiology of clinical aspects of hypothyroidism.

Principles of endocrinology

The endocrine system plays a major role in human survival. Endocrine glands secrete chemical messengers or hormones that affect every tissue of the body, including the periodontium, during the life of the individual. As the endocrine system influences a broad assortment of biological activities necessary for life, a general understanding of the principal components and functions of this system is essential. A fundamental assessment of hormone structure, mechanism of action and hormone transport, as well as influence on homeostasis is reviewed. A concise evaluation of the functions of the central endocrine glands, the functions of the major peripheral endocrine glands (other than gonadal tissues) and the known relationships of these hormones to the periodontium is examined.