USGS Science⌕ Search

SEARCH · USGS Science

Results for “Journal of Endocrinology”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Prominent pancreatic endocrinopathy and altered control of food intake disrupt energy homeostasis in prion diseases

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that can induce endocrinopathies. The basis of altered endocrine function in prion diseases is not well understood, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the spatiotemporal relationship between energy homeostasis and prion infection in hamsters inoculated with either the 139H strain of scrapie agent, which induces preclinical weight gain, or the HY strain of transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME), which induces clinical weight loss. Temporal changes in body weight, feed, and water intake were measured as well as both non-fasted and fasted concentrations of serum glucose, insulin, glucagon, ??-ketones, and leptin. In 139H scrapie-infected hamsters, polydipsia, hyperphagia, non-fasted hyperinsulinemia with hyperglycemia, and fasted hyperleptinemia were found at preclinical stages and are consistent with an anabolic syndrome that has similarities to type II diabetes mellitus and/or metabolic syndrome X. In HY TME-infected hamsters, hypodipsia, hypersecretion of glucagon (in both non-fasted and fasted states), increased fasted ??-ketones, fasted hypoglycemia, and suppressed non-fasted leptin concentrations were found while feed intake was normal. These findings suggest a severe catabolic syndrome in HY TME infection mediated by chronic increases in glucagon secretion. In both models, alterations of pancreatic endocrine function were not associated with PrPSc deposition in the pancreas. The results indicate that prominent endocrinopathy underlies alterations in body weight, pancreatic endocrine function, and intake of food. The prion-induced alterations of energy homeostasis in 139H scrapie- or HY TME-infected hamsters could occur within areas of the hypothalamus that control food satiety and/or within autonomic centers that provide neural outflow to the pancreas. ?? 2008 Society for Endocrinology.

Journal of Endocrinology↗

Osmoregulatory actions of insulin-like growth factor-I in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The ability of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin and GH to promote hypoosmoregulatory ability was examined in juvenile rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Following adaptation to 12 parts per thousand (p.p.t.) seawater for 5 days, fish were given a single injection of hormone or vehicle, then exposed to 29 p.p.t. for 24 h and examined for changes in plasma osmolarity, ions and glucose. Ovine GH (oGH; 0·2 μg/g) significantly improved the ability of rainbow trout to maintain plasma osmolarity and sodium levels following transfer to 29 p.p.t. seawater. Recombinant bovine IGF-I (0·01, 0·05 and 0·2 μg/g) also improved the hypoosmoregulatory ability of trout; the effect being dose-dependent and greater than that of oGH. Bovine insulin (0·01, 0·05 and 0·2 μg/g) had no statistically significant effect on plasma ions. The results indicate that IGF-I is a potential mediator of the action of GH in seawater adaptation of salmonids.

Journal of Endocrinology↗

Status of scientific knowledge, recovery progress, and future research directions for the Gulf Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi Vladykov, 1955

The Gulf Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi , is an anadromous species of Acipenseridae and native to North America. It currently inhabits and spawns in the upper reaches of seven natal rivers along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from the Suwannee River, Florida, to the Pearl River, Louisiana, during spring to autumn. Next to the Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) , the Gulf Sturgeon is currently the largest fish species occurring in U.S. Gulf Coast rivers, attaining a length of 2.35 m and weights exceeding 135 kg, but historically attained a substantially larger size. Historically, the spawning populations existed in additional rivers from which the species has been wholly or nearly extirpated, such as the Mobile and Ochlockonee rivers, and possibly the Rio Grande River. Most Gulf Sturgeon populations were decimated by unrestricted commercial fishing between 1895–1910. Subsequently most populations remained unrecovered or extirpated due to continued harvest until the 1970s–1980s, and the construction of dams blocking access to ancestral upriver spawning grounds. Late 20th Century harvest bans and net bans enacted by the several Gulf Coast states have stabilized several populations and enabled the Suwannee River population to rebound substantially and naturally. Hatchery supplementation has not been necessary in this regard to date. Sturgeon are resilient and adaptable fishes with a geological history of 150 million years. Research undertaken since the 1970s has addressed many aspects of Gulf Sturgeon life history, reproduction, migration, population biology, habitat requirements, and other aspects of species biology. However, many knowledge gaps remain, prominently including the life history of early developmental stages in the first year of life. Natural population recovery is evident for the Suwannee River population, but seems promising as well for at least four other populations. The Pascagoula and Pearl River populations face a challenging future due a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. These two populations, and perhaps the Escambia River population, are particularly vulnerable to periodic mass mortality due to major stochastic events including hurricanes, flooding, hypoxia, and toxic spills. The present manuscript provides a comprehensive synthesis of knowledge regarding the Gulf Sturgeon at the organismal and population levels, identifying knowledge gaps as priorities for future research. Topics not treated in the present synthesis include morphology, internal biology, physiology, and endocrinology. Topics only briefly treated include parasites and diseases, contaminants, and sturgeon aquaculture.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗

Effects of an advanced temperature cycle on smolt development and endocrinology indicate that temperature is not a zeitgeber for smolting in Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) juveniles were reared under simulated conditions of normal photoperiod (LDN) or short days (LD 9:15) and ambient temperature (AMB: normal temperature increases in April) or an advanced temperature cycle (ADV: temperature increases in February). Under both photoperiod conditions, the timing of increased and peak levels of gill Na + ,K + -ATPase activity were not altered by temperature,although the rate of increase was initially greater under ADV. ADV/LD 9:15 resulted in peak gill Na + ,K + -ATPase activity that was half of that seen under normal photoperiod and temperature conditions. Plasma growth hormone (GH) levels increased threefold in late March under ADV/LDN,but not under ADV/LD 9:15, indicating that there is a photoperiod-dependent effect of temperature on levels of this hormone. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) increased in spring in all groups, with increases occurring significantly earlier in the ADV/LDN group. In each photoperiod condition, the advanced temperature cycle resulted in large decreases in plasma thyroxine(T 4 ) levels in March, which subsequently recovered, whereas plasma 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine (T 3 ) levels were not substantially affected by either photoperiod or temperature. There was no consistent pattern of change in plasma cortisol levels. The results do not provide support for the role of temperature as a zeitgeber, but do indicate that temperature has a role in the timing of smolting by affecting the rate of development and interacting with the photoperiod.

Journal of Experimental Biology↗

Responsiveness of gill Na+/K+-ATPase to cortisol is related to gill corticosteroid receptor concentrations in juvenile rainbow trout

A positive relationship between receptor concentration and tissue responsiveness is an often-assumed and rarely tested principle in endocrinology. In salmonids, seasonal changes in levels of plasma cortisol and gill corticosteroid receptors (CRs) during the spring indicate a potential role for this hormone in the parr–smolt transformation. It is not known whether these seasonal changes result in alterations in gill responsiveness to cortisol. The relationship between CR concentration and tissue responsiveness was, therefore, examined in the gills of juvenile rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Gill CR concentration ( B max ) and affinity ( K d ) were assessed using a radioligand binding assay with the synthetic glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide. Gill responsiveness to cortisol was quantified by measuring in vitro Na + /K + -ATPase activity. Gill CR concentration was manipulated by stress or hormonal treatments. Repeated handling stresses resulted in a significant reduction in CR numbers. The decrease in CR B max corresponded to a reduction in gill responsiveness to cortisol. Triiodothyronine, but not growth hormone, treatment was found to increase CR B max significantly. The increase in CR numbers was correlated with a marked increase in gill responsiveness to cortisol. A significant positive linear relationship exists between the in vitro gill Na + /K + -ATPase activity response to cortisol and CR B max ( r 2 =0.614, P <0.001). We have demonstrated that binding sites for cortisol in the gills of rainbow trout have high affinity, high specificity and saturable binding and that the number of binding sites is correlated with the tissue response to cortisol.

Journal of Experimental Biology↗