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Altered thyrotropic and lactotropic axes regulation in Huntington's disease
Summary Background Recently, a loss of hypothalamic dopamine D2 receptors was demonstrated in Huntington’s disease (HD). Activation of dopamine D2 receptors is known to inhibit the function of both thyrotropic and lactotropic axes. Objective To assess whether the activity of the thyrotropic and la...
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Published in: | Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2010-10, Vol.73 (4), p.540-545 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Summary
Background Recently, a loss of hypothalamic dopamine D2 receptors was demonstrated in Huntington’s disease (HD). Activation of dopamine D2 receptors is known to inhibit the function of both thyrotropic and lactotropic axes.
Objective To assess whether the activity of the thyrotropic and lactotropic axes is disturbed in patients with HD, contributing to symptoms such as unintended weight loss.
Participants and methods In nine medication‐free patients with early‐stage HD (six men, three women) and nine age‐, sex‐ and body mass index‐matched controls, we measured serum levels of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (men only) every 10 min for 24 h. Multiparameter auto‐deconvolution and approximate entropy analysis were applied to quantify basal, pulsatile and total TSH and prolactin secretion rates as well as the regularity of hormone release.
Results Compared with controls, TSH and prolactin secretion tended to be slightly, but not significantly, higher in patients with HD (TSH: 1·13 ±0·14 vs 0·91 ± 0·19 mU/l, P = 0·40; prolactin: 213 ± 18 vs 209 ± 11 pmol/l, P = 0·87). However, in patients with HD, total T3 levels were significantly higher (1·60 ± 0·05 vs 1·35 ± 0·09, P = 0·045), while T4 levels tended to be higher as well (91·9 ± 3·9 vs 81·3 ± 3·1, P = 0·085). Prolactin secretion was significantly more irregular in patients with HD (Approximate entropy (ApEn): 1·06 ± 0·08 vs 0·80 ± 0·09, P = 0·037). Total T3 levels were negatively associated with motor impairment (r = −0·72, P = 0·030), whereas increasing free T4 levels were associated with a larger mutant cytosine‐adenine‐guanine (CAG) repeat size (r = +0·68, P = 0·044). Conclusion: Our findings indicate a mild hyperactivity of the thyrotropic axis and a disturbed regulation of the lactotropic axis in patients with early‐stage HD. |
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ISSN: | 0300-0664 1365-2265 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03836.x |