ESPE Abstracts

Background: The survival of an organism relies on its ability to promptly, effectively and reproducibly communicate with brain networks that control food intake and energy homeostasis. To achieve this, circulating factors of hunger and satiety reflecting nutrient availability must cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach effectors neurons.Objective and hypotheses: Here I will discuss the key role played in this process by a peculiar type of glial cel...

Fertility and puberty onset are controlled within the brain by a neural network that drives the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamic neuroendocrine neurons. During postnatal development, various permissive signals must be integrated for the initiation of sexual maturation but the molecular events that orchestrate the timely activation of the GnRH neurons remain a major unsolved biological mystery. Increasing evidences point out Micro-RNAs (miRNA...

Background: Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are well recognized in adult obesity. Their criteria and prevalence and are still controversial in children.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the prevalence and natural history of clinical and biological parameters of the metabolic syndrome in a pediatric cohort of obese subjects. To identify metabolically healthy subjects and the persistence of this phenotype over time.Meth...