The lectures are intended to increase the students' insight in current concepts and novel developments in the field of endocrinology.

This course focuses on selected topics in endocrinology. The scientific content of this course builds upon the Bachelor course "Endocrinologie", but is far more advanced.

If time permits (the actual number of lectures is different each year and depends on Easter and associated holidays) lectures will address topics selected from:

• The emergence of Endocrinology (and hormones)
• Evolution of ligand-receptor combinations
  • Ligand exploitation theory and steroid hormone signaling
  • Novel thyroid hormone metabolites and funtions
• Interactions between regulatory systems
  • Endocrines and the nervous system in the digestive tract
  • Endocrines and the immune system: chemokines and cytokines
• Complexity in endocrine signaling
  • The CRH/ACTH system
  • The melanocortin receptor family
• The power of comparative endocrinology
  • Stanniocalcins: from fish to human
  • PTHrP/PTH
• Novel hormones: leptin and adipose tissue as an endocrine source
• Homeostasis 2.0: allostasis and coping styles
• Endocrine versus paracrine: regulation of spermatogenesis in fish
• Zebrafish as endocrine model: mechanisms of glucocorticoid action