Pediatrics/Pediatric Endocrine
Neuroendocrine Unit http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/
Summary of Research
My research with the Neuroendocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital involves examining bone metabolism and neuroendocrine alterations in certain nutritional and psychiatric disorders including anorexia nervosa, athletic amenorrhea and obesity. Our group has demonstrated that low bone density is prevalent in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa and is a consequence of decreased bone turnover. Hormonal alterations that predict low bone density in this disorder include hypogonadism, decreased fat mass and lean body mass, a nutritionally acquired resistance to growth hormone effects, and high cortisol and peptide YY levels. Studies exploring possible therapeutic strategies to improve bone density in teenagers with anorexia nervosa are ongoing. Our group is also examining neuroendocrine modulators of hunger and satiety in teenagers with obesity.
Ongoing Projects
- Evaluating bone density and effects of estrogen replacement in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa
- Evaluating growth hormone (GH) resistance and effects of supraphysiologic rhGH in teenage girls and women, ages 14-35, with anorexia nervosa
- Determining the extent of growth hormone suppression following an oral glucose load in healthy boys and girls
- Investigating body weight in relation to GH and ghrelin secretion in healthy and overweight adolescent girls, ages 12-18
- Evaluating bone metabolism in female adolescent athletes
Contact Information
Phone: 617-726-3870
Fax: 617-726-5072
E-mail: mmisra@partners.org
