Background/Aims: Over the last decade, multiple molecular defects of the GH-IGF axis have been identified and characterized, greatly expanding our appreciation of the genotypic and phenotypic variability of endocrine growth disorders. Methods: In an effort to address the growing complexity of molecular defects and their characteristic phenotypes, a Growth Genetics Consortium was established in 2008, with the goal of developing a repository of case information on all patients with genetic variations in the GH-IGF axis. A database was established, along with a publicly accessible website (www.growthgenetics.com), with registration open to all potential users. Results: The genes currently available in the database include GHR, Stat5b, IGF1, IGF2, IGFALS and IGF1R. The data collected include clinical details, auxology, family history, laboratory data, identified molecular defects and, if relevant, treatment information. Conclusions: It is planned for the database and website to eventually include all identified genes in the GH-IGF axis.

In a recent one-year feeding study, we observed no adverse effects on tissue level in organs of rats fed with the genetically-modified maize MON810. Here, we assessed RNA expression levels of 86 key genes of the apoptosis-, NF-кB-, DNA-damage response (DDR)-, and unfolded-protein response (UPR) pathways by RT-qPCR in the rat liver. Male and female rats were fed either with 33% MON810 (GMO), isogenic- (ISO), or conventional maize (CONV) and RNAs were quantified from eight rats from each of the six feeding groups. Only Birc2 transcript showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) consistent difference of ≥1.5-fold between the GMO and ISO groups in both sexes. Unsupervised cluster analysis showed a strong separation of male and female rats, but no clustering of the feeding groups. Individual analysis of the pathways did not show any clustering of the male or female feeding groups either, though transcript levels of UPR pathway-associated genes caused some clustering of the male GMO and CONV feeding group samples. These differences were not seen between the GMO and ISO control or within the female cohort. Our data therefore does not support an adverse effect on rat liver RNA expression through the long-term feeding of MON810 compared to isogenic control maize.