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PubMedDate not supplied

Thymulin stimulates corticotrophin release and cyclic nucleotide formation in the rat anterior pituitary gland.

The neuroendocrine system plays a key role in the regulation of the secretion of the thymic peptide, thymulin, but it remains to be determined whether thymulin exerts reciprocal regulatory actions on the functional activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. In the present study, we have used a well established in vitro preparation to examine the influence of thymulin on cyclic nucleotide formation and hormone secretion by the rat anterior pituitary gland. Thymulin-Zn2+ (0.5-50 pM) stimulated the release of immunoreactive corticotrophin (ir-ACTH), producing effects which were maximal at 10 pM (p < 0.01). At the two highest concentrations tested (10 and 50 pM), it also produced small but significant increases in immunoreactive luteinising hormone (ir-LH) release (p < 0.05), but the secretion of immunoreactive growth hormone (ir-GH) was unaffected by the peptide (p > 0.05) while that of immunoreactive prolactin (ir-PRL) was reduced (p < 0.01). The ACTH responses to thymulin were accompanied by increased cyclic nucleotide formation. Thus, thymulin (0.5-50 pM) raised the cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content of the pituitary tissue (p < 0.01). At high concentrations (10-50 pM), it also increased cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP; p < 0.01) accumulation, although lower concentrations of the peptide were ineffective in this regard. The increases in ir-ACTH release provoked by thymulin-Zn2+ (0.5-5.0 pM) were potentiated markedly by rolipram (1 microM; p < 0.01), a selective inhibitor of the cyclic-AMP-specific phosphodiesterase enzyme. By contrast, zaprinast (10 microM), a selective inhibitor of cyclic-GMP-specific phosphodiesterase, attenuated the corticotrophic responses to higher concentrations of the peptide (10 and 50 pM; p < 0.05). Neither rolipram (1 microM) nor zaprinast (10 microM) influenced the release of ir-LH, ir-PRL or ir-GH in the presence or absence of thymulin-Zn2+ (0.5-50 pM; p > 0.05). The results suggest that thymulin modulates the secretion of ACTH and possibly LH by the anterior pituitary gland and that its actions are associated with increased cyclic nucleotide formation; in addition, it appears to exert an inhibitory influence on ir-PRL release.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Biochemical and physiological studies of the beta-adrenoceptor and the D-2 dopamine receptor in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary gland: a review.

The intermediate lobe (IL) of the rat pituitary gland responds to catecholamines. Catecholamines interacting with the beta-adrenoceptor stimulate adenylate cyclase activity, enhance cyclic AMP formation and thereby trigger the release of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Catecholamines interacting with a D-2 dopamine receptor (in the classification schema of Kebabian and Calne) diminish adenylate cyclase activity and thereby decrease the capacity of IL cells to synthesize cyclic AMP. Dopaminergic agonists also inhibit the release of alpha-MSH from IL cells. The homogeneity of the IL facilitates biochemical investigations of this tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of growth hormone and ectopic transplantation of pituitary gland on sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450 and testosterone and drug oxidations in rat liver.

The effects of growth hormone and ectopic transplantation of pituitary gland on the amounts of sex-specific cytochrome P-450, P-450-male and P-450-female, and the activities of testosterone and drug hydroxylases in male rat liver microsomes were studied. Hypophysectomy decreased the content of P-450-male, without changing the total cytochrome P-450 level. The continuous infusion of growth hormone into hypophysectomized rats and the transplantation of pituitary gland under the renal capsule caused a further decrease in P-450-male content and an expression of P-450-female. In contrast, the intermittent injection of growth hormone into hypophysectomized rats increased P-450-male content to the level seen in intact male rats. The activities of testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-, but not 6 beta-, 7 alpha-, or 15 alpha-hydroxylase, were changed in association with the level of P-450-male by these treatments. Anti-P-450-male immunoglobulin G inhibited testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylations, but not 6 beta-, 7 alpha- or 15 alpha-hydroxylation. These results indicate that growth hormone regulates the expression of P-450-male responsible for testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylations. The metabolism of 7-propoxycoumarin, benzo(a)pyrene and aminopyrine also changed with the content of P-450-male, although the correlation was less than that observed with testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Characteristic localization of non-NMDA type glutamate receptor subunits in the rat pituitary gland.

While the involvement of the glutamate receptors in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system has been clarified at the hypothalamic level, the existence of glutamate receptors in the pituitary gland has remained obscure. We investigated the localization of the glutamate receptors, the non-NMDA type receptor subunits (GluR1-4) in particular, by immunocytochemistry using specific antibodies. The antibodies specific to GluR1, GluR2/3 and GluR4 exhibited the characteristic localization of the receptor molecules in each lobe of the pituitary gland. GluR1- and GluR2/3-positive cells were identified in the anterior and intermediate lobe, and intense terminals of GluR4 and weak terminals of GluR2/3 were observed in the posterior lobe. Such immunoreactivity appeared to be at the axonal terminal of the neurosecretory magnocellular cells. This was confirmed by in situ hybridization histochemistry using specific oligodeoxynucleotide probes and by immunocytochemistry in the neurosecretory magnocellular neurons. The GluR4 mRNA-positive signal and GluR4 immunoreactivity were abundantly observed in magnocells of paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. In addition to the positive fibers, some pituicytes in the posterior lobe exhibited GluR2/3 immunoreactivity. This suggests that pituicytes have non-NMDA type glutamate receptors. Thus, present study suggests that some anterior pituitary cells and pituicytes in the neural lobe are regulated by the glutamate.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Distribution of neurofilament proteins and peripherin in the rat pituitary gland.

The distribution of neurofilament proteins and peripherin in the pituitary gland of the rat was studied with a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognizing different neurofilament subunits. In the posterior lobe, a dense plexus of neurofilament- and peripherin-immunoreactive fibers was seen. In the intermediate lobe neurofilament- and peripherin-immunoreactivity was seen only in nerve fibers in the connective tissue septa, while no immunoreactivity was seen in parenchymal nerve fibers. Bilateral sympathetic ganglionectomy did not affect peripherin-immunoreactivity, indicating that the peripherin-immunoreactive fibers are of central origin. In the anterior lobe, a few solitary neurofilament- and peripherin-immunoreactive fibers were observed. Western blotting confirmed the presence of 150 kD and 200 kD neurofilament proteins in the posterior lobe. No neurofilament protein was detected in the intermediate and anterior lobes. Abundant intermediate filaments were seen with electron microscopy in the nerve fibers of the connective tissue septa in the intermediate lobe. In the parenchymal nerve fibers only microtubules were seen, indicating that the lack of neurofilament immunoreactivity is due to absence of neurofilaments.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Isolation and partial characterization of prolactin from equine pituitary gland (hypophysis).

Highly purified equine prolactin was prepared from equine pituitary glands (hypophysis) by serial extractions with water at pH 5.5, 0.1 M (NH4)2SO4 at pH 4.0, and 0.25 M (NH4)2SO4 at pH 5.5 to remove other hormones, and then finally with 70% ethanol at pH 9.3 to 10.0 to extract prolactin. Preliminary purification of the extract involved salting out other substances with 0.1% NaCl at pH 9.0. Prolactin was precipitated out by adding three times the volume of 95% ethanol at 4 C. This prolactin preparation had a biological potency of 24 IU/mg. Further purification by isoelectric focusing on a pH gradient of 5 to 7 gave three prolactin components with the following characteristics: isoelectric point 5.8, 5.7, and 5.25; biological potencies (IU/mg) 35.6, 19.6, and 11.3. The major component had a molecular weight of 25,000, an isoelectric point of 5.8, and a biological potency of 35.6 IU/mg. Antiserum produced against this component did not cross-react with equine follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and growth hormone, but did cross-react with ovine and bovine prolactin. Human and murine prolactin had little cross-reactivity with the equine prolactin antiserum.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels and their role in the endocrine function of the pituitary gland in newborn and adult mice.

We have prepared fresh pituitary gland slices from adult and, for the first time, from newborn mice to assess modulation of secretory activity via voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels (VACCs). Currents through VACCs and membrane capacitance have been measured with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Melanotrophs in newborns were significantly larger than in adults. In both newborn and adult melanotrophs activation of VACCs triggered exocytosis. All pharmacologically isolated VACC types contributed equally to the secretory activity. However, the relative proportion of VACCs differed between newborns and adults. In newborn cells L-type channels dominated and, in addition, an exclusive expression of a toxin-resistant R-type-like current was found. The expression of L-type VACCs was up-regulated by the increased oestrogen levels observed in females, and was even more emphasized in the cells of pregnant females and oestrogen-treated adult male mice. We suggest a general mechanism modulating endocrine secretion in the presence of oestrogen and particularly higher sensitivity to treatments with L-type channel blockers during high oestrogen physiological states.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Trypanosoma congolense in the microvasculature of the pituitary gland of experimentally infected Boran cattle (Bos indicus).

The pituitary glands of seven Boran cattle (Bos indicus), five infected with a clone of Trypanosoma congolense IL 1180 (ILNat 3.1) transmitted by Glossina morsitans centralis and two uninfected controls, were examined by light and electron microscopy 43 (experiment 2) or 56 (experiment 1) days after fly challenge. The three cattle used in the first experiment included a 15-month-old female (No. 1), a 24-month-old female (No. 2), and a 21-month-old male (No. 3) as a control. In the second experiment, four cattle were used: two females (Nos. 4, 5) and one male (No. 6), all between 15 and 24 months of age, and one female control (No. 7) of similar age. In all the infected animals, dilation of both the sinusoids and microvasculature was apparent, as was an increase in the thickness of the extracellular matrix between the pituitary lobules. Trypanosomes were found in the microvasculature of the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis in all the infected animals. Focal degenerative changes were seen in the adenohypophyseal section of glands from the infected animals euthanatized 56 days post-infection. These degenerative structural changes were confined to the somatotrophic cells. The possible role that trypanosomes in the microvasculature may play in inducing pituitary damage and dysfunction is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Development and survival of the endocrine hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gland requires the neuronal POU domain factor Brn-2.

Neurons comprising the endocrine hypothalamus are disposed in several nuclei that develop in tandem with their ultimate target the pituitary gland, and arise from a primordium in which three related class III POU domain factors, Brn-2, Brn-4, and Brn-1, are initially coexpressed. Subsequently, these factors exhibit stratified patterns of ontogenic expression, correlating with the appearance of distinct neuropeptides that define three major endocrine hypothalamic cell types. Strikingly, deletion of the Brn-2 genomic locus results in loss of endocrine hypothalamic nuclei and the posterior pituitary gland. Lack of Brn-2 does not affect initial hypothalamic developmental events, but instead results in a failure of differentiation to mature neurosecretory neurons of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, characterized by an inability to activate genes encoding regulatory neuropeptides or to make correct axonal projections, with subsequent loss of these neurons. Thus, both neuronal and endocrine components of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis are critically dependent on the action of specific POU domain factors at a penultimate step in the sequential events that underlie the appearance of mature cellular phenotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[High activity of deoxyribonuclease I identified in human pituitary gland--structure and function].

Human deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) showing genetic polymorphism has been evaluated to be well suited for practical purposes such as criminal individualization or paternity testing. DNase I has so far been recognized to be functionally active only during the digestion of exogenous DNA, because this enzyme is secreted into the alimentary tract from exocrine glands such as the pancreas. However, it was discovered that the human pituitary gland, non-digestive tissue, exhibited higher DNase I enzyme activity and expression of its gene, being comparable to those of the pancreas. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that DNase I plays (a) biological role(s) other than a digestive one. Furthermore, we observed that all hypothalamic hormones examined induced a significant elevation or decline of pituitary, serum and urine DNase I activity in a rapid and transient manner similar to the corresponding anterior pituitary hormones. Therefore, DNase I was demonstrated to be coupled with the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones in a hypothalamic pituitary system. Thus, recent progress of our studies on human DNase I for purpose of practical uses in forensic sciences has permitted us to succeed in the clarification of a novel biological function inherent in the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evidence of pre-prosomatostatin mRNA in human normal and tumoral anterior pituitary gland.

Expression of the SRIH gene was investigated in six human normal anterior pituitaries, six GH-, three PRL-, three mixed GH/PRL-secreting and four nonsecreting adenomas. Total cellular RNA and poly(A+) mRNAs were analyzed by dot and Northern blot hybridization to a 3'-end labeled oligonucleotide probe specific for the human pre-proSRIH mRNA. A weak but detectable pre-proSRIH hybridization signal was present in human normal anterior pituitaries and in the four groups of adenomas. The size of this pre-proSRIH mRNA was indistinguishable from that found in our hypothalamic samples and close to that described in the literature. The wide variation of the signal intensity from one case to the other in each group of the different types of normal and tumoral antehypophyseal samples prevented establishment of any correlation between the level of pre-proSRIH mRNA and the nature of the pituitary tissue. The presence of SRIH mRNA in human normal and tumoral anterior pituitary tissues provides a sound basis to substantiate the hypothesis of a SRIH biosynthesis in the human anterior pituitary gland.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1983

The transethmoidal-transsphenoidal route to the pituitary gland. Technique, advantages, limitations and possible complications.

The technique of the transethmoidal-transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland is described stepwise. The importance of a thorough preoperative radiological work-up and a preoperative X-ray image-intensifying control is outlined. The greatest disadvantages of the transethmoidal route are the extra-axial approach and the external scar. The greatest advantages are the shorter route than in the transseptal approach, the absence of endonasal complications and the minimal postoperative discomfort. In the own patient material consisting of 26 patients where a pituitary adenoma was removed, we noted no mortality, no meningitis and no endonasal complications. There were two cases of postoperative C.S.F. leak and one case of amaurosis and ophthalmoplegia of the heterolateral eye.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase in the brain and pituitary gland of the platyfish.

Immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase (ir-TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of dopamine and other catecholamines, was localized in the brain and pituitary gland of sexually mature platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). This is the first report of ir-TH in the nucleus olfactoretinalis, an LHRH-containing nucleus in the brain which plays an important role in the development and functioning of the reproductive system in platyfish. Ir-TH was also localized in the nucleus preopticus and paraventricular organ. In the pituitary gland ir-TH is found in the prolactin cells and in some fish, in some of the gonadotropin-containing cells of the pars intermedia, but not in the gonadotrops of the pars distalis. The localization of ir-TH in brain centers and pituitary cells associated with reproductive system regulation is discussed in the context of the interaction of monamines, neuropeptides and pituitary hormones during the maturation and operation of the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Animals↗