A clinical update on hypothalamic-pituitary control.
There is at present an accumulation of data which indicate the importance of stimulatory and inhibitory growth factors in the paracrine, and perhaps autocrine, regulation of anterior pituitary cell growth and function. There may well be several more specific pituitary growth factors which will be identified in the near future. Preliminary data are also emerging concerning the pattern of oncogene expression in human pituitary tumours. It is now necessary to relate growth factor production, oncogene expression and hypothalamic regulation to specific anterior pituitary cell populations and human pituitary adenomas. In the midst of these studies it should not be forgotten that coordinated vascular and supporting tissue growth is also crucial to the normal development and maintenance of anterior pituitary structure and function.
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M D
MD
Department of Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff.
Webster
J
J
Dieguez
C
C
Hall
R
R
Scanlon
M F
MF
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000502:physiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000502:physiology
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone