Thymic stromal elements contain an anterior pituitary hormone-stimulating activity.
Conditioned medium from thymic reticular monolayers displayed time-dependent accumulations of a concentration-responsive pituitary hormone-releasing activity that has been named thymic neuroendocrine-releasing factor (TNRF). Dopamine blocked and somatostatin (SRIF) attenuated TNRF-induced prolactin (PRL) release. Conversely, SRIF had no effect on TNRF-induced growth hormone (GH) release. TNRF potentiated thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated PRL release and was additive to the effects of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) on GH release. Anterior pituitary cells perifused with TNRF responded with immediate, sustained and reversible increases in hormone release. Partial purification revealed this activity to be greater than 10,000 in molecular weight. These data suggest that the thymus may affect pituitary function.
Spangelo
B L
BL
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Ross
P C
PC
Judd
A M
AM
MacLeod
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000494:pharmacology
D001685:Biological Factors; D003470:Culture Media; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013004:Somatostatin; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D004298:Dopamine