title: Pulsatile beta-endorphin release from the human pituitary in vitro.
abstract: An in vitro perifusion system was used to characterize spontaneous immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i beta-END) release from 10 human fetal (20-23 weeks gestation) and 2 human adult anterior pituitaries. Spontaneous i beta-END release from fetal anterior pituitaries was pulsatile, with a mean (+/- SE) pulse interval of 9.1 +/- 0.5 minutes, pulse amplitude of 120.8 +/- 46.1 pg with nadir to peak increment of 106.0 +/- 32.9%, and overall release rate of 209.7 +/- 65.0 pg/2 minutes. Blockade of calcium activity with 10 microM verapamil and 4 mM EGTA suppressed the frequency and amplitude of the spontaneous pulsatile i beta-endorphin release (n = 2). Administration of 2 nM human CRF for 20 minutes at the end of 2 perfusions induced 205 and 883% increases of i beta-END release over the preceding basal levels. Administration of 2 nM CRF for 50 minutes at the end of another perifusion led to a greater and prolonged increase (maximum 4620% relative to the immediately preceding basal level) in i beta-END release. Addition of 56 mM KCl during the last 20 minutes of this prolonged CRF stimulation further increased i beta-END release (to 7680% relative to the baseline preceding the CRF stimulation). Each of 4 quarters of adult anterior pituitaries (2 quarters each from 1 male and 1 female) also released i beta-END in a pulsatile fashion, with a pulse interval of 11.8 +/- 2.0 minutes, pulse amplitude of 7.4 +/- 0.8 ng with nadir to peak increment of 51.4 +/- 15.3%, and overall release rate of 21.7 +/- 2.9 ng/2 minutes. These studies demonstrate that i beta-END release from the isolated human anterior pituitary in vitro is characterized by high-frequency pulses, independent of hypothalamic stimulation. This spontaneous calcium-dependent pulsatile i beta-END release apparently reflects the activity of an intrapituitary pulse-generating mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Rossmanith
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambacciani
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Tueros
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014700:Verapamil