title: Paracrine interactions in the anterior pituitary.
abstract: The topographical affinity between certain cell types in rat anterior pituitary as well as the presence of biogenic amines, neuropeptides, growth and tissue factors in specific cell types suggest participation of paracrine control mechanisms in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. Due to the recent advances in the separation of pituitary cell types and the development of three-dimensional cell cultures, direct experimental evidence for control by intercellular messengers has become available. The stimulation of PRL release from superfused pituitary cell aggregates by LHRH has been shown to be mediated by gonadotrophs. Gonadotrophs appear to secrete a factor with PRL-releasing activity. Gonadotrophs also modulate the stimulation of PRL release by angiotensin II. Interaction of somatotrophs with an unknown small-sized cell type strongly amplifies the GH response to adrenaline, GRF and VIP. The latter phenomenon requires the permissive action of glucocorticoids. Some of these in vitro observations can be correlated with recently reported in vivo actions of LHRH, PRL and angiotensin II and with pathophysiological changes in the pituitary.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denef
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication; D005246:Feedback; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002395:Catecholamines; D006133:Growth Substances; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D000804:Angiotensin II; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin