In-vitro secretion of ACTH in Nelson's syndrome.
Cell suspensions of ACTH cell adenomas of 10 patients with Nelson's syndrome were investigated for in-vitro secretion of ACTH. Two incubation systems, one using incubation beakers and the other a superfusion system, were employed. The cells were tested for their reactivity to lysine-vasopressin (LVP), cortisol, and combinations of both. LVP regularly provoked a rapid significant increase of ACTH secretion. The effect of cortisol was heterogeneous. Paradoxical initial stimulatory effects of cortisol were observed. There was a suppressive effect in some patients, which correlates to low proliferative activity in histological evaluation. In both systems a low secretory activity coincided with high proliferative activity in vivo.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008236:Lypressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009347:Nelson Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D008236:Lypressin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone