title: Establishment of functional human pituitary tumor cell cultures.
abstract: Five primary human pituitary tumor cell cultures were initiated from adenoma fragments obtained from patients with prolactin-secreting adenomas and acromegaly. Functional cell cultures were maintained and propagated in monolayer or suspension culture for up to 9 months. Optimal cell viability and growth were achieved using Ham's F10 medium enriched with 20% fetal bovine serum, although cells from a patient with acromegaly also grew in serum-free, defined, hormone-containing medium. Bromocriptine (100 ng/ml) did not alter the growth curve of replicating cells derived from a patient with acromegaly. These cells initially secreted 5.5 micrograms human growth hormone/10(6) cells, and hormone production diminished after 6 wk. Prolactin secretion by cells derived from prolactinomas (0.5 to 1.3 micrograms/10(6) cells/24 h) was stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (10 ng/ml) in two of the cultures. Both dopamine (10 ng/ml) and nickel chloride (1 mM) suppressed PRL secretion. These studies demonstrate that responsive human pituitary tumor cell cultures can be initiated and maintained.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009384:Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel; D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine