Damage to hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons is associated with development of prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors.
Old female rats with spontaneous prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (prolactinomas) and young females with prolactinomas produced by prolonged estrogen treatment had damaged tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons. Since these neurons inhibit the function of pituitary prolactin-secreting cells, their destruction may lead to development of prolactinomas.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000209:etiology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D004967:Estrogens; D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine