title: Effects of basic fibroblastic growth factor on the function and proliferation of human clinically non-functional pituitary adenomas which secreted glycoprotein hormones in vitro.
abstract: The effects of human recombinant basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) on the secretion, viability, proliferation, attachment and morphology of ten dispersed human clinically non-functional (NF) adenomas were examined in vitro. Four clinically NF adenomas secreting FSH and/or LH in vitro were unaffected by 10 nM bFGF over a 4-h period. Over 4 days 10 nM bFGF stimulated LH secretion (66% and 72%, P < 0.01) from two out of seven clinically NF adenomas secreting LH, whilst FSH (three tumours) and alpha-subunit secretion (three tumours) were unaffected. One adenoma co-secreting LH and alpha-subunit and one secreting LH alone were studied over 21 days; LH secretion fell progressively, but the decline was significantly less (P < 0.05) with bFGF (10 nM) treatment after 14 and 21 days in both adenomas, whilst the fall in alpha-subunit secretion was unaffected by bFGF treatment. A 24-h GnRH test performed at the start and end of the 21-day period in one of these tumours showed an increase in both basal and stimulated LH secretion in the bFGF-treated group over control (124%, P < 0.001). There was no effect of bFGF (10 nM) on viability, S-phase proliferation, attachment or morphology of adenoma cells over a 4-day period. These results suggest that bFGF has a role in tumorous LH secretion from these adenomas, but is not mitogenic (at least over 4 days) and is without effect on other parameters of in vitro differentiated function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, Hull, UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Jeffreys
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hipkin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone