title: Effects of gonadal steroids on the growth of human pituitary adenomas in vitro.
abstract: The effects of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and methyltrienolone (R 1881) on cell proliferation of eight human pituitary tumors in culture wre assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation and compared to those of progesterone (Pg) and 17 beta-estradiol. Receptors for androgens (AR), estrogens (ER) and progesterone (PgR) were characterized. AR had a significant inhibitory effect on all AR-positive tumors, whatever their hormonal content. Inhibitory effects of either T and DHT < R1881 < Pg were observed in tumors co-expressing AR and PgR. The inhibitory effect of R 1881 on a PgR-positive/AR-negative tumor suggested that R 1881 action was partially PgR-mediated. The effects of either T or the nonaromatizable DHT and R 1881 were unrelated to ER expression. We conclude that AR can modulate the growth of human pituitary tumors through direct receptor-mediated intracellular pathways which may be common to various pituitary cell types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caronti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palladini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calderaro
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrangeli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamburrano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jaffrain-Rea
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008090:Lisuride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015741:Metribolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D014316:Tritium; D015741:Metribolone; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D008090:Lisuride; D013936:Thymidine