Effects of gonadal steroids on the growth of human pituitary adenomas in vitro.
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.
Caronti
B
B
Department of Neurological Sciences, University La Sapienza, Italy.
Palladini
G
G
Calderaro
C
C
Bevilacqua
M G
MG
Petrangeli
E
E
Esposito
V
V
Tamburrano
G
G
Gulino
A
A
Jaffrain-Rea
M L
ML
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
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