Evidence of direct neural regulation of the anterior hypophysis reproductive functions.
It is generally acknowledged that the anterior hypophysis is not directly regulated by neural elements. Our studies in the past decade, however, have demonstrated otherwise. The anterior pituitary gland has been found to be actually under neural-humoral dual regulation. The present article outlines the main data that have led us to this conclusion. Evidence that is related to direct neural regulation of the reproductive functions of the anterior hypophysis is provided in great detail. Thus, synapses have been demonstrated between the nerve fibers innervating the anterior pituitary gland and the gonadotropes and lactotropes. Furthermore, there is ultrastructural evidence indicating that synaptic activities may induce secretion of the gland cells. Hormone manipulation study shows that following ovariectomy there is a significant increase of nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary gland, which is related to plasma estrogen level.
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Institute of Neurosciences, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China. jugong@ms.xab.ac.cn
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
D004967:Estrogens; D011388:Prolactin