title: The role of endothelins in the regulation of pituitary function.
abstract: The different members of the endothelin peptide family exhibit potent, long-lasting vasoconstrictive effects and thus play a central role in blood pressure regulation. However, endothelins have also been shown to modulate renal, cardiac and immune functions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In addition, endothelins are thought to be involved in the progression of some types of tumours. Soon after their discovery in 1988, it was shown that endothelins affect hormone release in the pituitary. Moreover, the intrapituitary production and expression of both endothelins and endothelin receptors have been described. This review summarises the present day knowledge concerning the expression and regulation of intrapituitary endothelins and their receptors. In addition, the effects of endothelins on hormone production by anterior, intermediate and posterior pituitary cell types are reviewed and their importance for pituitary physiology and pathophysiology is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pagotto
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arzberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oeckler
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stalla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016232:Endothelins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin