title: Neuropeptides in anterior pituitary development.
abstract: Recent studies using biotechnological methods have achieved significant advances in our knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying pituitary gland development and the differentiation of pituitary cytotypes. A large number of neuropeptides have been reported in the adult pituitary gland as well as in the central and peripheral nervous system. The early presence of neuropeptides during pituitary development is reviewed here. Neuromedin U (NmU), galanin and the polypeptide 7B2 have been localised to different endocrine cells of the gland. Their expression seems to be manifold even though it is temporally and spatially regulated. There is now firm immunocytochemical evidence that neuropeptides are present during morphogenesis of the pituitary and can be present simultaneously with all pituitary hormones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. cimini@unina.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051859:Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051859:Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; C497678:SCG5 protein, human; C497680:Scg5 protein, rat; C056900:neuromedin U; D019004:Galanin