Intrapituitary regulatory system of proliferation of mammotrophs in the pituitary gland.
Anterior pituitary cells produce growth factors plus cytokines and their receptors. Although some of these pituitary growth factors and cytokines are known to be involved in the control of cell differentiation, proliferation and hormone production in the pituitary gland, their physiological roles remain unknown. Lots of evidence indicates that they are involved in the regulation of prolactin-secreting mammotroph cell proliferation. The regulation of mammotroph functions is a suitable system for understanding the intrapituitary regulatory system operated by growth factors and cytokines, since mammotrophs are the most actively proliferating cells in female pituitary glands. This review discusses the possible intrapituitary regulation of mammotroph differentiation and proliferation in rat and mouse pituitaries.
Takahashi
Sumio
S
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, Tsushima, Japan. stakaha@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009115:Muridae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
D004967:Estrogens; D013002:Somatomedins; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D019004:Galanin; D002116:Calcitonin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor