The role of 'adipotropins' and the clinical importance of a potential hypothalamic-pituitary-adipose axis.
Since adipocytes express specific receptors for pituitary hormones and hypothalamic releasing factors, adipose tissue has to be regarded as a fast-acting endocrine gland under the control of the brain. Expanding on this suggestion, the existence and clinical impact of a hypothalamic-pituitary-adipose axis is reviewed. The term 'adipotropins' is introduced in order to describe pituitary and hypothalamic hormones or releasing factors that directly target adipocytes by their specific receptors.
Schäffler
Andreas
A
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Germany. andreas.schaeffler@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Schölmerich
Jürgen
J
Buechler
Christa
C
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*
D006728:Hormones