title: Infundibular tanycytes as modulators of neuroendocrine function: hypothetical role in the regulation of the thyroid and gonadal axis.
abstract: Tanycytes comprise a heterogeneous population of specialized cells of glial origin that line the floor and ventrolateral walls of the third ventricle between the rostral and caudal limits of the hypothalamic median eminence. While morphologic and ultrastructural features suggest a role as barrier cells, creating separate compartments between the cerebrospinal fluid, median eminence and hypothalamus, tanycytes likely have multiple other important functions that have yet to be fully elucidated. Possibilities to consider are a role in neuroendocrine regulation including modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis during fasting and infection, regulation of reproductive function, particularly in seasonal breeders, and in feeding.
authors.affiliation: Tupper Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. rlechan@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lechan
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fekete
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D048749:Cytokinesis; D004805:Ependyma / Q000166:cytology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D006066:Gonads / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D007239:Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000166:cytology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D000097564:Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II
chemical_list: D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000097564:Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II