title: Pit-1 and hypopituitarism.
abstract: The story of Pit-1 and hypopituitarism in humans provides an excellent example of pleiotrophism or multiple phenotypic effects resulting from a single genetic alteration. It shows how defects in this single gene cause the absence o f several pituitary hormones. Three recent articles reviewed here provide examples of different mutations in this homeobox gene encoding a transcriptional activation protein that is vital to the embryologic development, survival, and differentiated function of somatotropes, lactotropes, and thyrotropes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pfaffle