title: Expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors in human pituitary gland and brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adiponectin and its receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, constitute integral components of energy homeostatic mechanism in peripheral tissues. Recent studies have implicated adiponectin in central neural networks regulating food intake and energy expenditure. The present study aimed at investigating the possible expression and distribution of adiponectin and its receptors in human pituitary gland, hypothalamus and different brain areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sections of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and adjacent basal forebrain area, cerebrum and cerebellum from 35 autopsy cases, were examined using HE, PAS-Orange G, luxol fast blue/cresyl violet stains and single and double immunohistochemistry using adiponectin, AdipoR1, AdipoR2, choline acetyltransferase, FSH, LH, TSH, GH, ACTH and prolactin-specific antibodies. Age and BMI mean values +/- SD of the autopsy cases were 56 +/- 18 years and 27 +/- 5 kg/m(2), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong adiponectin expression was observed in pituitary gland. In pars distalis (PD), adiponectin localized in GH, FSH, LH and TSH-producing cells and in pars tuberalis (PT) in FSH, LH and TSH-producing cells. Strong to moderate expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 was observed in PD by the same cell types as adiponectin. No immunoreactivity for adiponectin receptors was noted in cells of PT. Intense AdipoR1 immunostaining was observed in neurons of lateral hypothalamic area and of nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adiponectin and its receptors expression in human pituitary might indicate the existence of a local system, modulating endocrine axes. Furthermore, the presence of AdipoR1 in hypothalamus and NBM suggests that adiponectin may participate in central neural signaling pathways controlling energy homeostasis and higher brain functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece. aristea_psilopan@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Aristea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psilopanagioti
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.forename: Elena F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kranioti
authors.forename: Theodore K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Alexandrides
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Varakis
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020532:Basal Nucleus of Meynert / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000378:metabolism; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C475418:ADIPOR1 protein, human; C475420:ADIPOR2 protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin