title: A tridimensional view of pituitary development and function.
abstract: Recent advances in tridimensional (3D) tissue imaging have considerably enriched our view of the pituitary gland and its development. Whereas traditional histology of the pituitary anterior lobe portrayed this tissue as a patchwork of cells, 3D imaging revealed that cells of each lineage form extensive and structured homotypic networks. In the adult gland these networks contribute to the robustness and coordination of the cell response to secretagogs. In addition, the network organization adapts to changes in endocrine environment, as revealed by the sexually dimorphic growth hormone (GH) cell network. Further work is required to establish better the molecular basis for homotypic and heterotypic interactions in the pituitary as well as the implications of these interactions for pituitary function and dysfunction in humans.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, 34000 Montpellier, France. patrice.mollard@igf.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mollard
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hodson
authors.forename: Chrystel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafont
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rizzoti
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drouin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000639:trends*; D051379:Mice; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology