Cushing's syndrome is a state of cortisol excess, possibly from a tumor in the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, or an ectopic nonpituitary ACTH-secreting source. The first form, pituitary in origin, was originally described by Harvey Cushing, MD, and was labeled as Cushing's disease. Long-term therapy with glucocorticoids also can lead to iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome.

Growth hormone (GH) is a metabolic hormone that plays an important role in long-bone growth and muscle accretion in mammals. The anterior pituitary gland at the base of the brain is the primary site of GH production and release into the general circulation. Neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in the lower part of the brain secrete GH-releasing hormone ([GHRH] or factor [GRF]) and...

The pituitary gland is unique to Chordates, with significant variation within this group, offering an excellent opportunity to increase insight into phylogenetic relationships within this phylum. The structure of the pituitary in adult Teleosts (class: Osteichthyes) is quite different from that in other chordates and is also variable among members of the class. Therefore, a complete description...

The development of tumorous growths in the pituitary glands of mice following the injection of radioiodine and subsequent radiothyroidectomy was first reported by Gorbman (8), who reasoned that thyroid destruction was not the principal fac tor in the production of these growths, since pitui tary tumors had not been induced when the thy roid gland was chronically depressed by goitrogens. Later, ...

The function of dopamine (DA) in the nervous system is paralleled by its neuroendocrine control of pituitary gland functions. Here, we document the neuroendocrine function of dopamine by studying the pituitary gland of mice lacking DA D2 receptors (D2R). These mice present a striking, progressive increase in lactotroph number, which ultimately leads to tumors in aged animals. Females develop tu...

Ovarian metastasis as the first manifestation of a lung adenocarcinoma is an exceptionally rare condition and is often difficult to distinguish from primary ovarian carcinoma. Metastatic cancers of the pituitary gland are also very rarely recognized. This case concerns a 30-year-old woman who exhibited a unilateral ovarian mass that was initially diagnosed as a wellto moderately-differentiated ...

Juvenile gilthead sea bream were exposed to diluted seawater (2.5 per thousand salinity; DSW) for 3 h or, in a second experiment, acclimated to DSW and fed a control or calcium-deficient diet for 30 days. Branchial Ca2+ influx, drinking rate and plasma calcium levels were assessed. Sea bream plasma parathyroid hormone related protein (sPTHrP) was measured, and mRNAs of pthrp, its main receptor,...

In many centers , MR has become the imaging study of choice for evaluating diseases of the pituitary [1] . The diagnosis of pituitary adenoma is confirmed by showing a gland that is more than 1 0 mm in height with or without associated sellar deformity and deplacement of the pituitary stalk. We report a case of a hypothyroid patient with elevated levels of serum prolactin and a homogeneously en...

Persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is the most frequent embryonic communication between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems. However, hormonal changes or the association of PTA with other sellar lesions, such as pituitary adenomas, are extremely rare. The aim of the present study was to report two patients with intrasellar PTA and simultaneous pituitary adenoma in order to emphasize the imp...

Mutations of the MEN1 gene, encoding the tumor suppressor menin, predispose individuals to the cancer syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, characterized by the development of tumors of the endocrine pancreas and anterior pituitary and parathyroid glands. We have targeted the murine Men1 gene by using Cre recombinase-loxP technology to develop both total and tissue-specific knockouts of...