The role of extracellular Ca2+ in pituitary hormone release was studied in primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells. The basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyrotropin (TSH), and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion were independent of extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]e). In contrast, the basal levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder that affects approximately 6-10% of women of reproductive age (Franks, 1995). Polycystic ovary syndrome is probably the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women and by far the most common cause for infertility. In fact, polycystic ovaries have been associated with 75% of cases of anovulation (Hull, 1987). The many features of this syndr...

Infection of murine splenocytes with Newcastle disease virus results in expression of the proopiomelanocortin gene as determined by dot and northern blot analysis of total cellular and poly(A)+ cytoplasmic RNA. These data provide the first evidence that the precursor protein for adrenocorticotropin and beta-endorphin can be synthesized by lymphoid cells.

In an attempt to delineate the mechanism and the site of action of cyproheptadine and dopaminergic agonists as well as hormones including thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and hydrocortisone, the effects of these substances on ACTH secretion from corticotroph adenoma cells in culture were examined. Dispersed cells of pituitary adenomas obtained at surgery from four patients with Nelson's synd...

We have administered octreotide, 100 micrograms tid, to a 27-year-old man with Nelson's syndrome. After seven days of therapy, adrenocorticotropin levels fell to 54% of initial values, and some shrinkage of the tumour was observed. This study indicates that octreotide therapy may have a role in the treatment of Nelson's syndrome.

The negative affective states of withdrawal involve the recruitment of brain and peripheral stress circuitry [e.g., noradrenergic activity, induction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, and the expression and activation of heat shock proteins (Hsps)]. The present study investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and β-adrenoceptor on the resp...