Hipofisitis primaria: diagnóstico y tratamiento. estudio multicéntrico / Primary hypophysitis: diagnosis and treatment multi-center study

Resumen Introducción : La hipofisitis es una enfermedad in frecuente que plantea un desafío en el diagnóstico y tratamiento. El objetivo de este estudio multicéntrico y retrospectivo fue describir: a) características de pa cientes con hipofisitis primaria (HP), b) métodos diag nósticos, y c) tratamientos realizados. Además, evaluar: a) presentación clínica, b) bioquímica, c) radiológica, d) oftalmológica al diagnóstico y evolución según el tratamiento recibido. Métodos : Estudio retrospectivo donde se estudiaron 28 pacientes (23 mujeres/5 varones) con HP, edad pro medio de 38±11.1 años. Resultados . Los síntomas fueron: cefalea: 68%, po liuria-polidipsia: 50% y alteraciones visuales: 48%. El examen de laboratorio inicial informó disfunción ade nohipofisaria en 71% de los pacientes, siendo el eje gonadal el más afectado. Los hallazgos radiológicos más frecuentes fueron: lesión simétrica:78.5%, aumento homogéneo post contraste: 78.5% y engrosamiento de tallo:70%. En 4/23 mujeres (17%) se relacionó con em barazos o puerperio La conducta inicial fue expectante (CE) en 14 pacientes, cirugía de resección/descompresión en 8 y tratamiento con inmunosupresores en 6. Quince pacientes tuvieron confirmación histológica, 9 resulta ron hipofisitis linfocitaria, 5 hipofisitis por IgG4 y una xantomatosa. Trece fueron diagnosticados por criterios clínicos establecidos. El tamaño de la lesión disminuyó en 43% de pacientes con CE, 62.5% con cirugía y 50% con inmunosupresores. Los síntomas compresivos mejora ron en los 3 grupos, con escaso efecto sobre la función adenohipofisaria, sin resolución de la diabetes insípida. Discusión : En pacientes sin síntomas compresivos adoptamos CE. En aquellos pacientes sin certeza diag nóstica o con síntomas compresivos graves, se optó por cirugía transesfenoidal.

Abstract Introduction : Primary hypophysitis (PH) is a rare disease that represents a challenge among differential diagnosis and management. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria and different treatment outcomes in patients with PH. Multicentric, retrospective study. Clinical presentation, endocrine function, magnetic resonance imaging findings, visual field defects at diagnosis and treatment outcomes were recorded. Methods : Twenty-eight patients (23 women), with PH were included. Median age: 37. Results : The most frequent symptoms: headache: 68%, polyuria-polydipsia: 50% and visual disturbances: 48%. At diagnosis, anterior pituitary deficiency was present in 71%, being hypogonadotrophic hypogonad ism the most frequent manifestation. The radiological findings: symmetric lesion: 78.5%, homogeneous en hancement: 78.5% and pituitary stalk thickening: 70%. Association with pregnancy or puerperium was found in 4/23 women (17%). Fourteen patients did not receive any treatment ("wait and see" group), 8 underwent surgery for mass reduction or resection and 6 were treated with immunosuppression therapy. Among 15 patients with histopathological diagnosis, 9 were lymphocytic hypophysitis, 5 IgG4 related hypophysitis and 1 xanthomatous hypophysitis. Thirteen were di agnosed by established clinical criteria. Mass reduction was observed in 43% of "wait and see group" patients, 62.5% of operated patients and 50% with immuno suppression therapy. Compressive symptoms showed improvement in the 3 groups, with modest effect on anterior pituitary function, diabetes insipidus did not resolve in any patients. Discussion : In patients without severe compressive symptoms, we adopted a "wait and see" approach. In patients with uncertain diagnosis of PH or severe com pressive symptoms, transsphenoidal surgery was the best option.

The Prevalence of Pituitary Dysfunction in Children Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the Acute Phase

Neuro-endocrine disorders are a frequent complication of head trauma. The exploration of these disturbances is important because it can contribute to the understanding of some symptoms presented by the patients for better management in the acute phase or during the evolution.Aim:The objective of this study was to identify the anterior pituitary dysfunction of severe traumatic brain injury and to analyze the correlations between these disorders, brain lesions and clinical signs.Materials and Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study, conducted in collaboration between the pediatric intensive care unit and the clinical biochemistry laboratory of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech. This study was spread over 9 months. It Included children admitted for severe head trauma and with a clinical, hormonal and CT scan. And the interest was in 28 severely traumatized skulls in the acute phase. All patients received TSH, T3, T4, Prolactin and cortisol levels 8 hours after admission.Results:There were twenty eight patients included in the study. Sex ratio m / f of 1.54, whose age varies between 9 months and 14 years, with an average age of 6.5 years. Half of the patients had an initial Glasgow score of 8/15. This was cerebral oedema in (46.42%) cases. In this study, the rate of endocrine disorders was 85.71%, the exploration of the thyrotropic axis proved normal in all of these patients. Low cortisol levels were observed in 11% of cases, 67.84% of children had hyperprolactinemia. One-third of the patient included in the study had 2-axis involvement, namely cortisol and prolactin. Half, on the other hand, showed only one axis.Conclusion:In the aftermath of head trauma, pituitary disturbancesare frequent and should be included in their management.

Histological Study on the Anterior Pituitary Gland of Monosodium Glutamate-Administered Adult Male Wistar Rats.

The routine use of Monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a food additive found in commercial food products has being generating controversy regarding its health effects. This study investigated the effects of MSG administration on the histology of anterior pituitary gland in rats. Twenty adult male rats were used and randomly divided into four groups (n=5, each). The rats in the treated groups received a daily MSG administration through orogastric method at a dose of 100 mg/ kg bw/day, 500 mg/ kg bw/day, 1500 mg/ kg bw/day respectively, while the control rats received 0.5 ml of distilled water. The body weight was measured. After sacrifice, the pituitary gland was harvested and fixed with 10% formalin for routine histological procedures. Results revealed decrease in body weight while the histology of the anterior pituitary gland of the rats showed no observable pathological alterations. This study indicates no induced histological damage following oral administration of MSG.

Panhipopituitarismo congénito secundario a interrupción del tallo hipofisario: informe de caso / Congenital panhypopituitarism secondary to pituitary stalk interruption: case report / Pan-hipopituitarismo congênito secundário na interrupção da haste hipofisária: relato de caso

La disrupción del tallo hipofisario es una patología infrecuente que causa hipogenesia de la pituitaria anterior y agenesia o ectopia \r\nde la hipófisis posterior. El diagnóstico se realiza tardíamente cuando aparecen mayores alteraciones antropométricas o disminu\r\n-\r\nciones en la velocidad de crecimiento. Se estima que solo el 23% de los casos se diagnostica en el periodo neonatal, con lo cual \r\nse logra disminuir la mortalidad y morbilidades secundarias. Este estudio describe el caso de un recién nacido con hipoglicemia \r\npersistente desde el nacimiento, micropene e incisivo único central. Se solicitó resonancia magnética cerebral y determinación \r\nsérica hormonal para confirmar el diagnóstico de panhipopituitarismo congénito secundario a la disrupción del tallo hipofisario. \r\nSe inició el reemplazo hormonal de forma temprana.

The disruption of the pituitary stalk is a rare disease that causes \r\nhypogenesis of the anterior pituitary and agenesis or ectopic \r\nposterior hypophysis. The diagnostic is carried out late, when \r\ngreater anthropometric alterations or decreases in the growth \r\nspeed materialize. Only 23% of the cases are diagnosed during \r\nthe neonatal period, therefore decreased in mortality and \r\nsecondary morbidities is achieved. This study describes the \r\ncase of a newborn that had persistent hypoglycemia from \r\nbirth, micropenis, and a single central incisor. A brain magnetic \r\nresonance and determination of serum hormones were \r\nrequested to confirm the diagnostic of congenital panhypo\r\n-\r\npituitarism secondary to the disruption of the pituitary stalk. \r\nHormone replacement was initiated early.

A interrupção da haste hipofisária é uma patologia pouco \r\nfrequente que causa hipogenesia da pituitária anterior e \r\nagenesia, ou ectopia, da hipófise posterior. O diagnóstico é \r\nrealizado tardiamente quando aparecem maiores alterações \r\nantropométricas ou diminuições na velocidade do crescimento. \r\nEstima-se que apenas 23% dos casos são diagnosticados no \r\nperíodo neonatal, com o que se atinge redução da morta\r\n-\r\nlidade e morbidades secundárias. Este estudo descreve o \r\ncaso de um recém-nascido com hipoglicemia persistente \r\ndesde o nascimento, micro pênis e incisivo central único. Foi \r\nsolicitada ressonância magnética cerebral e determinação \r\nsérica hormonal para confirmar o diagnóstico de pan-hipo\r\n-\r\npituitarismo congênito secundário na interrupção da haste \r\nhipofisária. A reposição hormonal foi iniciada precocemente.

Determination of Substances with High Molecular Weight in Porcine Anterior Pituitary and Adrenal Cortex Extracts Injection / 中国药师

Objective:To determinate the substances with high molecular weight in porcine anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex extracts injection. Methods:The HPLC analysis was performed on a TSK-GEL G2000SWXL(7. 8 mm × 300 mm,5 μm) column with the mobile phase of trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile-water(0. 05:35:65). The flow rate was 0. 5 ml·min-1, and the detection wave-length was 214 nm. Results:The substances with high molecular weight in porcine anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex extracts injec-tion was below 1%. Conclusion:The method is simple and repeatable, which can be used for the control of the substances with high molecular weight in porcine anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex extracts injection.

Clinical Characteristics of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Hypothalamo-Pituitary Involvement

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that involves a clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells. LCH has a predilection for hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA) dysfunction, and this leads to diabetes insipidus (DI) and/or anterior pituitary dysfunction. Here, we describe the endocrine dysfunction and clinical characteristics of adult patients with LCH and we analyzed the differences between an adult-onset type and a childhood-onset type. METHODS: The data was obtained from a retrospective chart review of the patients with LCH that involved the HPA and who attended Seoul National University Hospital. The patients were classified into the adult-onset type (age at the time of diagnosis > or = 16) and the childhood-onset type (age at the time of diagnosis < or = 15). RESULTS: Ten patients (9 males and 1 female) were diagnosed with LCH involving the HPA. Five patients were classified as an adultonset type and the other five patients were classified as a childhood-onset type. The median follow-up duration was 6 (3-12) years for the adult-onset type and 16 (15-22) years for the childhood-onset type. All the patients presented with DI as the initial manifestation of HPA involvement. Four adult-onset patients and three childhood-onset patients had a multi-system disease. Panhypopituitarism developed in three adult-onset patients and in one childhood-onset patient. The pituitary lesion of the three adult-onset patients had spread to the brain during the follow-up duration. In contrast, the pituitary lesion of the other two adult-onset patients without panhypopituitarism and all the childhood-onset patients had not changed. CONCLUSION: DI was the initial presentation symptom of HPA involvement. Anterior pituitary hormone deficiency followed in some patients. Compared with the childhood-onset patients, the adult-onset patients were more likely to have panhypopituitarism and a poor prognosis.

Anterior pituitary hypofunction: a clinical analysis of 117 cases / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical features of anterior pituitary hypofunction.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the data of 117 patients with anterior pituitary hypofunction during 1994-2010.Results There were 60.68％ male and 39.32％ female patients respectively.The onset age was from 13 to 79 years,with 79.12％ of the patients more than 40 years old.There were 57 cases with sellar tumors ( 40.17％ ),in which 55 cases( 96.49％ )were operated and (or) treated with radiotherapy.35 cases were operated via the frontal approaches( 66.04％ ) and 18 cases underwent transsphenoidal surgery ( 33.96％ ).There were 108 cases with hyponatremia with the first symptoms of weakness,anorexia,nausea,and vomiting induced by ACTH deficiency (92.31％ ).There were 23 cases accompanied with central diabetes insipidus( 19.66％ )and 82 cases with coronary heart disease( 70.09％ ).Conclusion Owing to the difference in etiological factors,the incidence,early symptoms,and the hormones involved are greatly different.The main cause is pituitary tumor,which occured more in aged person,more in males than females.

Clinical investigation of traumatic pituitary insufficiency after traumatic brain injury / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate dynamic change of anterior pituitary hormones (APHs), thyroid func-tion (TF) and genital hormones (GnHs) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their clinical signifi-cance. Method APHs, TF and GnH were tested in 93 patients with TBI,who were admitted to Zhejiang Provin-cial People's Hopital from March 2006 to June 2007. Patients with primary injury in the hypothalamic and pituitary regions, as detected by CT and/or MR/examination, as well as those with tumors or immune diseases in the CNS,endocrine or urinogenital systems, were excluded. The clinical data were analyzed according to Glasgow coma scores (GCS), type and degree of injury, and whether there was any secondary cerebral injury. Twenty healthy people acted as controls. The data were analyzed by the Hotelling T2 test and t-tests using SAS 11.5. A P value of less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results The levels of adrenocortieotropic hormone (ACTH),luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) were markedly higher in all 93 TBI patients than controls, while those of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormone T3,T4 and FT3 were significantly lower in TBI pa-tients in the early stage after injury than in those at follow-up and controls (P<0.05). The ACTH and PRL val-ues reached (33.33±6.86) and (31.74±5.51), respectively, and the LH value was (9.48±1.14) in the secondary cerebral injury group.The TSH value (1.26±0.17) in the brain injury group was significantly lower than those in controls (P<0.05). With the exception of TSH, PRL, testosterone (T) and E2, other APHs were markedly lower in TBI patients at following-up than in controls (P<0.05). The incidence of traumatic hypothala-mus-pituitary insufficiency (THPI) associated with low levels of more than three APHs was 3.2%, while 13.8% of THPI patients showed low levels of at least one APH. The ratio of sick euthyroid syndrome (SETS) was 14.0%. Conclusions A low level of a single APH is the prevalent pattern in THPI patients. Secondary cerebral injury, such as acute high intracranial pressure, brain edema and ischemia after TBI, may be the chief causes of THPI. Early hyperprolactinemia is an important indication for presaging THPI. The dynamic levels of neurcen-docrine hormones can serve as an important index for determining the suitability of TBI patients for treatment with hormone therapy.

A Case of Congenital Hypopituitarism with Anterior Pituitary Aplasia and Ectopic Posterior Pituitary Gland / 대한소아내분비학회지

Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disorder with absence or reduction of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. The clinical manifestations are hypoglycemia, prolonged jaundice, hyponatremia, micropenis, underdeveloped clitoris, lethargy, convulsion, pallor, cyanosis, apnea, hypotension, temperature instability etc. in neonates and growth failure, delayed or absent puberty in older infants and children. We experienced a case of congenital hypopituitarism who was a 20-year-old male patient with short stature and delayed puberty. Combined pituitary function test revealed panhypopituitarism and magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed anterior pituitary aplasia and ectopic posterior pituitary gland.

A Case of Congenital Hypopituitarism with Anterior Pituitary Aplasia and Ectopic Posterior Pituitary Gland / 대한소아내분비학회지

Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disorder with absence or reduction of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. The clinical manifestations are hypoglycemia, prolonged jaundice, hyponatremia, micropenis, underdeveloped clitoris, lethargy, convulsion, pallor, cyanosis, apnea, hypotension, temperature instability etc. in neonates and growth failure, delayed or absent puberty in older infants and children. We experienced a case of congenital hypopituitarism who was a 20-year-old male patient with short stature and delayed puberty. Combined pituitary function test revealed panhypopituitarism and magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed anterior pituitary aplasia and ectopic posterior pituitary gland.

Regulation of FSH Gene Expression and Release in Cultured Rat Anterior Pituitary Cells / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein and is composed of alpha and beta subunits. alpha subunit is common to FSH and LH, while an unique beta subunit determines the biological specificity of each hormone. The synthesis of beta subunit is the primary rate-limiting step in the synthesis of each hormone. Although FSH plays a pivotal role in folliculogenesis and ovulation, very little studies have been performed on the regulation of FSH beta gene expression. Therefore, the present study attempted to examine the effect of GnRH or activin on the expression of FSH beta mRNA as well as FSH release and signaling pathway involved in their actions. METHODS: The primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary were used for this study. To determine FSH beta mRNA levels, northern blotting method was used. The concentration of FSH in the culture medium was evaluated by using a specific radioimmunoassay for rat FSH. RESULTS: PMA, an activator of PKC, increased FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH release, whereas forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, showed no effect. The application of GnRH augmented FSH release, but not FSH beta mRNA levels. However, the administration of activin increased FSH beta mRNA levels as well as FSH release. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of PKC, suppressed activin-induced increment of FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH release. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that activin rather than GnRH is a major regulator for FSH beta mRNA expression, and suggest that PKC-dependent pathway is also involved in the action of activin on the expression of FSH beta mRNA and FSH release.

FOLLICULO-STELLATE CELLS OFTHE RAT ANTERIOR PITUITARY RESPONDED TO ANGIOTENSIN Ⅱ BY INCREASING INTRACELLULAR CONCENTRATION / 药物分析学报

Objective The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether the folliculo-stellate cells (FSC) respond to angiotensin(Ang) Ⅱ by increasing intracellular free concentration ([]i) ,and where the o-rigin of mobilization is if that has occurred. Methods Pituitary cells in primary culture were prepared from male Wister rats(250g) by a conventional method and cultured in MEM supplemented with 4％ normal rat serum. Af-ter 2 days in culutre,cells were loaded with 1 μmol/L fura-PE3/AM for 1 h and subjected to a ment with Quanti Cell 700 system. Excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm were selected by means of a computer-controlled filterwheel. Results The of FSC in the rat anterior pituitary was elevated by Ang Ⅱ. The eleva-tion of of FSC induced by 0. 1,1.0,10 and 100 nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was (56.33±6.18), (117.07± 36.07), (175.59 ± 40.01 ) and (216.02 ±11.52) nmol/L, respectively. The increase of of FSC induced by 100nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was not influenced by the medium without (0Ca),but significantly suppressed by thapsigargin (TG),an inhibitor of ATPase. The rate of responsive FSC to Ang Ⅱ (100 nmol/L) was 61.84％ which was obviously higher than that of pituitary endocrine cells (43.49％). Conclusion The present experiment demonstrates that the FSC in the rat anterior pituitary responds to Ang Ⅱ by increasing [which raises the possibility that Ang Ⅱ re-leased from either lactotrophs or gonadotrophs affects FSC through paracrine mechanism. The elevation of [induced by Ang Ⅱ presents a dosage-dependent relation, and is possibly because of the release of from an intra-cellular pool (s). Fashions of release are relative to the concentration of Ang Ⅱ. The results indicate that Ang Ⅱ functions as a paracrine factor among pituitary cells including FSC.

A Case of Congenital Hypopituitarism with Anterior Pituitary Hypoplasia and Ectopic Posterior Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland develops from two different parts of the brain. The anterior pituitary gland originates from the Rathke pouch and the posterior one from the infundibulum. Therefore, the pathologic findings of congenital hypopituitarism can be different in each case. Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disorder. The characteristic clinical features of the affected newborns are prolonged jaundice, persistent or recurrent hypoglycemia without hyperinsulinism and microphallus. Their genitalia are usually underdeveloped and sexual maturation may be delayed or absent. In adulthood, patients retain childish feature, short stature with normal body proportion. We experienced a case of congenital hypopituitarism in a 12-year-old female patient with short stature and delayed sexual maturation(Tanner stageI). The endocrinological studies revealed growth hormone, FSH, LH and TSH deficiencies. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated a hypoplastic anterior pituitary and an ectopic posterior pituitary gland located within the tuber cinereum of the hypothalamus.

A Case of Congenital Hypopituitarism with Anterior Pituitary Hypoplasia and Ectopic Posterior Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland develops from two different parts of the brain. The anterior pituitary gland originates from the Rathke pouch and the posterior one from the infundibulum. Therefore, the pathologic findings of congenital hypopituitarism can be different in each case. Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disorder. The characteristic clinical features of the affected newborns are prolonged jaundice, persistent or recurrent hypoglycemia without hyperinsulinism and microphallus. Their genitalia are usually underdeveloped and sexual maturation may be delayed or absent. In adulthood, patients retain childish feature, short stature with normal body proportion. We experienced a case of congenital hypopituitarism in a 12-year-old female patient with short stature and delayed sexual maturation(Tanner stageI). The endocrinological studies revealed growth hormone, FSH, LH and TSH deficiencies. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated a hypoplastic anterior pituitary and an ectopic posterior pituitary gland located within the tuber cinereum of the hypothalamus.

The effects of testosterone on the response of growth hormone secretion in cultured rat pituitary cells

The effects of testosterone on the pituitary growth hormone (GH) response directly and to hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) were evaluated in vitro using a male pituitary cell monolayer culture system. Wistar male rats were gonadectomized at 22 days of age, and 21 days later their anterior pituitaries were removed and trypsinized for cell dispersion. Testosterone 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 nM was added to the medium for 1 day and GH amounts in media were measured. In another experiment, testosterone 1, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, 10,0 nM was added to the medioum for 3 days, and subsequently 5 nM GHRH was added for 1 day, thereafter GH amounts in media were measured. The results were as follows: 1) The increase of GH response after testosterone administration to the cultured rat pituitary cell was not significant. 2) The rat pituitary cell response to GHRH was augmented after pretreatment with testosterone. These results are suggested that testosterone has no direct effect on GH secretion, but by increasing the pituitary cell response to GHRH, contributes to the regulation of GH secretion in vitro.

EVALUATION OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY FUNCTION BY COMBINED ADMINISTRATION OF HYPOTHALAMIC RELEASING HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

0.05), indicating that the functional reserve of PRL, TSH and ACTH cells were normal in IGHD patients. Except the ratio of peak and basal level, all the other five indices of the LH response to LHRH were significantly lower in IGHD patients than in normals of puberty. The functional reserve of LH cell was low in about 2/3 IGHD patients. These results might explain the delayed or no puberty in adult IGHD patients.

CHANGES OF CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVE (CGRP-LI) NERVE FIBERS OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY IN THE RAT AFTER ADRENALECTOMY / 解剖学报

Using immunohistochemical method in the present study we examined the changes of the CGRP-LI nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary (AP) of the rat after adrenalectomy. 60 male adult rats were divided into 5 groups at random, i.e., normal, sham-operated, adrenalectomized (AdX) plus hydrocortisone, normal plus hydrocortisone and AdX groups. There were some of CGRP-LI nerve fibers sparsely and unevenly distributed in the normal rat AP. The fibers which had some varicosities and varied in their thickness could occurred either individually or in plexus. The quantity of CGRP-LI nerve fibers increased in number, length, branches and the density of the varicosities. The extent of their distribution was also enlarged. With a Leitz computer-assisted image analyzer the quantity of the CGRP-LI nerve fibers in the 5 groups was measured and the results showed that the amount of CGRP-LI nerve fibers in AdX group was significantly higher than those in all the other groups (P

CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE IMMUNOREACTIVE (CGRP-IR) NERVE FIBERS IN THE PARS DISTALIS OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY OF THE RAT / 解剖学报

A small amount of CGRP-ir nerve fibers were found immunohistochemically with an antiserum directed against rat CGRP in all parts of the pars distalis of adenohypophysis in the rat. They occurred in small patches or as scattered fibers. More fibers were seen in the median and dorsal parts of the gland than in lateral and ventral parts. Bundle of CGRP-ir never fibers were often observed within the pia mater covering the pituitary for some distance before entering the parenchyma. A few CGRP-ir cells were observed in the center of the caudal part of the adenohypophysis. None of them were found to be related to the CGRP-ir fibers. The large number of varicosities present along nerve fibers suggests that they may play a role in the regulation of the functions of the adenohypophysis.

SUBSTANCE P-IMMUNOREACTIVE NERVE FIBERS IN THE PARS DISTALIS OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY OF MACAQUES / 解剖学报

The anterior pituitary gland of Macaca mulatta and M. assamensis were stained with antiserum against substance P. A substantial amount of substance P-immunoreactive (SP-ir) nerve fibers with numerous varicosities were found in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary. They were located in the median part of the gland and were distributed mainly in its dorso-posterior region. The great majority of the varicosities were found to be related to the glandular tissue, although some apparently were located along the wall of the blood sinuses. Also many SP immuno reactive cells, mostly large and oval, and were distributed at the periphers of the gland. In areas where both SP-ir nerve fibers and cells were present, many cells were found to be in close proximity to nerve fibers.