PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “PITUITARY HORMONES”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on pituitary hormone responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in humans.

Renin, angiotensin-II, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) have been found in the hypothalamus and pituitary in rats, and renin, angiotensinogen, and ACE have been found in human pituitary lactotrophs. To determine the physiological relevance of the renin-angiotensin system in the pituitary hormone response to stress in humans, we created significant inhibition of ACE by administering a clinically used dose (10 mg) of enalapril (E) 4 h before measuring the stress hormone responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Eight fasting lean healthy males (aged 20-35 yr) were given either placebo (P) or E (10 mg, orally) in two studies separated by at least 5 days in a blinded study design. Glucose, ACTH, cortisol, PRL, and GH levels were measured before E or P and at 20-min intervals beginning 20 min before insulin administration. ACE levels were similar at baseline (E, 21.6 +/- 2.7; P, 22.4 +/- 2.4 mU/mL/min), but were significantly lower at the time of insulin injection with E treatment (E, 2.9 +/- 0.5; P, 20.9 +/- 2.5 mU/mL/min; P less than 0.001). The mean of the total area under the curve of PRL secretion was significantly lower for the E group (E, 3767.2 +/- 710.7; P, 4554.9 +/- 650.1 micrograms/L.min; P less than 0.05). Although the mean peak PRL levels were lower for the E group, this did not reach statistical significance (E, 53.0 +/- 9.7; P, 64.4 +/- 9.4 micrograms/L; 0.05 less than P less than 0.10). These differences in PRL responses appeared to be due primarily to substantial decreases in PRL responses with E in three of the eight subjects. No significant differences were found with ACTH, cortisol, or GH for basal levels, peak levels, or areas under the curve.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Physiological control of pituitary hormone secretory-burst mass, frequency, and waveform: a statistical formulation and analysis.

The present study investigates the time-varying control of pituitary hormone secretion over the day and night (D/N). To this end, we implemented an analytical platform designed to reconstruct simultaneously 1) basal (nonpulsatile) secretion, 2) single or dual secretory-burst waveforms, 3) random effects on burst amplitude, 4) stochastic pulse-renewal properties, 5) biexponential elimination kinetics, and 6) experimental uncertainty. The statistical solution is conditioned on a priori pulse-onset times, which are estimated in the first stage. Primary data composed of thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations were monitored over 24 h in 27 healthy adults. According to statistical criteria, 21/27 profiles favored a dual compared with single secretory-burst waveform. An objectively defined waveform change point (D/N boundary) emerged at 2046 (+/-23 min), after which 1) the mass of TSH released per burst increases by 2.1-fold (P < 0.001), 2) TSH secretory-burst frequency rises by 1.2-fold (P < 0.001), 3) the latency to maximal TSH secretion within a burst decreases by 67% (P < 0.001), 4) variability in secretory-burst shape diminishes by 50% (P < 0.001), and 5) basal TSH secretion declines by 17% (P < 0.002). In contrast, the regularity of successive burst times and the slow-phase half-life are stable. In conclusion, nycthemeral mechanisms govern TSH secretory-burst mass, frequency, waveform, and variability but not evidently TSH elimination kinetics or the pulse-timing process. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the foregoing distinctive control mechanisms in other hypothalamo-pituitary axes.

Adult↗

Steroid and pituitary hormone concentrations in the fluid of preovulatory bovine follicles relative to the peak of LH in the peripheral blood.

Preovulatory bovine follices (n = 73) were collected at different times after the onset of oestrus until shortly before ovulation, which occurred at 24 +/- 1 X 4 h after the peak concentration of LH in the peripheral blood. Non-atretic antral follicles (n = 9) of 15-19 mm were also collected from cows during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle. Follicular fluid concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and oestrone, and of LH, FSH and prolactin were compared in 2-h periods relative to the LH plasma peak. Before the LH surge the concentrations of the steroids were much higher than in non-atretic luteal-phase follicles of similar size. From 0 to 6 h after the LH peak the steroid concentrations decreased sharply to remain low until ovulation; only that of androstenedione increased again after 14 h to remain constant. The ratio between the concentrations of androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone remained constant until 14 h after the LH peak; at 14 h it increased about 4-fold and remained high until ovulation. The ratio between the oestrone and androstenedione concentration increased gradually to a 10-fold higher value until at 14 h an abrupt decrease was observed. These changes indicate that after the LH peak androgen production is directly inhibited and, at a slower rate, the aromatizing activity. Androstenedione appeared to be the major aromatase substrate. Before the plasma LH peak the follicular fluid concentration of FSH was higher than in luteal-phase follicles; the concentrations of LH and prolactin were not different from those in luteal-phase follicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

17-Ketosteroids↗

Effect of cis-platinum on kidney cytochrome P-450 and heme metabolism: evidence for the regulatory role of the pituitary hormones.

A novel action of the gonadotropic hormones of the adenohypophysis on the regulation of kidney heme metabolism and cytochrome P-450 concentrations is described. The treatment of rats with cis-platinum for 7 days caused a greater than twofold increase in the microsomal cytochrome P-450 and heme concentrations in the kidney. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the microsomal preparation revealed increased levels of both apocytochrome P-450 and heme in the molecular weight region corresponding to cytochrome P-450. In hypophysectomized rats, similar increases in heme and the cytochrome contents in the kidney were observed. Conversely, the treatment of rats with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) fully reversed the effect of cis-platinum on heme and cytochrome P-450 concentrations. The cellular basis of increases in concentrations of heme and the hemoprotein was explored by measuring the incorporation of [14C]glycine-labeled hemoglobin heme into the kidney microsomal heme fractions. In comparison with the control rats, the specific 14C activity of heme in microsomal fraction was not increased. Moreover, the effect of cis-platinum on kidney cytochrome P-450 appeared to be unrelated to alterations in the activities of the rate-limiting enzymes of heme biosynthesis and degradation pathways, delta-aminolevulinate synthetase, and heme oxygenase, respectively. On the other hand, ferrochelatase activity and the concentration of total porphyrins in the kidney were profoundly altered by cis-platinum treatment; a twofold increase in ferrochelatase activity and a marked reduction (40%) in the total porphyrin concentration were observed. Also, the activities of uroporphyrinogen-I synthetase and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase were decreased in cis-platinum-treated animals. The latter effects reflect a direct inhibitory action of cis-platinum. It appears that the cis-platinum-mediated increase in the microsomal heme concentrations involves an accelerated rate of heme production as a consequence of increased ferrochelatase activity. This, in turn, could increase the production of cytochrome P-450. It is suggested that the anterior pituitary hormones control the concentration of the cytochrome P-450 in the kidney, and this process may be interrupted by cis-platinum.

Animals↗

Pituitary hormone secretion in the genectically male rat pseudohermaphrodite.

Pituitary content or concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin and growth hormone in the genetically androgen insensitive male rat pseudohermaphrodite is intermediate between normal male and female rats, while pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration and serum FSH levels are the same as in the normal male. The concentration of serum LH, prolactin and growth hormone indicated no sexual dimorphism. Although the pseudohermaphrodite is genetically male with a female phenotype, our results suggest some degree of masculinization of the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

Animals↗

The effect of genetic variability (degree of homozygosity) on serum levels of the anterior pituitary hormones prolactin, corticotropin, and growth hormone in rats.

Male and female wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Erxleben) and males and female albino outbred rats (Ipf:RIZ) were crossbred. The resulting animals (F1 hybrids) were the control, noninbred group (0% inbred). By systematic full-sib mating, two experimental groups (50 and 91% of inbred) were produced. Half of each group (both males and females) was exposed to physical stress (3 days of starvation and 3 hr of swimming). The other half of each group was anesthetized using ether to collect blood. The anterior pituitary hormone concentrations of prolactin (PRL), corticotropin (ACTH), and growth hormone (rGH) in blood serum were determined by the radioimmunoassay method. Significant relationships between the PRL, ACTH, and rGH concentrations in blood serum and the inbreeding coefficient were observed: A significant PRL content decrease in blood serum occurred (linear function) and the rGH and ACTH content diminished significantly rapidly (quadratic function). These changes were affected by an increase in homozygosity. Stress significantly influenced PRL, ACTH, and rGH concentrations as well. The sex of rats significantly determined PRL and ACTH content only. Hormone levels were also influenced by interactions between the factors studied (inbred level, sex, stress).

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Tissue culture studies on human pituitary tumours: long term release of anterior pituitary hormones into the culture medium.

A study was undertaken to determine the length of time that human pituitary tumours are capable of releasing anterior pituitary polypeptide hormones in vitro under basal conditions and to study the spectrum of hormone release by functioning and "non-functioning" pituitary neoplasms. Fragments from the pituitary tumours of 10 patients in the following categories: 1 Cushing's disease, 2 with amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea, 3 with acromegaly, and 4 with "non-functioning" pituitary tumours and from 2 normal human anterior pituitary glands were placed in primary culture immediately after surgery. The in vitro release of human growth hormone (hGH), prolactin (Prl), thyrotrophin (TSH), adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was measured by specific radioimmunoassays at the end of each week in culture. Hormone release was surveyed from 6 weeks to 6 months depending upon the survival of the culture. Hormone release patterns were compared with clinical and pathological data. In the initial week of the study, all 6 anterior pituitary polypeptides were detected in the media from the 2 control pituitaries and from 4 of the tumours (1 amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea and 3 acromegaly) in concentrations up to 100 ng/ml of medium while 5 of the 6 hormones were readily detectable in the media from 2 additional tumour samples (Cushing's disease and 1 "non-functioning" pituitary tumour). The media of the remaining 4 tumours contained at least 3 of the 6 hormones (1 amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea and 3 "non-functioning" pituitary tumours). After 6 months in culture, the 6 hormones were readily detectable in at least 1 of the 5 surviving cultures and hGH (up to 800 ng/ml) and LH were each detectable in the media from 2 cultures. Although most of the hormone concentrations in the media decreased with length of time in culture, there were 2 exceptions. First in the media from 5 of the 12 cultures from both controls and tumours, Prl concentrations increased after 50 to 80 days culture. This increase usually lasted for several weeks before Prl levels again began to decline. The second unusual finding occurred in a tumour from a patient with acromegaly in the media of which hGH levels rose from 60 ng/ml to 800 ng/ml between days 125 and 174. These findings of prolonged hormone release in vitro give promise of future usefulness of tissue culture methods for study of polypeptide hormone releasing mechanisms and long-term production of human anterior pituitary hormones for use in research and possible therapy.

Acromegaly↗

Function switching as a basis for bursts of rapid change during the evolution of pituitary growth hormone.

Pituitary growth hormone shows a pattern of molecular evolution in which occasional bursts of rapid change are imposed on a slow basal rate. It is suggested that these bursts of rapid evolution are a consequence of acquisition by this protein hormone of a secondary function, the importance of which varies. As the function of the hormone switches to accommodate the changes in role, its structure will also alter, adapting it to acquisition or loss of the secondary function. Several rounds of such "function switching" could give a substantial change in structure (the sum of several small changes) with little overall change in function. A similar process could underlie rapid bursts of evolution in other proteins.

Animals↗