A long-held belief is that pituitary hormones bind to their cognate receptors in classical target glands to actuate their manifold functions. However, a number of studies have shown that multiple types of pituitary hormone receptors are widely expressed in non-classical target organs. Each pituitary gland-derived hormone exhibits a wide range of nonconventional biological effects in these non-classical target organs. Herein, the extra biological functions of pituitary hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and prolactin when they act on non-classical organs were summarized, defined by the novel concept of an "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis." This novel proposal explains the pathomechanisms of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, obesity, hypertension, fatty liver, and atherosclerosis while offering a more comprehensive and systematic insights into the coordinated regulation of environmental factors, genetic factors, and neuroendocrine hormones on human biological functions. The continued exploration of the physiology of the "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis" could enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
Humans ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Prolactin ; Pituitary Gland/metabolism*

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of plurihormonal PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. Methods: Forty-eight plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors were collected between January 2018 and April 2022 from the pathological database of Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University. The related clinical and imaging data were retrieved. H&E, immunohistochemical and special stains were performed. Results: Out of the 48 plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors included, 13 cases were mature PIT1-lineage tumors and 35 cases were immature PIT1-lineage tumors. There were some obvious clinicopathological differences between the two groups. Clinically, the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor mostly had endocrine symptoms due to increased hormone production, while a small number of immature PIT1-lineage tumors had endocrine symptoms accompanied by low-level increased serum pituitary hormone; patients with the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were younger than the mature PIT1-lineage tumors; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were larger in size and more likely invasive in imaging. Histopathologically, the mature PIT1-lineage tumors were composed of large eosinophilic cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors consisted of chromophobe cells with a relatively higher expression of prolactin; the mature PIT1-lineage tumors had consistently diffuse cytoplasmic positive staining for keratin, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors had various expression for keratin; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors showed more mitotic figures and higher Ki-67 proliferation index; in addition, 25.0% (12/48) of PIT1-positive plurihormonal tumors showed abnormal positive staining for gonadotropin hormones. There was no significant difference in the progression-free survival between the two groups (P=0.648) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusions: Plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor belongs to a rare type of PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, most of which are of immature lineage. Clinically increased symptoms owing to pituitary hormone secretion, histopathologically increased number of eosinophilic tumor cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, diffusely cytoplasmic keratin staining and low proliferative activity can help differentiate the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors from the immature PIT1-lineage tumors. The immature PIT1-lineage tumors have more complicated clinicopathological characteristics.
Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology* ; Pituitary Hormones ; Growth Hormone/metabolism* ; Keratins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the postburn dynamic changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormones in severely burned patients.

METHODSFifty burn patients were enrolled in the study. The plasma contents of total GC (cortisol), ACTH and aldosterone (ALDO) and urinary contents of 17-OHO and 17-KS were determined with radio-immunological assay (RIA) method after burn injury to compare with the normal values which were well established clinically.

RESULTSThe postburn plasma and urinary contents of the above indices were increased evidently with two peak values in shock and infectious stages, whilst the majority of he indices were lower than the normal values after 6 postburn weeks (PBWs). The values of these hormones were the lowest in dying patients. On the other hand, the values approached normal levels in those patients whose burn wounds were healing.

CONCLUSIONIncreases of the plasma and urinary levels of hypothalamus-pituitary -adrenal hormones in severely burned patients were constantly seen. Burn shock and infection seemed to be the two major factors in inducing postburn stress reaction in burn victims. Abrupt decrease of the hormone levels in plasma and or urine indicated adrenal failure predicting a poor prognosis of the burn patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; metabolism ; Adult ; Burns ; metabolism ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Hormones ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary Hormones ; metabolism ; Shock, Traumatic ; metabolism ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Bone is a dynamic tissue undergoing life-long remodeling, a process of bone resorption by osteoclast and bone formation by osteoblast, regulated by diverse hormones including estrogen. Recently, several pituitary hormones have been identified as a modulator of this process. Here, we reviewed the role of thyroid stimulating hormone signaling per se in bone metabolism.
Bone Remodeling ; Bone Resorption ; Estrogens ; Metabolism* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Pituitary Hormones ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin*

Bone is a dynamic tissue undergoing life-long remodeling, a process of bone resorption by osteoclast and bone formation by osteoblast, regulated by diverse hormones including estrogen. Recently, several pituitary hormones have been identified as a modulator of this process. Here, we reviewed the role of thyroid stimulating hormone signaling per se in bone metabolism.
Bone Remodeling ; Bone Resorption ; Estrogens ; Metabolism* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Pituitary Hormones ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin*

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopamine (DA) can stimulate growth hormone (GH) release, but their effects on GH mRNA synthesis are controversial and deficient in fish. Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) is a hermaphroditic marine fish with sex reversal. Few data are available concerning the regulation of GH in grouper. In the present study, the effects of GnRH and DA on GH release and GH mRNA expression were determined using pituitary fragments of orange-spotted grouper under static culture conditions. After incubation from 1 h to 24 h, salmon GnRH (sGnRH, 100 nmol/L) stimulated the release of GH and increased the level of GH mRNA time-dependently. The minimum duration of sGnRH effect was 1 h. Both of sGnRH and mammalian GnRH (mGnRH) augmented the release of GH and the level of GH mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. The potency of sGnRH on both GH release and GH mRNA level was more pronounced than that of mGnRH. The effects of 1 micromol/L APO (Apomorphine), an agonist of D(1)/ D(2) dopamine receptors, significantly stimulated GH release and GH mRNA synthesis after incubation for 12 h. APO stimulated GH release and GH mRNA abundance in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that both GnRH and DA directly stimulate GH release and GH mRNA expression at the pituitary level, the actions of GnRH are more potent than that of DA in orange-spotted grouper.
Animals ; Dopamine ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology ; Gonadotropins, Pituitary ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; secretion ; Perciformes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pituitary Gland ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones ; secretion ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; blood ; Adult ; Exercise ; physiology ; Gonadal Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; Serum ; metabolism ; Students ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effects of electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) on rats with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide experiment references for acupuncture to treat T2DM.

METHODSAmong seventy male Wistar clean-grade rats, 8 rats were randomly selected into a control group; the rest rats were made T2DM model. Fifty-two rats which were successfully made T2DM model, according to randomized block method, were divided into a model group (10 rats), a medication group (10 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (11 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (10 rats) and an electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (11 rats). Seven days after successful establishment of model, the rats in the model group were fixed in the self-made rat bag without receiving any treatment; the rats in the medication group, according to body mass (10 mL/kg), were treated with intragastric administration of glimepiride; the rats in all the electroacupuncture groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Yishu" (EX-B 3), respectively. The continuous wave was selected with a frequency of 15 Hz and a current intensity of 4 to 6 mA. The treatment was given 20 min per treatment, once a day, 5 treatments per week for continuous 4 weeks. Before the establishment of model and continuous 4 weeks after the intervention, blood samples were collected from rats' caudal vein, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured with FBG device each week. After the last intervention, the rats were killed and hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal gland were collected. The colorimetric method was applied to measure the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C); radioimmunoassay was used to test the contents of glycated serum protein (GSP), fasting insulin (FINS), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortin (CORT).

RESULTSFour weeks after the intervention, except that the rat's body mass in the normal group continued to increase, body mass in the model group, medication group and each electroacupuncture group were significantly reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01); FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05). The contents of TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), the content of TG was significantly lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05), the content of LDL-C was significantly lower than that in electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05). Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in the medication group, electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu (EX-B 3)" group were evidently increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); ISI in the medication group was lower than that in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (P<0.05). The content of CRH in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05, P<0.01); the content of CORT in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) could reduce the level of CORT to improve the insulin resistance in rats with T2DM, improve insulin sensitivity index, regulate blood lipid metabolism and relieve the hyperactivity of the HPA axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disorder which is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pituitary gland. Almost all reported cases have been in women and the disease is often associated with pregnancy. We describe here the first male case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in Korea. The patient presented with headache, impotence, decreased libido, and deteriorated vision. Endocrinologic studies showed panhypopituitarism, and pituitary MRI imaging revealed a homogeneously enhanced pituitary mass with a thickened stalk. Treatment with prednisolone and thyroid hormone for five months was ineffective. Transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary mass was performed successfully with normalization of the visual field defect. Histologic examination revealed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with dense collagenous fibrosis, consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Lymphocytic hypophysitis should be considered in differential diagnosis even in men with hypopituitarism and an enlarged pituitary gland.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis* ; Autoimmune Diseases/pathology ; Autoimmune Diseases/surgery ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Lymphocytes/cytology ; Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Diseases/diagnosis* ; Pituitary Diseases/pathology ; Pituitary Diseases/surgery ; Pituitary Gland/pathology* ; Pituitary Gland/surgery ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism ; Pregnancy

To investigate the characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas, we examined 120 pituitary glands from Korean forensic autopsy cases, from which eight tumors were identified (incidence 6.7%). The average age of the affected subjects was 50 yr (range: 33-96 yr) with a female predominance. The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 0.4 to 5.4 mm (mean: 2.8 mm). Immunohistochemical analysis of pituitary hormones revealed three growth hormone-secreting adenomas, one prolactin-producing adenoma, one gonadotropin-producing adenoma, one plurihormonal adenoma, and two null cell adenomas. MIB-1 staining for Ki-67 antigen showed no positive expression. The microvessel density (MVD) of the pituitary microadenomas ranged from 2.3 to 11.6% (mean: 5.3%) and was significantly lower than that of nonneoplastic pituitary glands (11.9-20.1%, mean: 14.8%). Our study provides reference data on incidental pituitary microadenomas in the Korean population.
Adenoma/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Microcirculation/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism ; Pituitary Neoplasms/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology