scholarly journals Neuroserpin is expressed in the pituitary and adrenal glands and induces the extension of neurite-like processes in AtT-20 cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 345 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rena M. HILL ◽  
Parmjeet K. PARMAR ◽  
Leigh C. COATES ◽  
Eva MEZEY ◽  
John F. PEARSON ◽  
...  

Two cDNAs encoding the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) neuroserpin were cloned from a rat pituitary cDNA library (rNS-1, 2922 bp; rNS-2, 1599 bp). In situ hybridization histochemistry showed neuroserpin transcripts in the intermediate, anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland and medullary cells in the adrenal gland. Expression of rNS-1 mRNA was restricted to selected cells in the pituitary gland. Analysis of purified secretory-granule fractions from pituitary and adrenal tissues indicated that neuroserpin was found in dense-cored secretory granules. This result suggested that endocrine neuroserpin may regulate intragranular proteases or inhibit enzymes following regulated secretion. To investigate the function of neuroserpin in endocrine tissues we established stable anterior pituitary AtT-20 cell lines expressing neuroserpin. Cells with increased levels of neuroserpin responded by extending neurite-like processes. Extracellular proteolysis by serine protease plasminogen activators has been suggested to regulate neurite outgrowth. As neuroserpin inhibits tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in vitro, we measured plasminogen-activator levels. Zymographic analysis indicated that AtT-20 cells synthesized and secreted a plasminogen activator identical in size to tPA. A higher-molecular-mass tPA-neuroserpin complex was also observed in AtT-20-cell conditioned culture medium. tPA levels were similar in parent AtT-20 cells and a stable cell line with increased levels of neuroserpin. There was no accumulation of a tPA-neuroserpin complex. Together these results identify endocrine cells as an important source of neuroserpin. Moreover they suggest that neuroserpin is released from dense-cored secretory granules to regulate cell-extracellular matrix interactions through a mechanism that may not directly involve tPA.

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Morel ◽  
J.-G. Chabot ◽  
A. Enjalbert ◽  
M. Priam ◽  
P. M. Dubois

Abstract. Classic concepts of calcitonin (CT) function have focused on the effects of CT on calcium homeostasis. More recently CT actions on brain and pituitary have been investigated. In order to evaluate the effects of CT on the anterior pituitary gland we studied the action(s) of CT in vitro and visualized endogenous CT in adult male rat pituitary gland by immunocytochemistry on ultrathin sections obtained by cryoultramicomy. In vitro study using dispersed anterior pituitary cells indicated that CT stimulated the secretion of PRL, whereas the secretion of GH, TSH and LH was not affected. CT-like immunoreactivity was observed in lactotropes only. The other pituitary cell types were not immunoreactive. In lactotropes, immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. In the cytoplasm, CT-like immunoreactivity was visuzalized in the cytoplasmic matrix and in the secretory granules. In the nucleus, immunostaining was distributed primarly in the euchromatin, in the vincinity of heterochromatin region. CT-like immunoreactivity was also observed at the plasma membrane but was only scarce. No reaction product was found when anti-CT serum pre-incubated with CT was used. In conclusion, these results bring evidence for a direct action of CT on lactotrope regulation in vitro as well as in intact animals.


FEBS Letters ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 440 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rena M Hill ◽  
Kate S Morresey ◽  
Leigh C Coates ◽  
Eva Mezey ◽  
Brennan Fell ◽  
...  

1981 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH A. LINTON ◽  
NICKI WHITE ◽  
OFELIA LIRA DE TINEO ◽  
S. L. JEFFCOATE

The effects of 2-hydroxyoestradiol (2OH-OE2), dopamine, oestradiol-17β and 2OH-OE2 plus dopamine on prolactin and LH release from the male rat pituitary gland were examined in vitro. 2-Hydroxyoestradiol reduced prolactin secretion by 51% at 10−10 mol/l and by 34% at 10−7 mol/l, while oestradiol-17β had no effect at these doses. Dopamine alone (5 × 10−7 mol/l) decreased prolactin released by 58%, 2OH-OE2 plus dopamine produced a similar inhibition of 60%. No significant effect on LH release was observed throughout.


1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. J. Lamberts ◽  
E. G. Bons ◽  
P. Uitterlinden ◽  
W. H. Hackeng

Cyproheptadine and its metabolite desmethylcyproheptadine were shown to suppress directly the release of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and β-lipotrophin/β-endorphin activity from the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary gland incubated in vitro. Neither compound affected the release of ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland. Serotonin stimulated the release of ACTH and β-lipotrophin/β-endorphin activity from the neurointermediate lobe, but did not influence the (desmethyl)cyproheptadine-mediated inhibition of hormone release. These results indicate that serotonin and cyproheptadine affect hormone release by the neurointermediate lobe by a direct action. The effect of cyproheptadine, however, might not be exerted by a serotonin receptor.


1977 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOAN JACOBI ◽  
H. M. LLOYD ◽  
J. D. MEARES

SUMMARY The times of onset of oestrogen-induced prolactin secretion and DNA synthesis were studied in the pituitary gland of the male rat. At intervals from 3 to 96 h after injection of 10 mg diethylstilboestrol dipropionate, serum and pituitary prolactin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and pituitary DNA synthesis by incorporation of [3H]thymidine in vitro. Serum prolactin was raised significantly from 6 h onwards and DNA synthesis was increased from 30 h onwards. Pituitary prolactin concentration began to increase at 30 h. Significant correlations were obtained between serum prolactin and DNA synthesis from 24 to 72 h but not during the period of prolactin secretion from 6 to 24 h.


1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Prysor-Jones ◽  
J. J. Silverlight ◽  
J. S. Jenkins

Dopamine concentration within the hypothalamus and its depletion after the administration of α-methyl-para-tyrosine were measured in young rats and compared with values obtained in aged animals with and without spontaneously occurring pituitary tumours. Old rats had significantly reduced hypothalamic dopamine concentrations and there was less depletion of dopamine compared with young animals but there were no differences between tumorous and non-tumorous animals. Hyperprolactinaemia induced in young animals caused a much greater depletion of hypothalamic dopamine than in old tumorous rats with comparable plasma prolactin concentrations. The catechol oestrogen 2-hydroxyoestradiol inhibited the release of prolactin from normal rat pituitary glands in vitro but measurement of catechol oestrogens in the hypothalamus showed no differences between young and old tumorous or non-tumorous rats. It is concluded that reduced dopamine concentration and an impaired response to hyperprolactinaemia in old rats may facilitate the growth of prolactin-secreting tumours arising in the pituitary gland.


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