Adenohypophysis hormones

Schreiber, V., 1974, Adenohypophysial hormones Regulation of their secretion and mechanisms of their action, MTP Internal. Rev. Sci., Biochem. of Hormones, Series One 8 61. 

Explain how negative feedback mechanisms limit release of hormones from the adenohypophysis... 

The adenohypophysis is derived embryonically from glandular tissue, specifically, Rathke s pouch. This tissue originates from the oropharynx, or the roof of the mouth. It then migrates toward the embryonic nervous tissue destined to form the neurohypophysis. When these two tissues come into contact, Rathke s pouch loses its connection with the roof of the mouth and the pituitary gland is formed. Unlike the neurohypophysis, which releases hormones originally synthesized in the hypothalamus, the adenohypophysis synthesizes its own hormones in specialized groups of cells. Similar to the neurohypophysis, however, the release of these hormones into the blood is regulated by the hypothalamus. 

The adenohypophysis does not have a direct anatomical connection with the hypothalamus therefore, regulation of hormone secretion by way of neuronal signals is not possible. Instead, these two structures are associated by a specialized circulatory system and the secretion of hormones from the adenohypophysis is regulated by hormonal signals from the hypothalamus (see Figure 10.2). Systemic arterial blood is directed first to the hypothalamus. The exchange of materials between the blood and the interstitial fluid of the hypothalamus takes place at the primary capillary plexus. The blood then flows to the adenohypophysis through the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal veins. Portal veins are blood vessels that connect two capillary beds. The second capillary bed in this system is the secondary capillary plexus located in the adenohypophysis. 

Located in close proximity to the primary capillary plexus in the hypothalamus are specialized neurosecretory cells. In fact, the axons of these cells terminate on the capillaries. The neurosecretory cells synthesize two types of hormones releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones (see Table 10.2). Each of these hormones helps to regulate the release of a particular hormone from the adenohypophysis. For example, thyrotropin-releasing hormone produced by the neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus stimulates secretion of thyrotropin from the thyrotrope cells of the adenohypophysis. The hypo-thalamic-releasing hormone is picked up by the primary capillary plexus travels through the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal veins to the anterior pituitary leaves the blood by way of the secondary capillary plexus and exerts its effect on the appropriate cells of the adenohypophysis. The hypophyseal hormone, in this case, thyrotropin, is then picked up by the secondary capillary plexus, removed from the pituitary by the venous blood, and delivered to its target tissue. 

A noteworthy feature of this specialized circulation is that the regulatory hypothalamic hormones are delivered directly to the adenohypophysis by the portal system. Therefore, the concentration of these hormones remains very high because they are not diluted in the blood of the entire systemic circulation. 

In many cases, hormones released from the adenohypophysis are part of a three-hormone axis that includes the ... 

The release of prolactin from the adenohypophysis is normally inhibited by prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH, dopamine) from the hypothalamus. Prolactin secretion is also controlled by prolactin-releasing factor (PRF). The release of PRF from the hypothalamus is mediated by reflexes elicited by suckling and breast stimulation. 

Cortisol is an important component of the body s response to physical and psychological stress. Nervous signals regarding stress are transmitted to the hypothalamus and the release of CRH is stimulated. The resulting increase in cortisol increases levels of glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids in the blood, providing the metabolic fuels that enable the individual to cope with the stress. A potent inhibitor of this system is cortisol itself. This hormone exerts a negative-feedback effect on the hypothalamus and the adenohypophysis and inhibits the secretion of CRH and ACTH, respectively. 

Thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) and the related hormones lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) and follitropin (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH) originate in the adenohypophysis. They are all dimeric glycoproteins with masses of around 28 kDa. Thyrotropin stimulates the synthesis and secretion of thyroxin by the thyroid gland. 

The gonadotropins are produced by the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and the placenta. This group of glycoproteins (carbohydrate-containing proteins) includes the following hormones ... 

Connected to the brain by a stalk (Fig. 30-1), the pituitary gland releases at least ten peptide or protein hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine (hormone-producing) glands in distant parts of the body. The pituitary is composed of several distinct parts the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis), a thin intermediate portion (pars intermedia), and a posterior lobe (neurohypophysis). Each has its own characteristic endocrine functions. 

Pituitary Hormones. The hormones of the hypophysis (pituitary gland) are quite numerous, being secreted variously in three parts of the gland — the ncurohypophysis (posterior lobel. the adenohypophysis (anterior lithe), and the pars intermedia, which connects the other two. 

The adenohypophysis is the part of the gland in which the tropic hormones are secreted They include the adrenocorticotropic hormone lACTHl. die thyrotropic hormone (TSH). and. somatotropin, as well as three hormones with pronounced effects upon the gonads the hormone prolactin, the follicle-stimulating hormone tFSHl and the luteinizing or interstitial cell stimulating hormone tLH or ISCH)... 

This hormone brings about the changes in the reproductive organs required for the development of the embryo. Then the progesterone partly inhibits the adenohypophysis from producing further LH, an example uf negative feedhack as a result, there is no further ovulation. The... 

Anterior Lobe. The anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, secretes six important peptide hormones. The anterior pituitary releases growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prolactin (Pr). The physiologic effects of these hormones are listed in Table 28-1. 

Removal of the entire adenohypophysis and life-long treatment with cortisol, thyroxine, and sex hormones... 

Petrusz, P., Dimeo, P., Ordronneua, P., Weaver, C., and Keefer, D. A. (1975) Improved immunoglobulin enzyme bridge method for light microscopical demonstration of hormone-containing cells of rat adenohypophysis. Histochemie 46,9-26. 

The role of cyclic AMP as modulator of prolactin secretion was first suggested by the finding of a stimulatory effect of cyclic AMP derivatives (17-22) and inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity such as theophylline and IBMX (22-26) on the secretion of this hormone. More convincing evidence supporting a role of cyclic AMP in the action of dopamine on prolactin secretion had to be obtained, however, by measurement of adenohypophysial adenylate cyclase activity or cyclic AMP accumulation under the influence of the catecholamine. As illustrated in Fig. 1, addition of 100 nM dopamine to male rat hemipituitaries led to a rapid inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation, a maximal effect (30% inhibition) being already obtained 5 min after addition of the catecholamine. Thus, while dopamine is well known to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in the striatum (27, 28), its effect at the adenohypophysial level in intact cells is inhibitory. Dopamine has also been found to exert parallel inhibitory effects on cyclic AMP levels and prolactin release in ovine adenohypophysial cells in culture (29) and purified rat mammotrophs (30). Using paired hemipituitaries obtained from female rats, Ray and Wallis (22) have found a rapid inhibitory effect of dopamine on cyclic AMP accumulation to approximately 75% of control. 

In male animals, weight of the adrenals, testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate is recorded (because the effects on steroid biosynthesis frequently involve both the adrenal and gonadal system). In female animals, weight of the adrenals, ovaries and uterus is recorded. As an added investigation, the hypothalamus of the animals may be dissected out and shock frozen immediately for assay of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), and the adenohypophysis... 

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