By using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we have demonstrated that the nitric oxide (NO)-synthesizing enzyme NO synthase is present in gonadotrophs and in folliculo-stellate cells of the anterior pituitary gland of male and female rats. A marked increase in levels of NO synthase protein and mRNA was observed after gonadectomy. In vitro studies on dispersed anterior pituitary cel...

The regulation of gastrin gene transcription was studied in GH4 pituitary cells transfected with constructs comprised of the first exon of the human gastrin gene and various lengths of 5' regulatory sequences ligated upstream of the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Gastrin reporter gene activity in GH4 cells was equal to the activity of a reporter gene transcribed from the endog...

Growth hormone (GH) responses to growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were studied in 17 diabetic patients. Ten patients (group 1) had retinopathy corresponding to stage III-V (Scott's classification), and the remaining seven patients (group 2) had no retinopathy despite longer duration of diabetes in comparison with the patients in group 1. There were ...

This particular edition is edited by Dr. Maurice Scanlon of Cardiff, a well-known figure in the field, and provides a reasonably comprehensive update of recent progress in neuroendocrinology. Among the chapter topics are the investigation of hypothalmic pituitary disease, current approaches to radiology of the region and medical and surgical management of pituitary adenomas. There is also a cha...