[Central regulation of adenohypophyseal function]. / Centrálna regulácia adenohypofyzárynch funkcií.

The secretion of adenohypophyseal hormones is controlled by hypothalamic hypophysotropic hormones with stimulating (hormone releasing factors) or inhibitory (hormone release inhibiting factors) actions. The release of hypothalamic hormones is regulated by hierarchically higher nerve centres via neurons which liberate neurotransmitters at their endings. The secretion of growth hormone is controlled by hypothalamic hormones, somatotropin releasing factor and somatotropin release-inhibiting factor; of the neurotransmitters, the strongest effects have noradrenaline and dopamine. The release of ACTH is controlled by two stimulating hormones, the ACTH releasing factor and vasopressin, the effects of neurotransmitters are less marked, with the involvement of noradrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, gamma aminobutyric acid and other agents. Prolactin release is under the main inhibitory control of hypothalamic dopamine, no release-stimulating hypothalamic factor could be unequivocally demonstrated as yet; likely, several peptides are involved in this mechanism. The release of thyrotropic hormone is stimulated by thyrotropin releasing factor, whereas somatotropin release-inhibiting factor has an inhibitory action. Of the neurotransmitters, the inhibitory effect of dopamine is important; this agent however acts also at the hypophyseal level. External hypothalamic hormones and regulatory neurotransmitters are used in the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine disorders.

Fisiologia de la prolactina / Physiology of prolactin

Descripcion de la secrecion y sintesis, variaciones fisiologicas, concentraciones y receptores de la prolactina

[Inhibin: new gonadal hormone (author's transl)]. / Inhibine: nouvelle hormone gonadique.

There are many convincing arguments to accept the existence of inhibin. This hormone is produced inside the seminiferous tubules by the Sertoli cells in males and by the granulosa cells of the follicule in females. The biological, immunological and chemical characteristics of testicular and ovarian inhibin are identical so that it could be speculated the same molecule is secreted by both organs. This hormone is not a knownsteroid but is a protein substance. Thus, its biological activity is destroyed by trypsin and pepsin digestion and by heating at 60 degrees for 30 minutes. Furthermore, immunization with inhibin from rete testis fluid induces antibodies capable of neutralizing endogenous inhibin of adult male and female rats. This polypeptide hormone is not identical neither to ABP nor to a fragment of gonadotrophins. The molecular weight is not yet exactly defined and the possibility exists that two forms of inhibin are present in RTF: one of high (greater than 10,000 Daltons) and the other of low molecular weight. The high M.W. species could be a polymer or alternatively the combination of native inhibin and a carrier substance or unique precursor molecule. Inhibin preparations selectively depress the synthesis and the release of FSH in pituitary cell culture. The threshold dose to affect the LH production is higher than that active on FSH secretion. Furthermore, they reduce LH-RH content of hypothalamus maintained in organ culture. In animals, inhibin induced effects are depending on both hypothalamus and pituitary actions according to the functions of these two structures. In that sense, apparently contradictory results are obtained in short and long term castrated animals. Inhibin does not modify TSH, GH and prolactin in vivo and in vitro. This substance displays an inhibition on the synthesis of DNA in the testis of pubertal male rats and depresses the maturation of follicle in female.

Antidopaminergic activity of estrogens on prolactin release at the pituitary level in vivo.

Treatment of female or male rats with estradiol benzoate led to an almost complete reversal of the inhibitory effect of low doses of dopamine on prolactin secretion. These data indicate that estrogens which have previously been shown to exert a potent antidopaminergic activity on prolactin secretion in anterior pituitary cells in primary culture have similar effects in vivo.

Hypothalamic regulatory hormones: physiological and clinical implications.

The hypothalamic regulatory hormones used for clinical studies are TRH, Gn-RH and somatostatin. In addition, as dopamine appears to be a physiological PIF, the dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine, could be considered as functional analogues of PIF. Gn-RH can be used to study the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal relationship and to test the secretory reserve capacity of the gonadotrophs in disease states. Unfortunately Gn-RH testing discrimulates between pituitary and hypothalamic diseases only poorly. However gonadotrophin deficient men or women may be successfully treated with long-term Gn-RH with induction of puberty, potency, spermatogenesis and ovulation. Somatostatin has multiple actions in inhibiting endocrine and exocrine secretion but its actions are still being explored in diabetes. Bromocriptine, a long acting dopamine agonist (a functional analogue of PIF), suppresses prolactin and is highly effective in treating many hypogonadal states since hyperprolactinaemia is common. It also lowers growth hormone in acromegaly. TRH has provided a major, accurate, sensitive and safe test of thyroid function.

Prolactin.

Prolactin exists in man as a distinct and separate anterior pituitary hormone from growth hormone. It is important in lactation and the control of gonadal function, although it may have a much wider and basic metabolic role, similar to its role in lower forms. In clinical endocrinology it is important as an index of pituitary and hypothalamic diseases; thus prolactin levels are elevated in association with these conditions and this reflects the normal tonic inhibitory hypothalamic control of prolactin by PIF; DA is the most important PIF. Hyperprolactinaemia causes hypogonadism in both men and women; it may present in women with amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, polymenorrhoea, regular cycles with anovulation or a defective luteal phase, and impotence in men. In either sex galactorrhoea is reported to occur in only 30 per cent of patients. Neurotransmitter therapy, with dopamine agonists which act as functional analogues of PIF, restores prolactin levels to normal and leads to a return of normal gonadal function. The mechanism of the hypogonadism is not clear and is discussed together with the problems associated with inducing pregnancy in these patients, who may harbour microadenomata of the pituitary.

[Neuroaminergic control of anterior pituitary secretions (author's transl)]. / Contrôle neuroaminergique des sécrétions antéhypophysaires

The demonstration and identification of monoamines and of aminergic tracts in the central nervous system has permitted a study of their role in the control of the liberation of hypothalamic releasing hormones. Knowledge of the role of these hypothalamic neurohormones in the release of pituitary hormones is at present under study. The role of monoamines in the control of pituitary hormone functions depends narrowly on pharmacological methods intervening either in the synthesis of neuroamines or in their action on a specific receptor. The authors consider successively the implication of monoamines in the control of liberation of ACTH, GH, TSH, prolactin and gonadotropic hormones. The role of aminergic mechanisms in the physiology of pituitary releasing hormones forms an integral part of homeostasis. Knowledge of these mechanisms leads to a clinical study of their role in disorders of hypothalamo-pituitary function.