Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We used 35S-labeled oligonucleotides and cRNAs (riboprobes) to detect the temporal order and spatial pattern of anterior pituitary hormone gene expression in (B6CBF1 x B6CBF1)F2 fetal mice from embryonic Day 9.5 (E9.5) to postnatal Day 1 (P1). Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA was expressed in the basal diencephalon on Day E10.5, in the ventromedial zone of the pars distalis on Day E12.5, and in the pars intermedia on Day E14.5. The common alpha-glycoprotein subunit (alpha-GSU) mRNA first appeared in the anterior wall of Rathke's pouch on Day E11.5 and extended to the pars tuberalis and ventromedial zone of the pars distalis on Day E12.5. Thyroid-stimulating hormone-beta (TSH beta) subunit mRNA was expressed initially in both the pas tuberalis and ventromedial pars distalis on Day E14.5, with an identical spatial distribution to alpha-GSU at the time. In contrast, luteinizing hormone-beta (LH beta) subunit and follicle-stimulating hormone beta (FSH beta) subunit mRNAs were detected initially only in the ventromedial pars distalis on Days E16.5 and E17.5, respectively, in an identical distribution to each other. POMC-, alpha-GSU-, TSH beta, LH beta-, and FSH beta-positive cells within the pars distalis all increased in number and autoradiographic signal with differing degrees of spatial expansion posteriorly, laterally, and dorsally up to Day P1. POMC expression was typically the most intense and extended circumferentially to include the entire lateral and dorsal surfaces of the pars distalis. The expression of both growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) started coincidentally on Day E15.5. However PRL cells localized in the ventromedial area similarly to POMC and the glycoprotein hormone subunits, whereas GH cells were found initially in a more lateral and central distribution within the lobes of the pars distalis. Somatotrophs increased dramatically in number and autoradiographic signal, extending throughout the pars distalis except for the most peripheral layer of cells on Day E17.5. Mammotrophs also increased in number but less abundantly than somatotrophs, and PRL expression remained more confined to central-medial and ventrolateral areas of the pars distalis up to Day P1. These data demonstrate distinctive patterns of expression for each of the major anterior pituitary hormone genes during development of the mouse pituitary gland and suggest that different groups of committed cells are the immediate precursors to the terminally differentiated hormone-secreting cell types.
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PMID:In situ hybridization analysis of anterior pituitary hormone gene expression during fetal mouse development. 802 30

Replacement therapy is routinely used to treat hormone deficiencies of patients who have had surgery or radiation therapy that damages the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Hormones commonly replaced include: arginine vasopressin (AVP), growth hormone (GH), cortisol, thyroxine (T4), testosterone and estrogen. AVP, synthesized in the hypothalamus, is stored in and released by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. GH is synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland. The other hormones are produced and released by target glands each of which is stimulated by a specific anterior pituitary hormone, which in turn is controlled by release of a specific hypothalamic hormone. Feedback control by a high circulating concentration of the target gland's hormone regulates hypothalamic hormone release. Deficiency of AVP, important for water balance in the body, is restored with the synthetic analogue, 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP); it is given as a nasal spray or by injection. GH is required for normal growth in the developing child; recombinant GH, produced in bacteria, is injected subcutaneously. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) controls release of cortisol which is produced by the adrenal cortex and enables the body to cope with stress; cortisol is replaced with prednisolone given orally. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) controls release of the thyroid hormones, T4 and triiodothyronine (T3), which promote growth and development, and regulate energy metabolism; for replacement of T4, oral synthetic L-thyroxine is given. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) control release of testosterone, which promotes maturation of sperm and development of male sexual characteristics; replacement testosterone is administered intramuscularly. In females, FSH and LH control release of estrogens and progesterone which prepare the reproductive tract for release of the ovum, fertilization, implantation and development of the embryo, replacement by estrogen and progesterone preparations which are orally effective is given in a cyclic manner. A transdermal delivery system is available. Nursing implications include cautions and contraindications, potential problems of over-replacement, drug interactions as well as patient teaching points.
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PMID:Replacement therapy: arginine vasopressin (AVP), growth hormone (GH), cortisol, thyroxine, testosterone and estrogen. 881 80

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), the main circulating cytokine, is putatively a major mediator of the effects of the immune system on several endocrine axes and intermediate metabolism. We performed dose-response studies of recombinant human IL-6 on pituitary hormone secretion in 15 healthy male volunteers, using 5 single, escalating subcutaneous doses of IL-6 (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 micrograms/kg body weight), each in 3 volunteers. We measured resting metabolic rate (RMR) with indirect calorimetry and plasma anterior pituitary hormones and vasopressin (AVP) at baseline and half-hourly over 4 h after the injection. All doses examined were tolerated well and produced no significant adverse effects. Dose-dependent RMR increases were observed in response to the 3.0- and 10.0-microgram/kg doses of IL-6, beginning at 60 min and slowly peaking between 180 and 240 min. Plasma adrenocorticotropic-hormone concentrations increased dramatically and dose-dependently in all the patients who received the 3.0- and 10.0-microgram/kg doses of IL-6, respectively, peaking to 150 and 255 pg/ml at 60 min, and slowly returning to normal by 4 h. Corresponding plasma cortisol levels peaked dose-dependently between 90 and 150 min, but remained elevated throughout the sampling period. In contrast, the growth hormone (GH) dose-response was bell-shaped, with maximum (approximately 100-fold) stimulation achieved by 3.0 micrograms/kg IL-6. Prolactin (PRL) showed a similar but less pronounced response pattern. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) dose-dependently and progressively decreased over the 240 min, while gonadotropins showed no clear-cut changes. In conclusion, subcutaneous IL-6 administration induced synchronized dose-dependent increases in the RMR and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, suggesting that hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone may mediate both of these functions in humans. IL-6 also acutely stimulated GH and PRL secretion and suppressed TSH secretion. The dose of 3.0 micrograms/kg could be used safely in the study of patients with disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit or of thermogenesis.
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PMID:Dose effects of recombinant human interleukin-6 on pituitary hormone secretion and energy expenditure. 925 19

The effects of lindane (LIN, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) on reproduction and general endocrine function were examined in breeding ewes as a model for wild and domestic ungulates, which may be exposed to low levels of pesticides that are potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Ewes (n = 13/group) were fed either a control untreated diet (CON), or a diet treated with LIN (1 mg/kg/d) or PCP (1 mg/kg/d) during the 5 wk prior to mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Mating response, ovulation rate, follicle and corpus luteum size, gestation length, pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and lamb birth weight were recorded. After weaning, 6 ewes from each group were bled at 15-min intervals for 8 h during the day and night and for 1 h before and 5 h after i.v. administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and adrenocorticotropin, to measure serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroxine (T4), and cortisol. Ewes were then killed and endocrine tissues examined histologically. Pregnancy rate as a result of matings taking place at the synchronized estrus was significantly decreased by the lindane treatment However, PCP and lindane did not markedly affect any other aspect of reproductive function studied. In PCP-treated ewes, serum concentrations of T4 were significantly reduced compared to control ewes during the day and night; however, the T4 response to TSH was not altered by PCP treatment. No other measured endocrine parameters were consistently affected by lindane or PCP. Thyroid follicle size was significantly increased in the LIN and PCP ewes compared to the control ewes. Low serum concentrations of T4 in the PCP ewes may have resulted in increased TSH secretion and increased thyroid follicle size. In conclusion, although pesticide treatments had no serious adverse effects on reproductive function in breeding ewes, PCP reduced T4 concentration, which in the long term could influence reproductive and general performance.
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PMID:Endocrine and reproductive function in ewes exposed to the organochlorine pesticides lindane or pentachlorophenol. 992 52

Hypoxia is a common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We have previously demonstrated a dramatic ACTH-independent activation of adrenal steroidogenesis in hypoxic neonatal rats, leading to increases in circulating corticosterone levels. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this ACTH-independent increase in corticosterone inhibits the ACTH response to acute stimuli. Neonatal rats were exposed to normoxia (control) or hypoxia from birth to 5 or 7 days of age. At the end of the exposure, plasma ACTH and corticosterone were measured before and after either ether vapors were administered for 3 min or CRH (10 microg/kg) was given intraperitoneally. Thyroid function, pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and ACTH content, and hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and AVP mRNA were also assessed. Hypoxia led to a significant increase in corticosterone without a large increase in ACTH, confirming previous studies. The ACTH responses to ether or CRH administration were almost completely inhibited in hypoxic pups. Hypoxia did not affect the established regulators of the neonatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including pituitary POMC or ACTH content, hypothalamic CRH, NPY, or AVP mRNA (parvo- or magnocellular), or thyroid function. We conclude that hypoxia from birth to 5 or 7 days of age leads to an attenuated ACTH response to acute stimuli, most likely due to glucocorticoid negative feedback. The neural and biochemical mechanism of this effect has yet to be elucidated.
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PMID:Elevated corticosterone and inhibition of ACTH responses to CRH and ether in the neonatal rat: effect of hypoxia from birth. 1285 18

A review of the present status of various hormonal substances is presented. The pituitary preparations include various growth hormones (human and beef), still used only experimentally, thyrotropic hormone, used mainly for testing thyroid function, corticotropin-widely used-and gonadotropic hormone.Thyroid, thyroxin and triiodothyronine preparations are considered, with USP thyroid still being most useful. Glucagon may be of some use in terminating hypoglycemia - tolbutamide is now used in many older diabetic persons. New adrenal cortical steroids are still appearing and show variation in effects; cortisone or hydrocortisone remain relatively inexpensive. Many combinations are available. The newest addition to available male hormone preparations is fluoxymesterone which is anabolic in smaller dosage than the older forms. Several new long acting preparations of androgens, estrogens and progesterone are available, and many ingenious combinations are presented.
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PMID:Newer hormonal preparations. 1384 34

Food intake is regulated by hypothalamic neuropeptides which respond to peripheral signals. Plasma ghrelin and leptin levels reflect peripheral energy balance and regulate hypothalamic neuropeptides such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), and orexins. Thyroid hormone stimulates food intake in humans and rodents. However, the mechanisms responsible for this stimulation have not been fully elucidated. To investigate the hyperphagic response to triiodothyronine (T(3))-induced thyrotoxicosis, adult male rats were studied 7 days after daily intraperitoneal injections of T(3) or vehicle. T(3)-treated rats were markedly hyperphagic. During this hyperphagia, plasma leptin levels were markedly decreased. However, the expression of the ghrelin gene in the stomach and the plasma ghrelin concentrations did not differ between the 2 groups. Hypothalamic NPY mRNA levels were significantly increased and associated with a marked decreased in both hypothalamic POMC and CART mRNA levels in the T(3)-treated rats. Hypothalamic MCH and orexin mRNA levels did not differ between the 2 groups. In addition, hyperphagia was partially reversed by intracerebroventricular administration of the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBO3304. Therefore, the decreased plasma leptin levels could contribute to hyperphagia in T(3)-induced thyrotoxicosis. However, plasma ghrelin levels did not contribute to this hyperphagia.
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PMID:Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y/Y1 receptor pathway activated by a reduction in circulating leptin, but not by an increase in circulating ghrelin, contributes to hyperphagia associated with triiodothyronine-induced thyrotoxicosis. 1468 45

DNA microarray techniques were used to compare gene expression in an adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-producing human small cell lung carcinoma line (DMS-79) with six other small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lines that do not produce ACTH. Twelve genes were expressed at more than five-fold higher levels in DMS-79 cells. Two transcription factors were the genes that exhibited the most remarkable over-expression: T-box 3 mRNA was detected at levels 19.37 +/- 3.78 times those observed in the SCLCs. Thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1, T/ebp, Nkx2.1) was expressed at 14.24 +/- 3.41-fold higher in DMS-79 cells. Seven genes were identified whose expression levels were at least five-fold lower in the ACTH-producing cell line. Variation in culture medium formulation did not significantly affect the gene expression profile of DMS-79 cells and expression data observed in microarray experiments were corroborated by northern blot analysis of RNA from the same cell lines. These experiments reveal new candidate genes that could be involved in the dysregulation of POMC gene expression manifested by ACTH-producing nonpituitary tumors.
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PMID:Gene expression phenotyping of an ACTH-producing small cell lung cancer line. 1514 32

Evidence is accumulating that pituitary hormone secretion is not only regulated by feedback from hormones produced in the target organs (long feedback) on the pituitary and the hypothalamus (feedforward), but also by a feedback of the hypophyseal hormones at the hypothalamic (short feedback) and the pituitary (ultra-short feedback) level. Inhibition of thyrotropin (TSH) and MSH secretion by pituitary preparations by adding exogenous TSH or MSH to the medium was already observed in the 1960s, as was the phenomenon that adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injected in the hypothalamus lowered plasma corticosterone levels. These early observations have now been corroborated by the demonstration of the receptors for various pituitary hormones in the hypothalamus and the adenohypophysis. The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is found on folliculo-stellate cells in the pituitary, which are known to influence the neighboring endocrine cells. This pituitary TSR-receptor is also recognized by TSHR receptor autoantibodies, which can downregulate TSH secretion independently from thyroid hormone levels, and are therefore thought to be responsible for the frequently observed suppressed TSH levels in patients with Graves' disease who are otherwise euthyroid.
Thyroid 2004 Oct
PMID:Ultra short-loop feedback control of thyrotropin secretion. 1558 78

Cushing's syndrome (CS) in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is rare. Only 50 cases have been reported. We report 10 cases of MTC with ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent syndrome (EAS), analyzed retrospectively. Among 1640 patients with MTC, 13 developed EAS (0.7%). In 10 patients CS could unequivoqually be related to MTC (0.6%). CS was always clinically obvious. It revealed MTC in 3 cases and followed diagnosis by an average of 34.5 months in the others. Metastases were often present at diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry with ACTH antibodies was positive in one case. Diagnosis of ectopic CS was established according to clinical and biologic features, and absence of corticotropic adenoma as well as parallel evolution between tumor and CS. Therapy was medical and surgical: anticortisolic drugs alone or in association with somatostatin analogue, somatostatin analogue alone, and bilateral adrenalectomy. Eight patients died within 2 to 30 months, 4 of hypercortisolism complications (3 peritonitis and 1 hypokalaemia), 4 of MTC progression. EAS is a rare complication of MTC. The prognosis is poor because of frequency of metastasis at diagnosis. Persistent hypercortisolism can, by itself, lead to death, and has to be treated specifically.
Thyroid 2005 Jun
PMID:Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-syndrome in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid: a retrospective analysis and review of the literature. 1602 31


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