Physiology of the anterior pituary gland
Peillon, F.; Yuan Li, J.; Croissandeau, G.; Schussler, N.
La Revue du Praticien 46(12): 1466-1471
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-2640 PMID: 8881159 Document Number: 458847
The anterior pituitary is a complex gland which controls the various peripheral endocrine glands (thyroid, adrenal cortex, ovary and testis) as well as essential functions as growth, reproduction and lactation. Its physiological role is of paramount importance and its pathology multiple, including functional dysregulations and diseases caused by lesions or tumors, in particular pituitary adenomas. Recent data show that, in addition to the classical control of anterior pituitary hormones by hypothalamic neuropeptides and by peripheral hormones, local controls of the paracrine or autocrine type exist. Although these new findings seem to increase the complexity of anterior pituirary control, they might, in the future, shed further light on the physiopathology of this gland.