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Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Nov 2022Males with early-onset androgenic alopecia are characterized by elevated androgen levels. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the presence of this...
Males with early-onset androgenic alopecia are characterized by elevated androgen levels. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the presence of this condition modulates the impact of metformin on pituitary hormone production. This study compared 2 groups of young men with prediabetes, matched for age, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity: 23 subjects with early-onset male-pattern baldness (group 1) and 25 individuals with normal hair growth (group 2). Throughout the study, both groups were treated with metformin for 6 months. Circulating levels of glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin, gonadotropins, thyrotropin, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and androgens were determined at the beginning of the study and 6 months later. At entry, luteinizing hormone (LH), the LH/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, total testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were higher in group 1 than in group 2. The effect of metformin on fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and glycated hemoglobin was more pronounced in group 2 than in group 1. Only in group 1, metformin reduced LH levels and the LH/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio. Metformin did not affect plasma levels of the remaining hormones. In untreated men with androgenic alopecia (group 3, n = 22), glucose homeostasis markers and hormone levels remained similar throughout the study period. The obtained results suggest that the impact of metformin on gonadotroph secretory function is stronger in men with early-onset androgenic alopecia than in men with normal hair growth. Metformin treatment may protect men with early-onset androgenic alopecia against the development of gonadotroph hyperplasia and/or focal testicular changes.
Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Alopecia; Androgens; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Metformin; Prolactin; Testosterone; Thyrotropin
PubMed: 35603693
DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2088 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Jul 2021Plurihormonal pituitary adenomas are a unique type of pituitary adenomas that secrete two or more pituitary hormones normally associated with separate cell types that...
BACKGROUND
Plurihormonal pituitary adenomas are a unique type of pituitary adenomas that secrete two or more pituitary hormones normally associated with separate cell types that have different immunocytochemical and ultrastructural features. Although they represent 10-15% of all pituitary tumors, only a small fraction of plurihormonal pituitary adenomas clinically secrete multiple hormones. The most common hormone combinations secreted by plurihormonal pituitary adenomas are growth hormone, prolactin, and one or more glycoprotein hormones. The most common hormonal symptom is acromegaly (50%). The aim of this case report is to bring awareness about this rare type of pituitary adenomas and to describe the unique presentation of our patient, even though plurihormonal pituitary adenomas are known mostly as a clinically silent tumors.
CASE PRESENTATION
Herein, we describe an unusual case of plurihormonal pituitary adenoma with triple-positive staining for adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, and prolactin. The patient is a 65-year-old Egyptian woman who presented with mass effect symptoms of the pituitary tumor, which primarily manifested as severe headache and visual field defects. She also presented with some cushingoid features, and further analysis confirmed Cushing's disease; slightly high prolactin and normal growth hormone levels were observed. She underwent transsphenoidal surgery and has been in remission thus far. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature, but none has exhibited silent acromegaly or mass effect symptoms as the initial presentation.
CONCLUSION
This case highlights an unusual plurihormonal pituitary adenoma case with a rare combination of secreted hormones; mass effect symptoms were dominant, as were uncommon visual field defects. Our case further proves that immunohistochemical analyses of all pituitary hormones are needed to ensure correct diagnosis and to alert clinicians to the need for more rigorous follow-up due to the higher morbidity of these patients. Our case report approval number Federal Wide Assurance NIH, USA is FWA00018774 IRB registration number with OHRP/NIH is IRB00010471.
Topics: Adenoma; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aged; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin
PubMed: 34321093
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-02948-6 -
Brain Research Aug 2020Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide primarily transcribed in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), with vast projections to many areas throughout the central... (Review)
Review
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide primarily transcribed in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), with vast projections to many areas throughout the central nervous system that play an important role in motivated behaviors and drug use. Anatomical, pharmacological and genetic studies implicate MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused substances, acting by influencing several systems including the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, glutamatergic as well as GABAergic signaling and being modulated by inflammatory neuroimmune pathways. Further support for the role of MCH in controlling behavior related to drug use will be discussed as it relates to cerebral ventricular volume transmission and intracellular molecules including cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide, dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 kDa. The primary goal of this review is to introduce and summarize current literature surrounding the role of MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine and opiates.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Humans; Hypothalamic Hormones; Melanins; Neural Pathways; Neuroimmunomodulation; Neurons; Neuropeptides; Pituitary Hormones; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 32360868
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146872 -
Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research May 2021Plastic adaptation to match the skin colour to the surrounding is key to survival. Two biological responses in skin colour are associated with background adaptation. A... (Review)
Review
Plastic adaptation to match the skin colour to the surrounding is key to survival. Two biological responses in skin colour are associated with background adaptation. A fast "physiological response" that aggregates/disperses the pigment organelles of skin chromatophores, and a slow "morphological response" that alters the type and/or density of pigment cells in the skin. Both responses are linked by unknown mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the role in skin colour regulation of two molecules that form part of a hypothalamic-hypophyseal pathway unique to teleosts, melanin-concentrating hormone "like" (MCHL) (previously known as MCH), and somatolactin. MCHL neurons project to the neurohypophysis and to the pars intermedia pituitary, where they interact with somatolactin-expressing cells. With a white background MCHL is released into the circulation to induce rapid melanosome aggregation and skin lightening. Somatolactin is also a fish-specific peptide whose expression and secretion are altered in organisms adapted chronically to white/black backgrounds, and that regulates morphological pigmentation. We discuss the evidence for a model whereby in teleosts, MCHL and somatolactin provide the previously unknown link between physiological and morphological pigmentation.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Fish Proteins; Fishes; Hypothalamic Hormones; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Melanins; Melanosomes; Pigmentation Disorders; Pituitary Hormones; Skin Pigmentation
PubMed: 32898924
DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12924 -
Neuroendocrinology 2020Hypothalamic neurotensin (Nts)-secreting neurons regulate fundamental physiological processes including metabolism and feeding. However, the role of Nts in modulation of...
BACKGROUND
Hypothalamic neurotensin (Nts)-secreting neurons regulate fundamental physiological processes including metabolism and feeding. However, the role of Nts in modulation of locomotor activity, sleep, and arousal is unclear. We previously identified and characterized Nts neurons in the zebrafish hypothalamus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to study the role of Nts, nts mutant (nts-/-), and overexpressing zebrafish were generated.
RESULTS
The expression of both nts mRNA and Nts protein was reduced during the night in wild-type zebrafish. Behavioral assays revealed that locomotor activity was decreased during both day and night, while sleep was increased exclusively during the nighttime in nts-/- larvae. Likewise, inducible overexpression of Nts increased arousal in hsp70:Gal4/uas:Nts larvae. Furthermore, the behavioral response to light-to-dark transitions was reduced in nts-/- larvae. In order to elucidate potential contenders that may mediate Nts action on these behaviors, we profiled the transcriptome of 6 dpf nts-/- larvae. Among other genes, the expression levels of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1b were increased in nts-/- larvae. Furthermore, a portion of promelanin-concentrating hormone 1 (pmch1) and pmch2 neurons expressed the nts receptor. In addition, expression of the the two zebrafish melanin-concentrating hormone (Mch) orthologs, Mch1 and Mch2, was increased in nts-/- larvae.
CONCLUSION
These results show that the Nts and Mch systems interact and modulate locomotor activity and arousal.
Topics: Animals; Arousal; Hypothalamic Hormones; Locomotion; Melanins; Neurotensin; Pituitary Hormones; Zebrafish; Zebrafish Proteins
PubMed: 31030196
DOI: 10.1159/000500590 -
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi Aug 2023To summarize the correlation between anterior pituitary function and tumor size in patients with different hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas. This was a...
To summarize the correlation between anterior pituitary function and tumor size in patients with different hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas. This was a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 1 946 patients with pituitary adenoma hospitalized in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2020, were collected. The correlation between tumor size and anterior pituitary hormone levels was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation analysis in different types of pituitary adenomas. The median age of the 1 946 patients was 45.1 years, of which 857 (44.0%) were men. The maximum tumor diameter of the patients [ (, )] was 22 (14, 30) mm. Tumor size in nonfunctioning adenomas (=1 191) was negatively correlated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (=-0.11, <0.001), growth hormone (=-0.13, <0.001), and luteinizing hormone (men: =-0.26, <0.001, women: =-0.31, all <0.001). The tumor size of somatotropic adenomas (=297) was positively correlated with growth hormone (=0.46, <0.001), but negatively correlated with male testosterone (=-0.41, <0.001). The tumor size of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas (=155) was positively correlated with the ACTH level at 8∶00 AM (=0.25, <0.001); however, no correlation was found with cortisol at 8∶00 AM (>0.05). The tumor size of prolactinomas (=303) was positively correlated with the prolactin level (men: =0.34, =0.001; women: =0.13, =0.070). The correlation between the function of the anterior pituitary and size of the tumor depends on the cellular origin of the pituitary adenoma and specific type of hormone secretion. In somatotroph adenomas, ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas, and prolactinomas, there is a positive correlation between tumor size and level of hormones secreted by the corresponding tumors. In patients with nonfunctioning adenomas, the tumor size was negatively correlated with the hormone levels of the pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-growth hormone axes.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactinoma; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Retrospective Studies; Adenoma; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Growth Hormone
PubMed: 37528036
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20221019-00765 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021GH deficiency (GHD) in adult patients is a complex condition, mainly due to organic lesion of hypothalamic-pituitary region and often associated with multiple pituitary... (Review)
Review
GH deficiency (GHD) in adult patients is a complex condition, mainly due to organic lesion of hypothalamic-pituitary region and often associated with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD). The relationships between the GH/IGF-I system and other hypothalamic-pituitary axes are complicated and not yet fully clarified. Many reports have shown a bidirectional interplay both at a central and at a peripheral level. Signs and symptoms of other pituitary deficiencies often overlap and confuse with those due to GH deficiency. Furthermore, a condition of untreated GHD may mask concomitant pituitary deficiencies, mainly central hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism. In this setting, the diagnosis could be delayed and possible only after recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) replacement. Since inappropriate replacement of other pituitary hormones may exacerbate many manifestations of GHD, a correct diagnosis is crucial. This paper will focus on the main studies aimed to clarify the effects of GHD and rhGH replacement on other pituitary axes. Elucidating the possible contexts in which GHD may develop and examining the proposed mechanisms at the basis of interactions between the GH/IGF-I system and other axes, we will focus on the importance of a correct diagnosis to avoid possible pitfalls.
Topics: Hormone Replacement Therapy; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Hypogonadism; Hypopituitarism
PubMed: 34737721
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.678778 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology Jan 2023The hypothalamus and pituitary serve as important neuroendocrine center, which is able to secrete a variety of neuropeptides and hormones to participate in the...
The hypothalamus and pituitary serve as important neuroendocrine center, which is able to secrete a variety of neuropeptides and hormones to participate in the regulation of reproduction, growth, stress and feeding in fish. Chinese sturgeon is a basal vertebrate lineage fish with a special evolutionary status, but the information on its neuroendocrine system is relatively scarce. Using the transcriptome data on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis of Chinese sturgeon as reference, we found out 46 hypothalamus neuropeptide genes, which were involved in regulation of reproduction, growth, stress and feeding. The results of sequence alignment showed that the neuroendocrine system of Chinese sturgeon evolves slowly, which confirms that Chinese sturgeon is a species with a slow phenotypic evolution rate. In addition, we also isolated six pituitary hormones genes from Chinese sturgeon, including reproductive hormones: follicle-stimulating homone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), growth-related hormones: growth hormone (GH)/prolactin (PRL)/somatolactin (SL), and stress-related hormone gene: proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Similar to teleost, immunostaining localization analysis in Chinese sturgeon pituitary showed that LH and FSH were located in the pituitary proximal pars distalis, SL was located in the pituitary rostral pars distalis, and POMC was located in the pituitary pars intermedia and pituitary rostral pars distalis. This study will give a contribution to enrich our information on the neuroendocrine system in Chinese sturgeon.
Topics: Animals; Pro-Opiomelanocortin; Pituitary Hormones; Pituitary Gland; Fishes; Growth Hormone; Prolactin; Neuropeptides; Luteinizing Hormone; Hypothalamus; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; China
PubMed: 36181879
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114135 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2020Melatonin is a key hormone involved in the photoperiodic signaling pathway. In both teleosts and mammals, melatonin produced in the pineal gland at night is released... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Melatonin is a key hormone involved in the photoperiodic signaling pathway. In both teleosts and mammals, melatonin produced in the pineal gland at night is released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, providing rhythmic information to the whole organism. Melatonin acts specific receptors, allowing the synchronization of daily and annual physiological rhythms to environmental conditions. The pituitary gland, which produces several hormones involved in a variety of physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, stress and reproduction, is an important target of melatonin. Melatonin modulates pituitary cellular activities, adjusting the synthesis and release of the different pituitary hormones to the functional demands, which changes during the day, seasons and life stages. It is, however, not always clear whether melatonin acts directly or indirectly on the pituitary. Indeed, melatonin also acts both upstream, on brain centers that control the pituitary hormone production and release, as well as downstream, on the tissues targeted by the pituitary hormones, which provide positive and negative feedback to the pituitary gland. In this review, we describe the known pathways through which melatonin modulates anterior pituitary hormonal production, distinguishing indirect effects mediated by brain centers from direct effects on the anterior pituitary. We also highlight similarities and differences between teleosts and mammals, drawing attention to knowledge gaps, and suggesting aims for future research.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Cell Plasticity; Fishes; Mammals; Melatonin; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
PubMed: 33505357
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.605111 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2022Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a 19aa cyclic peptide exclusively expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area, which is an area of the brain involved in a large... (Review)
Review
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a 19aa cyclic peptide exclusively expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area, which is an area of the brain involved in a large number of physiological functions and vital processes such as nutrient sensing, food intake, sleep-wake arousal, memory formation, and reproduction. However, the role of the lateral hypothalamic area in metabolic regulation stands out as the most relevant function. MCH regulates energy balance and glucose homeostasis by controlling food intake and peripheral lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, locomotor activity and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. However, the MCH control of energy balance is a complex mechanism that involves the interaction of several neuroendocrine systems. The aim of the present work is to describe the current knowledge of the crosstalk of MCH with different endocrine factors. We also provide our view about the possible use of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor antagonists for the treatment of metabolic complications. In light of the data provided here and based on its actions and function, we believe that the MCH system emerges as an important target for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.
Topics: Animals; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral; Hypothalamic Hormones; Lipid Metabolism; Melanins; Neurosecretory Systems; Obesity; Pituitary Hormones
PubMed: 35269579
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052436