[Intercellular communication within the anterior pituitary]

Abstract

Paracrine and autocrine interactions within the anterior pituitary have been studied in the last few years. The adaptation of novel methodology to the study of the physiology of the anterior pituitary has yielded convincing evidence for cell-cell communication. Another reason for expanded interest in this field is the discovery of a growing member of substances that likely play a role in cell-cell communication. The various types of secretory cells within the anterior pituitary, gonadotroph, thyrotroph, somatotroph, lactotroph and corticotroph, have been addressed as sources, and then targets of intercellular factors. We need have more a collection of observations than a system of delineated pathways. Moreover, care must be exercised in interpretations of these observations.