Mechanism of action of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in human nonfunctioning pituitary tumors.

Several evidence suggest that pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptides (PACAP-38 and -27) could function as hypophysiotropic factors. Both peptides interact with either the type I receptor, which preferentially binds the two PACAPs and has a much lower affinity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or the type II receptor, which binds the two PACAPs and VIP with a nearly equal affinity. In addition to the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, in different cell types PACAP causes an increase of cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca2+]i), consequent to phospholipase-C activation.

Serum levels of beta-subunit of chorionic gonadotropin in patients with pituitary tumors.

Many studies have shown that normal and tumoral pituitary is able to synthesize chorionic gonadotropin (CG). The aim of the present work was to investigate the circulating levels of free beta-subunit of CG (CG-beta) in a large number of patients with pituitary tumors in basal conditions and after thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) injection. The study includes 27 healthy subjects, 23 patients with prolactinoma, 20 with growth hormone-secreting adenoma and 77 with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA).

Abnormal transduction of dopamine signal in human nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

It is well established that dopamine (DA) plays an important role in inhibiting anterior pituitary function. DA receptors present in the pituitary show the pharmacological and biochemical characteristics of the D2 receptor; in fact, they are coupled to the inhibition of both adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity and the reduction of cytosolic free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) suggesting the involvement of different G-proteins. While the DA receptors present in human PRL-omas display these characteristics, no information is available on the coupling mechanism(s) of DA receptors expressed in nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NF-PA).

Abnormal response of luteinizing hormone beta subunit to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma.

Objective: It has been suggested that the response of free beta-subunit of LH (LH beta) to TRH is the most useful in-vivo marker of gonadotroph adenomas in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA). The aim of the present study was to investigate LH beta secretion in patients with NFPA in whom other markers of gonadotroph adenomas, such as supranormal basal concentrations or responses of intact gonadotrophins to TRH, were absent.

Design And Patients: Serum basal levels of LH beta LH and FSH were evaluated in 80 patients with NFPA showing normal levels of intact gonadotrophin, 20 with PRL-secreting adenomas, 25 with GH-secreting adenomas and 58 healthy subjects.