This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by KLIBANSKI, A. Articles by ZERVAS, N. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by KLIBANSKI, A. Articles by ZERVAS, N. T.

Dopaminergic Regulation of a-Subunit Secretion and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels in a-Secreting Pituitary Tumors^*

Thyroid Unit and the Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Anne Klibanski, Thyroid Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.

Glycoprotein hormone and/or subunit secretion has been increasingly recognized in patients with pituitary nonsecretory adenomas and -subunit secretion has been reported to occur in 5-10% of all pituitary tumors. We investigated the dopaminergic regulation of -subunit secretion in four patients with -subunit secreting pituitary adenomas documented by serum and immunocytochemical studies. In three of the four patients there was a significant decrease in serum -subunit concentrations during 6 weeks of bromocriptine administration. Tumor size decreased in two patients. In pituitary tumor cells from one patient cultured in vitro, dopamine caused a highly significant decrease in media -subunit concentrations. To investigate whether dopaminergic regulation of -subunit secretion occurs at a pre- or posttranslational level, messenger RNA (mRNA) from cultured tumor cells from one patient was analyzed by Northern blot techniques. A decrease in -subunit mRNA occurred in cells incubated with 10^–10, 10^–8, and 10^–8 M dopamine. We conclude that dopamine suppressed pituitary tumor -subunit secretion and mRNA levels. Dopamine agonists may be of benefit in the therapy of patients with such tumors.

^* This work was supported in part by Grants HD-21204 and RR-01066 from the NIH.

Received March 10, 1987.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Colao, C. Di Somma, R. Pivonello, A. Faggiano, G. Lombardi, and S. Savastano Medical therapy for clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas Endocr. Relat. Cancer, December 1, 2008; 15(4): 905 - 915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. W de Herder, A. E M Reijs, R. A Feelders, M. O van Aken, E. P Krenning, H. L J Tanghe, A.-J. van der Lely, and D. J Kwekkeboom Dopamine agonist therapy of clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas. Is there a role for 123I-epidepride dopamine D2 receptor imaging? Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(5): 717 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Batista, X. Zhang, R. Gejman, P. J. Ansell, Y. Zhou, S. A. Johnson, B. Swearingen, E. T. Hedley-Whyte, C. A. Stratakis, and A. Klibanski The Effects of SOM230 on Cell Proliferation and Adrenocorticotropin Secretion in Human Corticotroph Pituitary Adenomas J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4482 - 4488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Danila, W. J. Inder, X. Zhang, J. M. Alexander, B. Swearingen, E. T. Hedley-Whyte, and A. Klibanski Activin Effects on Neoplastic Proliferation of Human Pituitary Tumors J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2000; 85(3): 1009 - 1015. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. C. Danila, X. Zhang, Y. Zhou, G. R. Dickersin, J. A. Fletcher, E. T. Hedley-Whyte, M. K. Selig, S. R. Johnson, and A. Klibanski A Human Pituitary Tumor-Derived Folliculostellate Cell Line J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2000; 85(3): 1180 - 1187. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. L. Asa, M. A. Kelly, D. K. Grandy, and M. J. Low Pituitary Lactotroph Adenomas Develop after Prolonged Lactotroph Hyperplasia in Dopamine D2 Receptor-Deficient Mice Endocrinology, November 1, 1999; 140(11): 5348 - 5355. [Abstract] [Full Text]