15 - Methodological Evaluation of Sites and Mechanisms of Action Involved in Neuroendocrine Effects of Cytokines

Abstract

This chapter describes selected methods for investigating the site and mechanisms of action of cytokines on the neuroendocrine system and discusses their pitfalls, limitations, and advantages. These methods may also be employed for studying the effects of other cytokines on the secretion of various pituitary hormones. The most widely used method for studying the direct action of a bioactive substance on the anterior pituitary may be the technique of primary culture of rat pituitary cells. The primary monolayer culture of pituitary cells was first employed for examining the hormone-releasing or release-inhibiting effects of various hypophysiotropic factors. As monolayer pituitary cell cultures consistently respond to the classic hypophysiotropic hormones with the release of or the release inhibition of the respective pituitary hormone in a dose-dependent manner, the method has been considered the most reliable, specific, and convenient bioassay for the substances that affect pituitary cells by a direct action.