Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is produced in the liver and other peripheral tissues in response to growth hormone (GH) stimuli. IGF-I regulates diverse physiological functions in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. IGF-I and IGF-I receptor (type-I receptor) are expressed in human and rat pituitary glands. However, the cell types of IGF-I-expressing cells and target cells of IGF-I in the pituitary glands are not known. The present study was aimed to identify the cell types of IGF-I-expressing cells and of its type-I receptor-expressing cells in mouse pituitary glands. In the mouse pituitary glands, IGF-I mRNA and IGF-I receptor mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IGF-I-expressing cells and its receptor-expressing cells were detected by non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization using mouse IGF-I cDNA and IGF-I receptor cDNA probes, and their cell types were immunocytochemically determined using antibodies raised against pituitary hormones. We found that somatotrophs expressed both IGF-I and IGF-I receptors, and some of corticotrophs expressed IGF-I receptors. Co-localization of IGF-I and GH in the same cultured pituitary cells was observed by dual-labelling immunocytochemistry. The present study demonstrated that pituitary IGF-I produced in somatotrophs regulated functions of somatotrophs and corticotrophs in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
