Musumeci Giuseppe, Castorina Sergio, Castrogiovanni Paola, Loreto Carla, Leonardi Rosi, Aiello Flavia Concetta, Magro Gaetano, Imbesi Rosa
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human Anatomy and Histology Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human Anatomy and Histology Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Acta Histochem. 2015 May-Jun;117(4-5):355-66. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2015.02.008. Epub 2015 Apr 6.
The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are morphologically and functionally associated in the endocrine and neuroendocrine control of other endocrine glands. They therefore play a key role in a number of regulatory feedback processes that co-ordinate the whole endocrine system. Here we review the neuroendocrine system, from the discoveries that led to its identification to some recently clarified embryological, functional, and morphological aspects. In particular we review the pituitary gland and the main notions related to its development, organization, cell differentiation, and vascularization. Given the crucial importance of the factors controlling neuroendocrine system development to understand parvocellular neuron function and the aetiology of the congenital disorders related to hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction, we also provide an overview of the molecular and genetic studies that have advanced our knowledge in the field. Through the action of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland is involved in the control of a broad range of key aspects of our lives: the review focuses on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, particularly GnRH, whose abnormal secretion is associated with clinical conditions involving delayed or absent puberty and reproductive dysfunction.
垂体与下丘脑在形态和功能上与其他内分泌腺的内分泌及神经内分泌控制相关联。因此，它们在协调整个内分泌系统的一些调节反馈过程中发挥着关键作用。在此，我们回顾神经内分泌系统，从其发现到最近一些已阐明的胚胎学、功能和形态学方面。特别是，我们回顾垂体及其与发育、组织、细胞分化和血管形成相关的主要概念。鉴于控制神经内分泌系统发育的因素对于理解小细胞神经元功能以及与下丘脑 - 垂体轴功能障碍相关的先天性疾病的病因至关重要，我们还概述了在该领域推进我们知识的分子和遗传学研究。通过下丘脑的作用，垂体参与控制我们生活中广泛的关键方面：本综述重点关注下丘脑 - 垂体 - 性腺轴，特别是促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH），其分泌异常与涉及青春期延迟或缺失以及生殖功能障碍的临床病症相关。
