Abstract | OBJECTIVE: PATIENTS AND METHODS: RESULTS: Gn-omas were found to secrete significantly more activin A in their culture medium than PRL- and GH-producing adenomas (P < 0.05). Inhibin A and inhibin B protein levels in culture media were very low. A positive correlation between levels of activin A and FSH (r = 0.56, P < 0.005) was found, while no correlation between activin A and LH could be detected. Furthermore, levels of follistatin were positively correlated with activin A levels (r = 0.73, P < 0.0005). Comparison of the activin A: follistatin ratio with the measured FSH protein levels showed an even stronger relationship (r = 0.79, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that levels of activin A, follistatin and FSH in media of cultured nonfunctioning adenomas and gonadotroph adenomas are positively correlated. This suggests that these adenomas secrete FSH in response to the relatively high locally produced levels of activin A.
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Authors | H T Wessels, L J Hofland, R van der Wal, L van Gastel, P M van Koetsveld, W W de Herder, F H de Jong |
Journal | Clinical endocrinology
(Clin Endocrinol (Oxf))
Vol. 54
Issue 4
Pg. 485-92
(Apr 2001)
ISSN: 0300-0664 [Print] England |
PMID | 11318784
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Culture Media
- Follistatin
- activin A
- Activins
- Inhibins
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- Inhibin-beta Subunits
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Topics |
- Activins
(analysis, metabolism)
- Adenoma
(metabolism)
- Adult
- Aged
- Analysis of Variance
- Culture Media
(chemistry)
- Female
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(analysis, metabolism)
- Follistatin
- Humans
- Inhibin-beta Subunits
(analysis, metabolism)
- Inhibins
(analysis)
- Luteinizing Hormone
(analysis)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pituitary Neoplasms
(metabolism)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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