Effects of drugs on pituitary fine structure in laboratory animals.

Abstract

Although an increasing number of chemicals are reported to affect endocrine glands, only a few studies are dealing with their toxic effect on pituitary. The drugs can induce lesions acting directly on endocrine cells or indirectly by interfering with the regulation of their endocrine activities. Some drugs stimulate pituitary cell proliferation leading to hyperplasia and tumor formation; other chemicals have an inhibitory effect on adenohypophysial cells; and only one drug, hexadimethrine bromide, has been found to induce pituitary necrosis. Although complex toxicologic studies have been carried out on many chemicals, the mechanism of action of most drugs is not completely elucidated and further studies are necessary to establish structure function correlations.

• Authors: L Stefaneanu, K Kovacs
• Journal: Journal of electron microscopy technique (J Electron Microsc Tech) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 80-9 (Sep 1991) ISSN: 0741-0581 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1720455 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Antithyroid Agents
• Estrogens
• Aminoglutethimide
• Bromocriptine
• Hexadimethrine Bromide
• Acrylonitrile
• Cystamine

Topics

• Acrylonitrile (toxicity)
• Alkaloids (toxicity)
• Aminoglutethimide (toxicity)
• Animals
• Antithyroid Agents (toxicity)
• Bromocriptine (toxicity)
• Cystamine (toxicity)
• Estrogens (toxicity)
• Hexadimethrine Bromide (toxicity)
• Pituitary Gland, Anterior (drug effects, ultrastructure)