Pituitary VEGF: Cellular Distribution, Regulation and Function

脑下垂体位于大脑的底部，是所有器官中接受血流量最高的器官之一，它的毛细血管具有独特的特性，可以促进产生激素的细胞和血液循环之间的物质交换。一种生长因子，叫做血管内皮生长因子（VEGF），维持脉管系统的完整性，刺激新血管的生长并影响血管的通透性。目前尚不清楚哪种垂体细胞类型产生VEGF，其产生是如何调节的，是否存在垂体毛细血管的持续重塑，以及控制通透性从而影响激素释放速度的机制是什么。第一个目标是确定产生VEGF的垂体细胞类型以及控制其合成的外周和脑源性激素。第二个目标是确定本地产生的VEGF是否与附近的毛细血管结合，诱导它们形成空隙，激素和其他分子可以通过空隙交换。脑下垂体是调节生长、繁殖和新陈代谢的主要内分泌腺。通过结合从其他血管系统中获得的知识，以及使用最先进的细胞和分子技术，本研究将产生关于脑垂体生理调节和正常功能的新信息，并将为新一代科学家提供有吸引力的培训环境。

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, receives one of the highest blood flows of any organ and its capillaries have unique properties that facilitate the exchange of substances between hormone-producing cells and the circulation. One growth factor, named vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), maintains the integrity of the vasculature, stimulates growth of new blood vessels and affects vascular permeability. Little is known which pituitary cell type produces VEGF, how its production is regulated, whether there is a constant remodeling of the pituitary capillaries and what are the mechanisms that control permeability, thereby affecting the rate of hormone release. The first aim will identify the pituitary cell types that produce VEGF as well as peripheral and brain-derived hormones that control its synthesis. The second aim will determine whether locally-produced VEGF binds to nearby capillaries, inducing them to form gaps through which hormones and other molecules can be exchanged. The pituitary is the master endocrine gland which regulates growth, reproduction and metabolism. By incorporating knowledge gained from other vascular systems, together with the use of state-of-the-art cellular and molecular techniques, this research will generate new information on the physiological regulation and proper function of the pituitary gland and will provide an attractive training environment for a new generation of scientists.