The study of hormone production mechanism in pituitary by using iPS cells

脑下垂体是神经内分泌系统的重要组成部分，存在于所有脊椎动物中。脑下垂体前叶不同类型的内分泌细胞分泌的六种激素对维持内环境平衡是必不可少的。由于甲状旁腺功能减退症是内分泌疾病的罪魁祸首，因此，激素产生机制的确定是一个重要的研究方向。本研究旨在通过体外诱导iPS细胞分化为激素表达细胞来阐明前叶的发育机制。结果，检查结果表明，已知的在脑垂体发育中起关键作用的基因的表达。但对于研究iPS细胞的分化状况是必不可少的，因为本研究中的任何方法都没有检测到激素。

The pituitary gland is a critical component of the neuroendocrine system that is present in all vertebrates. The six hormones from distinct endocrine cell types in the anterior lobe of pituitary gland are essential for the maintenance of homeostasis. Since the hypopituitarism is responsible for endocrinopathy, identification of hormone-producing mechanism is one of important studies. In this study, it is intended to elucidate of developmental mechanism of the anterior lobe by differentiation of iPS cells into hormone expressing cells in vitro. As result, the examinations indicated the expression of genes known to essential role in pituitary development. But it is indispensable for investigation of differentiation condition of iPS cells, because hormone have not been detected in any method of this study.