The role of the folliculostellate cells of the anterior pituitary in the regulation of hormone secretion.

垂体前叶分泌激素，控制发育、基础代谢、免疫反应和生殖。因此，这个腺体对激素释放的调节对生存至关重要。我们的目的是了解垂体前叶激素分泌的控制。在本研究中，我们将探讨垂体前叶卵泡星状细胞间的细胞间通讯是否有助于调节垂体前叶内分泌功能。与产生激素的细胞不同，卵泡星状细胞不释放激素，相反，它们在脑垂体前叶分泌物质来控制脑垂体前叶激素的释放。此外，卵泡星状细胞与垂体前叶内的其他卵泡星状细胞和内分泌细胞进行通讯。细胞间的通讯主要通过称为间隙连接的特殊结构进行。间隙连接是由一组被称为连接蛋白的蛋白质形成的细胞间通道。六个连接蛋白分子结合形成一个连接子或半通道，相邻细胞的两个半通道对接形成一个间隙连接通道。细胞偶联是控制和同步激素分泌的有效方式。我们将研究卵泡星状细胞间间隙连接介导的细胞间通讯是否受到内源性物质（如已知调节激素分泌的细胞因子和生长因子）的影响。本研究将为卵泡星状细胞对激素分泌的调控提供更深入的认识。

The anterior pituitary gland secretes hormones that control development, basal metabolism, the immune response and reproduction. Therefore, the regulation of hormone release by this gland is essential for survival. Our aim is to understand the control of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. In the present proposal we will investigate whether intercellular communication among folliculostellate cells in the anterior pituitary gland contributes to the regulation of the anterior pituitary endocrine function. Differently from the hormone producing-cells, the folliculostellate cells do not release hormones but, instead, they secrete substances that act within the anterior pituitary gland to control the release of anterior pituitary hormones. In addition, the folliculostellate cells communicate with other folliculostellate and endocrine cells within the anterior pituitary. Cell-to-cell communication mainly occurs via specialized structures known as gap junctions. Gap junctions are intercellular channels formed by a family of proteins known as connexins. Six connexin molecules associate to form a connexon or hemichannel, and the docking of two hemichannels from neighbouring cells forms a gap junction channel. Cell coupling is an effective mode of controlling and synchronizing hormone secretion. We will study whether gap junction-mediated cell-to-cell communication among the folliculostellate cells is affected by endogenous substances such as cytokines and growth factors known to modulate hormone secretion. The present study will provide a deeper understanding of the regulation of hormone secretion by the folliculostellate cells.