Does fSH secretion predominate in vivo and in vitro in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas?
This study has evaluated pre-operative serum gonadotrophin levels and in vitro release of hormones in cultures of surgically removed tissue from patients with NFPAs. The data suggest preferential secretion of FSH occurs both in vitro and in vivo. By demonstrating that NFPAs cultured in vitro reflect the in vivo situation of preferential secretion of FSH, it may be possible in future to perform functional studies using this system to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of an imbalance in gonadotroph cells preferentially overproducing FSH in NFPAs.
UCB is toxic to both astrocytes and neurones, causing cell death through an apoptotic process. Moreover, UDCA inhibits UCB-induced apoptosis in neural cells and this could not be mimicked by other bile acids.