Extracellular Matrix Proteins in the Anterior Pituitary Gland

ABSTRACT

The importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has become recognised as an important component of the functioning of cells. However the roles of the ECM in the anterior pituitary gland have received little attention. The pituitary has the particular characteristics of possessing a number of endocrine cells as well as less well studied nonendocrine cells. Because each cell has specific and vital roles in the physiology being of an individual the ECM must also possess selective activities. The details of ECM behaviour have not yet been delineated in the pituitary and this review first considers general characteristics of ECM compounds and then examines the properties of peptides with regard to functioning of the cells of the pituitary. It is noted that there are variations between ECM associated with normal cells and with tumours, that there are both morphological and biochemical responses to alterations in the composition of substrate on which cells are grown, and that a development of further models of ECM will be required for continued advances in the understanding of the manner in which the pituitary behaves in normal, clinical and pathological circumstances. Overall, the observations suggest that modulation of the ECM provides opportunities for enhancing well-being of individuals.

Keywords:

Extracellular matrix, pituitary, lactotroph, somatotroph, gonadotroph, corticotroph, thyrotroph, galectin, brevican, Chagas disease.