Autocrine and paracrine regulation of pituitary endocrine cells.

The anterior pituitary gland is an important endocrine organ composed of a variety of key endocrine cells that regulate the functions of peripheral targeted organs, such as growth, development, behavior, lactation, reproduction and the stability of the internal environment and metabolism. This gland also regulates the functions of targeted peripheral endocrine organs, such as the thyroid, adrenal gland and gonads. In recent years, H&E and immunohistochemical staining, electron microscopic observation, pituitary endocrine cell line establishment and transplantation, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, qPCR, proteomics, ion channel and signal studies, among others, provided new knowledge of pituitary structure and function mostly in laboratory rodents under different physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Such investigations may contribute significantly to the research and treatment of human pituitary diseases. This review aims to provide a focused view of the rapid progress in new knowledge of the pituitary without repeating classical theories for endocrinologists and neuroendocrinologists.