Contents

 

    VII Foreword

 

    Grossman, A.B. (London)

 

    IX Preface

    Guitelman, M. (Buenos Aires); Bronstein, M.D. (Sao Paulo); Arzt, E. (Buenos Aires)

 

    1 Implication of Pituitary Tropic Status on Tumor Development

    Donangelo, I.; Melmed, S. (Los Angeles, Calif.)

 

    9 Anterior Pituitary Cell Renewal during the Estrous Cycle

    Candolfi, M. (Los Angeles, Calif.); Zaldivar, V.; Jaita, G.;

    Seilicovich, A. (Buenos Aires)

 

    22 Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4 Control of Pituitary Pathophysiology

    Giacomini, D. (Buenos Aires); Páez-Pereda, M.; Theodoropoulou, M. (Munich);

    Gerez, J.; Nagashima, A.C.; Chervin, A.; Berner, S. (Buenos Aires); Labeur, M.

    (Munich); Refojo, D. (Buenos Aires); Renner, U.; Stalla, G.K. (Munich);

    Arzt, E. (Buenos Aires)

 

    32 Genesis of Prolactinomas: Studies Using Estrogen-Treated Animals

    Sarkar, D.K. (New Brunswick, N.J.)

 

    50 Dopaminergic D2 Receptor Knockout Mouse: An Animal

    Model of Prolactinoma

    Cristina, C.; García-Tornadú, I.; Díaz-Torga, G.; Rubinstein, M. (Buenos Aires);

    Low, M.J. (Portland, Oreg.); Becú-Villalobos, D. (Buenos Aires)

 

    64 Vasoinhibins: A Family of N-Terminal Prolactin Fragments that Inhibit

    Angiogenesis and Vascular Function

    Clapp, C.; González, C.; Macotela, Y.; Aranda, J.; Rivera, J.C.;

    García, C.; Guzmán, J.; Zamorano, M.; Vega, C.; Martín, C.;

    Jeziorski, M.C.; de la Escalera, G.M. (Querétaro)

 

    74 Molecular Mechanisms of Pituitary Differentiation and

    Regulation: Implications for Hormone Deficiencies and

    Hormone Resistance Syndromes

    Drouin, J. (Montréal)

 

    88 Long-Term Follow-Up of Prolactinomas: Should Dopamine Agonist

    Treatment Be Life-Long?

    Guitelman, M. (Buenos Aires)

 

    102 Ghrelin: From Somatotrope Secretion to New Perspectives in the

    Regulation of Peripheral Metabolic Functions

    Broglio, F.; Prodam, F.; Riganti, F.; Muccioli, G.; Ghigo, E. (Turin)

 

    115 Regulating of Growth Hormone Sensitivity by Sex Steroids:

    Implications for Therapy

    Ho, K.K.Y.; Gibney, J.; Johannsson, G.; Wolthers, T. (Sydney)

 

    129 Acromegaly: Molecular Expression of Somatostatin

    Receptor Subtypes and Treatment Outcome

    Bronstein, M.D. (Sao Paulo)

 

    135 Gene Therapy in the Neuroendocrine System

    Here?ú, C.B.; Morel, G.R.; Bellini, M.J.; Reggiani, P.C.; Sosa, Y.E.;

    Brown, O.A.; Goya, R.G. (La Plata)

 

    143 Ectopic ACTH Syndrome

    Isidori, A.M. (Rome); Kaltsas, G.A. (Athens); Grossman, A.B. (London)

 

    157 Estrogens and Neuroendocrine Hypothalamic-

    Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function

    De Nicola, A.F.; Saravia, F.E.; Beauquis, J .;

    Pietranera, L. (Buenos Aires); Ferrini, M.G. (Torrance, Calif.)

    169 New Aspects in the Diagnosis and Treatment of

    Cushing Disease

    Labeur, M.; Theodoropoulou, M.; Sievers, C.; Paez-Pereda, M. (Munich);

    Castillo, V.; Arzt, E. (Buenos Aires); Stalla, G.K. (Munich)

    179 Author Index

    180 Subject Index

 

    Foreword

 

    The pituitary and its disorders remain of perennial interest, and in a fastdevelopingfield we make no apology for devoting another volume in this seriesto the subject, hard on the heels of Molecular Pathology of the Pituitary [vol.32, 2004] Most intriguingly, this volume also developed from a meeting inSouth America, in this case one based at Iguazu Falls in Argentina, rather thanRio de Janeiro. Once again, a series of national and international experts convergedon one of the most spectacular settings in the world, and I believe wehave included in this volume many of the most scientifically exciting and clinicallyrelevant areas in contemporary neuroendocrinology. But equally, I feel italso reveals much of the enthusiasm and dynamism of neuroendocrinology inSouth America, certainly in two of the largest countries Brazil and Argentina,but increasingly in many of the smaller South American countries. This is anexciting time in neuroendocrinology, and the South American continent is makingsalient and important contributions to its development.

 

    Such meetings, held in surroundings of outstanding natural beauty, alsoencourage the initiation and deepening of many personal interactions, and Iwould like to underline my own deep thanks to the organizers and all mySouth-American colleagues. My daughter Sophie and I were subject to warmand welcoming local hospitality, and I will always fondly remember this conference.I would also like to take the opportunity to emphasize the totallyunrestricted educational grant from Pfizer in supporting this meeting, demonstratingthat international pharmaceutical companies can play a vital and, whenrequired, disinterested role in the development of clinical science.

 

    Ashley Grossman, North Devon

 

 

    In November 1–4, 2005, in the spectacular setting of Iguazu falls, almost140 professionals in medicine (endocrinologists, neurosurgeons), basic researchand clinical biochemistry were hosted at the scientific meeting ‘PituitaryToday’, where all aspects related to the pituitary gland were discussed.Specialists from Latin America (including delegates from Argentina, Brazil,Mexico, Peru and Venezuela) gathered together for this event, together withexpert speakers from Canada, USA, Germany, England and Australia who attendedthe event as invited guests.

 

    Different aspects of pituitary physiopathology were covered in severalsymposia. Many of these lectures are now included in this book, including:Tumorigenesis (Melmed, Seilicovich, Arzt), Prolactinomas (Sarkar, Becu-Villalobos, Clapp), Hormone regulation and action (Drouin, Ghigo), GH/acromegaly (Ho, Bronstein, Goya), and HPA axis and Cushing (Grossman, DeNicola, Stalla). In addition, two consensus meetings on the diagnosis and treatmentof pituitary disease (on acromegaly and prolactinomas) were discussedduring the meeting, the one on prolactinomas being reported by Guitelman.

 

    The meeting took place in a special environment where a scientific, cultural,and social exchange was predominant. In addition, we would like toemphasize that a group of young basic science and clinical fellows were alsoinvited, presenting their results and thereby enriching the debates.

 

    As coordinators of this event, we would like to express our thanks andrecognition to Pfizer Laboratories who made ‘Pituitary Today’ possible in LatinAmerica; we also would like to mention the excellence of their staff whoseworking capacity allowed this meeting to attain an outstanding internationallevel. We, as volume editors, thank all the contributors to this book of the seriesFrontiers in Hormone Research from Karger Publishers, Basel.

 

    Mirtha Guitelman, Buenos Aires

 

    Marcello D. Bronstein, Sao Paulo

 

    Eduardo Arzt, Buenos Aires