HORMONAL CONTROL OF PITUITARY PROLACTIN-SECRETING TUMORS

Dipak K. Sarkar, Shane T. Hentges, Alok De and Raghaba H.R. Reddy

Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163-6540

Received 7/5/98 Accepted 7/15/98

2. INTRODUCTION

Prolactinomas are tumors in prolactin-secreting lactotropes in the pituitary gland and are the most frequently occurring neoplasm in the human pituitary (1-4). It is considered that in the general population, 1:2800 men and 1:1050 women have prolactinomas (5). In human subjects, prolactinomas occur in young as well as in older individuals (6). In addition, the existence of mixed growth hormone and prolactin-secreting adenomas are documented in a substantial number of acromegaly patients.

Prolactinomas occur both as macro and microadenomas. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe the physiological effects of prolactinomas and to summarize recent findings delineating the hormonal regulation of prolactinomas.