Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Retinoblastoma Gene

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...

The Retinoblastoma Gene

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

Cushing syndrome refers to the collection of clinical manifestations that arise when tissues are exposed to excessive amounts of cortisol or cortisol-like medications over an extended period. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s adaptation to stress. When its concentration remains chronically elevated, these physiological pathways become dysregulated, resulting in the characteristic features of the syndrome.Exogenous...

The Pituitary Gland

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.

Abnormal Proliferation

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Azoospermia/Oligozoospermia and Prostate Cancer Are Increased in Families of Women With Primary Ovarian Insufficiency.

Journal of the Endocrine Society·2025

Same author

Cluster effect for SNP-SNP interaction pairs for predicting complex traits.

Scientific reports·2024

Same author

Identification of rare genetic variants for rotator cuff tearing and repair in high-risk pedigrees.

JSES international·2024

Same author

Breast Cancer Is Increased in Women With Primary Ovarian Insufficiency.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2024

Same author

Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of dizygotic twinning illuminates genetic regulation of female fecundity.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2023

Same author

Characterizing prostate cancer risk through multi-ancestry genome-wide discovery of 187 novel risk variants.

Nature genetics·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Published on: February 25, 2022

A heritable predisposition to pituitary tumors.

William T Couldwell¹, Lisa Cannon-Albright

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. neuropub@hsc.utah.edu

|December 17, 2009

Summary

This study found a genetic link to pituitary tumors, with higher risks for first- and third-degree relatives. Analyzing family data revealed increased relatedness among pituitary tumor cases, suggesting a hereditary predisposition.

More Related Videos

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Published on: February 25, 2022

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Published on: May 17, 2024

Area of Science:

Genetics
Epidemiology
Oncology

Background:

Pituitary tumors are common, affecting nearly 20% of the population.
The etiology of most pituitary tumors is unknown, but genetic factors are implicated in some cases.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate familial clustering and genetic predisposition to pituitary tumors.
To analyze genetic relationships among individuals with pituitary tumors using the Utah Population Data Base (UPDB).

Main Methods:

Utilized the UPDB, linking genealogical data with a statewide tumor registry.
Analyzed genetic relatedness among 741 pituitary tumor cases.
Calculated relative risks for pituitary tumors in relatives of varying degrees.

Main Results:

Significantly elevated relative risks for pituitary tumors were observed in first-degree (RR=2.83) and third-degree (RR=1.63) relatives.
Average pairwise relatedness among pituitary tumor cases was significantly higher than expected.
No significant increase in risk was found for second-degree relatives (RR=0.83).

Conclusions:

The findings strongly support a genetic contribution to pituitary tumor predisposition.
Identified high-risk pedigrees in the UPDB warrant further study to identify causative genes.
Understanding genetic factors can aid in counseling families of affected individuals.