Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Pituitary Gland01:17

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.
Hormones of the Pituitary Gland01:27

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination01:23

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination

The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

BDNF regulates pituitary stem cell engagement toward precursor state.

Stem cell reports·2026
Same author

Srr2-dependent SOX2 levels govern the chromatin and transcriptional landscape of adult neural stem cell fate decisions in mouse.

Genome biology·2026
Same author

Adaptive islet biology and comprehensive incretin physiology: Emerging perspectives from Asia and Europe.

Journal of diabetes investigation·2026
Same author

eNAMPT induces alpha-cell mass expansion but impaired glucagon counter regulatory response.

Endocrinology·2026
Same author

High-purity stem cell-derived β-cells recapitulate key transcriptional and functional features of human islets.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

NR3C1 is required for normal somatotrope differentiation and Foxo1 expression in pituitary.

Endocrinology·2026
Same journal

Mitochondria produce lactate to vent redox pressure.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Beyond fat storage: neuronal lipid droplets regulate whole-body metabolism.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

HDL resuscitates cells from ferroptosis.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

2-Methylbutyrylcarnitine (2MBC).

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Decoding growth hormone actions on human growth plate stem cells.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Androgen loss backfires: Brain gate for tumor immunity.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland
06:53

Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland

Published on: November 16, 2017

A tridimensional view of pituitary development and function.

Patrice Mollard1, David J Hodson, Chrystel Lafont

  • 1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, 34000 Montpellier, France. patrice.mollard@igf.cnrs.fr

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|March 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging reveals structured cell networks in the pituitary gland. These networks influence hormone secretion and adapt to endocrine changes, impacting pituitary function.

More Related Videos

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
09:48

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
07:43

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

Published on: January 17, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland
06:53

Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland

Published on: November 16, 2017

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
09:48

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
07:43

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

Published on: January 17, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Traditional histology depicted the pituitary anterior lobe as a disorganized cell collection.
  • Recent advancements in tridimensional (3D) tissue imaging offer new perspectives on pituitary gland structure and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural organization of pituitary cells using 3D imaging.
  • To understand the functional implications of cell network organization in the pituitary gland.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced tridimensional (3D) tissue imaging techniques.
  • Analyzed the spatial arrangement and interactions of different cell lineages within the pituitary gland.

Main Results:

  • 3D imaging revealed that pituitary cells of each lineage form extensive and structured homotypic networks.
  • These networks enhance the robustness and coordination of cellular responses to secretagogs in the adult gland.
  • Network organization demonstrates plasticity, adapting to endocrine environment changes, exemplified by the sexually dimorphic growth hormone (GH) cell network.

Conclusions:

  • Pituitary cell organization into structured homotypic networks is crucial for gland function.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cell interactions and their role in pituitary health and disease.