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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
Published on: February 25, 2022
Notch-Hes signaling in pituitary development
Masato Hojo1, Aya Kita2, Ryoichiro Kageyama3
1a Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. mhojo@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
The pituitary gland is a critical endocrine organ that controls homeostasis, metabolism, reproduction and growth. Pituitary organogenesis involves the initial proliferation process of progenitor cells and the subsequent differentiation process into distinct cell types. Although various signaling molecules and transcription factors play roles in the pituitary development, the mechanisms that control progenitor cells remain to be elucidated. The mammalian Hes basic helix-loop-helix genes, known as Notch effectors, play essential roles in the development of various tissues and organs by maintaining progenitor cells in an undifferentiated state and by regulating binary cell fate decisions. Recently, it has been reported that Hes genes play crucial roles in pituitary development by regulating progenitor cells. This review describes essential roles of Hes genes in pituitary development.
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