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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
The intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland: introduction and background
Abstract:
Research from a number of laboratories using of systems has shown that cells from the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland, from hypothalamic neurons and from the placenta produce a glycoprotein with the full sequences of corticotropin, beta-lipotropin and gamma-melanotropin. These peptides in turn contain the sequences of alpha- and beta-melanotropin, CLIP, gamma-lipotropin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-endorphins and methionine-enkephalin. The precursor molecule, here called protropin, is processed by the four types of cell to give rise to different ratios of corticotropin, CLIP, beta- and gamma-lipotropin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-endorphins and alpha-, beta- and gamma-melanotropins. The physiological roles of these peptides in neurotransmission, pre- and postnatal endocrinology, mental disorders and neoplasia are only now being established.
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