Transgenic models of pituitary diseases
1Department of Pathology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Transgenic mice are valuable experimental models of human endocrine diseases. Targeted ablation of specific cell lineages or insertion of genes coding for releasing factors, hormones, growth factors, and oncogenes fused with appropriate promoters, or mutated genes, can induce several pituitary disorders. Various hyposecretory and hypersecretory states have been induced, some of them due to functioning pituitary adenomas. Adenohypophysial changes in such disorders have been thoroughly investigated in many of the transgenic lines. Functioning and silent pituitary adenomas resemble those seen in human patients, and are invaluable models of tumorigenesis. The available models have not been sufficiently exploited and new models are expected in the near future. In this review, the morphologic changes of the pituitary are described in transgenic mice and, when available, the ultrastructural alterations are included.
Insights
Transgenic mice offer valuable insights into human endocrine diseases by modeling pituitary disorders. Morphological and ultrastructural changes in these models provide crucial data for understanding tumorigenesis.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Transgenic mice are essential models for studying human endocrine diseases.
- Pituitary disorders can be induced by genetic modifications in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the morphological and ultrastructural changes in the pituitary gland of transgenic mice.
- To highlight the utility of these models in understanding pituitary disorders and tumorigenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on transgenic mouse models of pituitary disorders.
- Analysis of morphological and ultrastructural alterations reported in these models.
Main Results:
- Transgenic mice exhibit various hyposecretory and hypersecretory pituitary states, including functioning and silent adenomas.
- These models closely mimic human pituitary adenomas, aiding in tumorigenesis research.
Conclusions:
- Transgenic mouse models are invaluable for investigating pituitary disorders and human endocrine diseases.
- Further development and utilization of these models are expected to advance the field.
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