The gland cells of the mammalian anterior pituitary are innervated by substantial amounts of nerve fibres, and there is evidence that the nerve fibres are functionally active. In the rat, the nerve fibres make typical excitatory synapses with corticotropes. The physiological significance of this synaptic relationship was investigated in the present study. The anterior pituitary of the rat was sliced and stimulated with electrical field in a chamber. The perfusate was continuously collected and immunoradioassayed for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). When the gland slices were stimulated at a high frequency of 10 Hz, there was a significant inhibition of ACTH secretion. Stimulation at a low frequency of 2 Hz resulted in a quick and transient excitation of ACTH release. The results indicate that stimulation of the nerve fibres in the anterior pituitary has dual excitatory and inhibitory effects on ACTH secretion.

作者：L-Z, Gao；G, Ju

来源：Journal of neuroendocrinology 2004 年 16卷 1期