The Role of Adipokines in the Control of Pituitary Functions
Barbara Kaminska,
Beata Kurowicka,
Marta Kiezun,
Kamil Dobrzyn,
Katarzyna Kisielewska,
Marlena Gudelska,
Grzegorz Kopij,
Karolina Szymanska,
Barbara Zarzecka,
Oguzhan Koker,
Ewa Zaobidna,
Nina Smolinska,
Tadeusz Kaminski
Affiliations
Barbara Kaminska
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Beata Kurowicka
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Marta Kiezun
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Kamil Dobrzyn
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Katarzyna Kisielewska
Department of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
Marlena Gudelska
Department of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
Grzegorz Kopij
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Karolina Szymanska
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Barbara Zarzecka
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Oguzhan Koker
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Ewa Zaobidna
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Nina Smolinska
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Tadeusz Kaminski
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
The pituitary gland is a key endocrine gland in all classes of vertebrates, including mammals. The pituitary gland is an important component of hypothalamus–pituitary–target organ hormonal regulatory axes and forms a functional link between the nervous system and the endocrine system. In response to hypothalamic stimuli, the pituitary gland secretes a number of hormones involved in the regulation of metabolism, stress reactions and environmental adaptation, growth and development, as well as reproductive processes and lactation. In turn, hormones secreted by target organs at the lowest levels of the hormonal regulatory axes regulate the functions of the pituitary gland in the process of hormonal feedback. The pituitary also responds to other peripheral signals, including adipose-tissue-derived factors. These substances are a broad group of peptides known as adipocytokines or adipokines that act as endocrine hormones mainly involved in energy homeostasis. Adipokines, including adiponectin, resistin, apelin, chemerin, visfatin, and irisin, are also expressed in the pituitary gland, and they influence the secretory functions of this gland. This review is an overview of the existing knowledge of the relationship between chosen adipose-derived factors and endocrine functions of the pituitary gland, with an emphasis on the pituitary control of reproductive processes.
