Effects of Various Neuropeptides on the Secretion of Proopiomelanocortin-Derived Peptides by a Cultured Pituitary Adenoma Causing Nelson‚s Syndrome*

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Abstract
To clarify whether various neuropep in the hypothalamus act directly on a pituitary adenoma causingNelson‚s syndrome, we examined the influence of these peptideson the secretion of immunoreactive ACTH, β-endorphin, andmelanotropins, the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides,by the cultured pituitary adenoma from a patient with Nelson‚s syndrome. Results showed that somatostatin-14 andsomatostatin-28 suppressed the secretion of POMC-derived peptidesby the adenoma and that somatostatin-28 was as potent assomatostatin-14. Other neuropeptides such as arginine vasopressin,vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and oxytocin stimulate thesecretion of POMC-derived peptides. Substance P, TRF, Metenkephalinand Leu-enkephalin were also found to modulate thesecretion of POMC-derived peptides. This suggests that theadenoma may have multiple receptors to various neuropeptides.(J Clin Endocrinol Metab55: 872, 1982)