Review article
A model for the development of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis: transcribing the hypophysis

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4773(98)00229-9Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Mammalian organogenesis involves a sequential program to generate cells with specific fates and phenotypes from a common primordium, which is hypothesized to be the consequence of regulated overlapping patterns of expression of specific sets of transcription factors in a precise spatiotemporal manner. The hypothalamic–pituitary axis is critical for survival and homeostasis, controlling growth, reproduction, metabolism and behavior, and constitutes an ideal model in which to define the molecular markers to emergence of specific cell phenotypes from a common primordium. Development of the anterior pituitary gland is controlled by sequential series of gradients of specific signaling molecules that, in turn, appear to coordinate the expression of specific combinations of transcription factor-encoding genes, many of which as tissue-specific or tissue restricted factors that serially dictate cell-type determination and terminal differentiation events that underlie the differentiated cell phenotype.

Keywords

Hypophysis
Hypothalamic–pituitary axis
Organogenesis

Cited by (0)