TY - JOUR
T1 - High concentrations of catecholamines in human hypothalamic-hypophysial blood
AU - Paradisi, R.
AU - Frank, G.
AU - Grossi, G.
AU - Venturoli, S.
AU - Porcu, E.
AU - Capelli, M.
AU - Galassi, E.
AU - Flamigni, C.
PY - 1989
Y1 - 1989
N2 - While the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal system has been extensively studied in laboratory animals, equivalent studies have not been performed in humans. Here, we present and experimental procedure for collecting suprapituitary blood in man. To solve the question on the origin of such blood we investigated specific markers of hypothalamic secretory activity: the catecholamines (CAs). We found (a) norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and epinephrine (E) concentrations from ~1.5 to 2.5, 3.5 to 4.5, and 6- to 10-fold higher, respectivelyn in suprapituitary than peripheral blood, (b) different NE/DA and NE/E ratios in favor of DA and E in suprapituitary blood, and (c), a complete (100%) group separation (suprapituitary vs. peripheral) when discriminant analysis included only DA and E. These data indicate that suprapituitary blood composition is different from that of the peripheral blood, and is particularly rich in CAs and claimed differences between DA and E release on one hand and NE release on the other in suprapituitary blood also are observed. We advance the hypothesis of a hypothalamic source of such amines draining via median eminence into portal vasculature, and name this blood 'hypothalamic-hypophysial blood'. Besides serving as 'classical' neurotransmitters, CAs may also have a direct neurohormonal role in the regulation of the human hypothalamic-hypphysial function.
AB - While the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal system has been extensively studied in laboratory animals, equivalent studies have not been performed in humans. Here, we present and experimental procedure for collecting suprapituitary blood in man. To solve the question on the origin of such blood we investigated specific markers of hypothalamic secretory activity: the catecholamines (CAs). We found (a) norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and epinephrine (E) concentrations from ~1.5 to 2.5, 3.5 to 4.5, and 6- to 10-fold higher, respectivelyn in suprapituitary than peripheral blood, (b) different NE/DA and NE/E ratios in favor of DA and E in suprapituitary blood, and (c), a complete (100%) group separation (suprapituitary vs. peripheral) when discriminant analysis included only DA and E. These data indicate that suprapituitary blood composition is different from that of the peripheral blood, and is particularly rich in CAs and claimed differences between DA and E release on one hand and NE release on the other in suprapituitary blood also are observed. We advance the hypothesis of a hypothalamic source of such amines draining via median eminence into portal vasculature, and name this blood 'hypothalamic-hypophysial blood'. Besides serving as 'classical' neurotransmitters, CAs may also have a direct neurohormonal role in the regulation of the human hypothalamic-hypphysial function.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 2723073
AN - SCOPUS:0024356135
VL - 83
SP - 2079
EP - 2084
JO - Journal of Clinical Investigation
JF - Journal of Clinical Investigation
SN - 0021-9738
IS - 6
ER -