The Mechanism of Experimental Exophthalmos Caused by Pituitary Extracts

TFOS DEWS II Sex, Gender, and Hormones Report

“…In addition, the influence of pituitary dysfunction on lacrimal tissue appears to be attributed to a loss of anterior, but not posterior, lobe hormones [408,410,411,616]. It is likely that the ability of pituitary extracts to increase LGW in guinea pigs [746] is due to hormones from the anterior pituitary. Such extracts also promote the proliferation of human meibomian gland epithelial cells [747].…”

Influence of androgens and pituitary hormones on the structural profile and secretory activity of the lacrimal gland

“…Our studies also explored the impact of various other hormones on lacrimal gland weight and secretory capacity in hypophysectomized rats. This research was prompted by previous reports that gender-related differences in lacrimal tissue are not evident in pituitary deficient mice (Martinazzi & Baroni 1963), that exposure to various anterior pituitary hormones may induce lacrimal gland growth, differentiation, or fluid or protein output in mice, rats, guinea pigs or humans (Azzarolo et al 1992;Jahn et al 1982;Leiba et al 1990;Martinazzi & Baroni 1963;Mircheff 1993;Nover 1957;Pochin 1952;Radnot & Nemeth 1954, 1955, that thyroxine may increase lacrimal tissue weight or tear flow in orchiectomized and thyroidectomized rats (Carriere 1964) or healthy rabbits (Nover 1957), and that thyroxine plus glucocorticoid therapy may assist in the restoration of endocrine homeostasis after pituitary ablation (Wilson & Foster 1985). Our results, though, demonstrated that treatment of hypohysectomized rats with prolactin, growth hormone, a-MSH, insulin, or thyroxine plus dexamethasone had no effect on the absolute or relative size of the lacrimal gland and did not alter tear volume.…”

“…Moreover, hypophysectomy is reportedly associated with a profound disruption of lacrimal tissue structure and activity, including glandular atrophy, acinar cell contraction, nuclear pycnosis, cytoplasmic vacuolar metamorphosis, a decline in tissue protein content and a decrease in fluid and protein secretion (Ebling et al 1975a;Martinazzi 1962;Martinazzi & Baroni 1963;Minami & Kame1 1959;Shaw et al 1983;Sullivan & Allansmith 1986). These effects may apparently be reversed by exposure to certain anterior, but not posterior, pituitary hormones, which reportedly induce growth, morphological differentiation and fluid output (Martinazzi & Baroni 1963;Nover 1957;Pochin 1952;Radnot & NCmeth 1954,1955. However, the actual roles of various anterior pituitary hormones in the control of lacrimal tissue anatomy, as well as fluid and protein secretion in vivo, has yet to be elucidated.…”