From pituitary cells to prostate gland in health and disease: direct and indirect endocrine connections

Abstract

The prostate gland is an endocrine-sensitive organ responding to multiple stimuli. Its development and function are regulated by multiple hormones (i.e. steroids such as androgens, estrogens and glucocorticoids) but also by other key hormonal systems such as those comprised by insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin, which are sourced by different tissues [e.g. testicles/adrenal-gland/adipose-tissue/liver/pancreas, etc.). Particularly important for the endocrine control of prostatic pathophysiology and anatomy are hormones produced and/or secreted by different cell types of the pituitary gland [growth-hormone, luteinizing-hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, oxytocin, arginine-vasopressin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone], which affect prostate gland function either directly or indirectly under physiological and pathophysiological conditions [e.g. metabolic dysregulation (e.g. obesity), and prostate transformations (e.g. prostate cancer)]. This review summarizes the impact of all pituitary hormone types on prostate gland under these diverse conditions including in vivo and in vitro studies.