CYTOCHROME-P450 CYP3A5 IN THE HUMAN ANTERIOR-PITUITARY GLAND

The cytochromes P450 are a key group of enzymes involved in the metabo lism of xenobiotics and several biologically active endogenous compoun ds. The expression of CYP3A5 has been identified by reverse transcript ase-polymerase chain reaction in human pituitary gland and shown by im munohistochemistry to be localized to growth hormone containing cells of the anterior pituitary gland. This is the first direct identificati on of an individual P450 subfamily in the pituitary gland and the pres ence of CYP3A in the pituitary gland may play a role in regulating gro wth hormone secretion.