VITAMIN-D-RECEPTOR GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMAN PITUITARY-GLAND

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has important physiological effects such as c alcium transport and cell growth and differentiation. These biological effects are mediated by their binding to specific intracellular recep tor termed vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDR mRNA expression has been demo nstrated in several tissues, but to date, there is no information abou t its presence in the human pituitary gland. In this report, we demons trate VDR mRNA expression using the reverse transcription-polymerase c hain reaction (RT-PCR), as well as the cellular expression of VDR by i mmunohistochemistry, both in the human pituitary gland. These results suggest the possibility that, like in the rat pituitary, VDR may regul ate the human pituitary gene expression and hormone secretion.