Effects of Endocrine Disruptors on the Pituitary Gland

抄録

Estrogenic chemicals, a majority of endocrine distuptors, could cause two types of effects on the anterior pituitary gland. The one is the induction of the pituitary tumor (prolactinoma); the other is stimulating the production and release of pituitary hormones, prolactin and TSH, in the gland. Since the minimum dose of estrogen for inducing pituitary tumors is very high, more than the physiological level, it is unlikely that any weak estrogenic chemicals are directly carcinogenic in the pituitary gland. However, once the tumors have developed, their growth response would be strongly sensitive to estrogen and endocrine disruptors may effect on it. On the other hand, they could easily influence the production of prolactin and TSH and may cause the development of mammary and thyroid tumors.