Endocrine Abstracts

The activin-binding protein follistatin is produced by folliculostellate (FS) cells of the anterior pituitary. FS cells make numerous contacts with the classical endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary including gonadotrophs. Follistatin released from the FS cells could therefore play a role in the regulation of gonadotrophin secretion, in particular of FSH. We have previously shown by confocal microscopy (1) that annexin 1, which is also produced by FS cells, is secreted fr...

Annexin I, a phospholipid and calcium binding protein, plays a well demonstrated role in the early delayed inhibitory feedback actions of glucocorticoids in the pituitary. Annexin I is localized in folliculostellate (FS) cells and glucocorticoids act on these cells to externalize annexin I at specific foci on FS cell processes (Chapman et al, 2002 Endocrinology, in press). Annexin I lacks a signal sequence to direct it into the secretory pathway and the foci of externalized an...