Premium
Abrupt pubertal elevation of DNase I gene expression in human pituitary glands of both sexes
Author(s) -
Yasuda Toshihiro,
Takeshita Haruo,
Nakajima Tamiko,
Mogi Kouichi,
Kaneko Yasushi,
Ueki Misuzu,
Iida Reiko,
Kishi Koichiro
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)03216-1
Subject(s) - elevation (ballistics) , gene expression , pituitary gland , medicine , gene , biology , endocrinology , genetics , hormone , physics , astronomy
Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) was confirmed to be expressed in the human pituitary gland, particularly the anterior lobe, at levels comparable to those in the pancreas. The DNase I activity and the amount of gene transcript present in the pituitary glands of individuals aged from 1 month to 89 years was significantly age‐dependent, with an abrupt elevation after the neonatal and prepubertal periods irrespective of gender, followed by a gradual age‐dependent decline in males and a marked reduction in females in their postreproductive period. This DNase I age dependence in the pituitary gland was not present in the pancreas and serum. These observations suggest that tissue‐specific up‐regulation of DNase I gene expression in the pituitary gland occur, possibly at the onset of puberty.