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Stimulating Canonical Wnt Signaling In Pituitary Progenitors Inhibits Differentiation Of Hormone Cell Types, Tanner F. Coleman

Senior Theses

The mouse pituitary gland secretes hormones that regulate many physiological processes including growth, stress response, and reproduction. The canonical WNT signaling pathway, activation of which results in nuclear accumulation of β-CATENIN and transcription of target genes including LEF1, is crucial for proper development of the pituitary gland. Pituitary progenitors that lack β-CATENIN at embryonic day of development 8.5 (E8.5) cannot form three of the six cell types of the anterior pituitary that produce growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin (PRL). Additionally, stimulating canonical WNT signaling through creation of degradation-resistant β-CATENIN at E9.5 causes pituitary tumors and results …