Resumen de Morphological evidence of the possible relevance of aromatase P450 in autoparacrine regulation and pathology of the hypophysis

José Carretero González, Enrique J. Blanco Barco, María del Carmen Iglesias Osma, M. Carretero, Manuel Carretero González, Teresa Vázquez, Pablo J. Álvarez, María Josefa García Barrado

• Aromatase P450, the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of aromatizable androgens to estrogens is involved in sexual dimorphism and several pathologies induced by estrogenic effects. The present work reports evidence of pituitary aromatase synthesis, its regulation by gonadal steroids, and the physiological roles of aromatase on pituitary endocrine cells. The involvement of aromatase, through the auto-paracrine production of estradiol, in the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors -mainly prolactinomas- is reviewed.