Why are endocrine pituitary cells excitable?

Since 1975, endocrine pituitary cells have been known to be excisable neuronlike cells. Using powerful single-cell approaches, in particular the patch clamp electrophysiological recording technique and the monitoring of Ca2+ with fluorescent probes solid evidence has been provided in the last 10 years that intracellular Ca2+ signals are produced by stimulators and inhibitors of secretion via the modulation of action potentials in isolated pituitary cells. As cytosolic Ca2+ changes ave thought to control numerous cellular functions (for example, secretion protein synthesis, gene expression and proliferation) over a long time scale-milliseconds to hours-it is now time to address the longstanding question of what functions would be physiologically controlled by electrical excitability in intact pituitary tissue. (C) 1996, Elsevier Science Inc.