Pituitary Function and Immunity

The influence of hormones secreted or regulated by the pituitary gland on the immune system is examined in detail, including dis-cussions of adrenocorticotropic hormone, glucocorticoids, cate-cholamines, growth hormone, insulin, prolactin, gonadotropins, sex steroid hormones, and thyroid hormones. The relative importance of various hormones in immunoregulation is considered, and evi-dence for interaction between the immune and neurohormonal sys-tems is presented The possible effects of hormonal immunomodu-lation in reproduction, infections and parasitic disease, autoimmu-nity, and cancer are examined. This comprehensive reference serves both basic and clinical researchers and practitioners in im-munology, microbiology, endocrinology, reproduction biology, neurology, oncology, psychology, medicine, and veterinary medicine.