4.2. Human Pituitary Adenoma Primary Culture

Specimens were established in culture according to our standard protocol [98,99]; primary cultures were incubated in serum-free DMEM + 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) containing 10 nM CRH or 10 nM dexamethasone. Wells treated with DMEM + BSA only represented control secretion. Medium was collected after 4 h and 24 h for measurement of ACTH; after 24 h, RNA was extracted using Pure Link RNA mini kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA).