NPPC and pituitary gland adenoma: However, we have previously described the presence of an intact natriuretic peptide system (NPPC, NPR2) in human fetal pituitaries, normal adult pituitaries, and in human pituitary adenomas, regardless of origin [9]; as these tissues represent a broad range of developmental ages (fetal to adult), the lack of any substantial difference in the expression of NPPC or NPR2 would suggest that developmental changes to CNP/GC-B in the anterior pituitary do not occur.