Pituitary intermediate lobe in dog: two cell types and high bioactive adrenocorticotropin content

The pituitary intermediate lobe of most species is cytologically monotonous, but that of the dog is composed of two immunocytochemically distinct cell types. The predominant A cells are typical pars intermedia cells: they stain immunocytochemically for α-melanotropin and, more weakly, for adrenocort...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1981-01, Vol.211 (4477), p.72-74
Main Authors: Halmi, N.S, Peterson, M.E, Colurso, G.J, Liotta, A.S, Krieger, D.T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism
Animals
Antibodies
B lymphocytes
beta-Lipotropin - metabolism
Canines
Dogs
Dogs - physiology
Erythrocytes
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones - metabolism
Phagocytes
Photoreceptors
Pituitary gland
Pituitary Gland - cytology
Pituitary Gland - metabolism
Rats
Retinal pigments
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Summary:The pituitary intermediate lobe of most species is cytologically monotonous, but that of the dog is composed of two immunocytochemically distinct cell types. The predominant A cells are typical pars intermedia cells: they stain immunocytochemically for α-melanotropin and, more weakly, for adrenocorticotropin and β-lipotropin. The B cells are like the corticotrophs of the anterior lobe: they stain intensely for adrenocorticotropin and β-lipotropin but not for α -melanotropin. The B cells may account for the high concentration of bioactive adrenocorticotropin measured in the canine pars intermedia, and may explain why in dogs adenomas causing Cushing's disease through hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropin can arise from the intermediate as well as the anterior pituitary lobe.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.6255564