Ontogeny of hormone-secreting cells of the rat pituitary gland: an immunocytochemical study on dissociated cells

An immunocytochemical study was undertaken in foetal, prepubertal and mature rats to determine the time of differentiation of various types of adenohypophyseal cells during development. Freshly dissociated pituitary cells from foetal (18-21 days postconception), neonatal (from birth up to 30 days) a...

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Published in:The Histochemical journal 1989-06, Vol.21 (6), p.337-342
Main Authors: SMETS, G, VELKENIERS, B, HERREGODTS, P, VANHAELST, L, GEPTS, W, HOOGHE-PETERS, E. L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism
Aging - metabolism
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Differentiation
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gestational Age
Growth Hormone - metabolism
Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis
Immunohistochemistry
Luteinizing Hormone - metabolism
Male
Morphology. Functional localizations
Pituitary Gland, Anterior - cytology
Pituitary Gland, Anterior - embryology
Pituitary Gland, Anterior - metabolism
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior - metabolism
Prolactin - metabolism
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Thyrotropin - metabolism
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:An immunocytochemical study was undertaken in foetal, prepubertal and mature rats to determine the time of differentiation of various types of adenohypophyseal cells during development. Freshly dissociated pituitary cells from foetal (18-21 days postconception), neonatal (from birth up to 30 days) and adult rats (more than 8 weeks) were characterized using immunocytochemical methods. All types of hormone-producing cells were present at day 18 postconception, although only 20% of the cells were immunolabelled. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-secreting cells accounted for the highest number of hormone-positive cells. Growth hormone-secreting cells increased remarkably from day 18 postconception onwards. Prolactin-secreting cells were not seen in the foetal adenohypophysis and did not start to increase until 10 days after birth, whereas by that time the number of ACTH, thyrotropin, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone-secreting cells had stopped increasing. By day 30 after birth, 80-95% of the cells were immunoreactive.
ISSN:0018-2214
1573-6865
DOI:10.1007/bf01798496