Prolactin and growth hormone cells in the human hypophysis: a study with immunoenzyme histochemistry and differential staining

• Published in: Cell and tissue research 1975-05, Vol.158 (4), p.497-507
• Main Authors: Halmi, N S, Parsons, J A, Erlandsen, S L, Duello, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Female; Growth Hormone - immunology; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lactation; Male; Middle Aged; Peroxidases; Pituitary Gland - cytology; Pregnancy; Prolactin - immunology; Rats
• ISSN: 0302-766X; 1432-0878
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00220215

Growth hormone and prolactin cells were immunostained in human hypophyses with antibody against rat growth hormone or prolactin and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex. Growth hormone cells were round and, in normal pituitaries, arranged in sizable groups. Prolactin cells occurred singly and were less numerous; they were often extensively branched. Only a few prolactin cells stained with carmoisine. Incubation of the antibody with an excess of the appropriate antigen greatly diminished or abolished immunostaining; absorption of anti-prolactin with growth hormone often enhanced it. Prolactin cells were somewhat hypertrophied and hyperplastic in a neonate. Many of them stained with carmoisine. An even greater hypertrophy and hyperplasia of these cells (which pushed apart the growth hormone cells) was found in a lactating woman. Immunostained giant prolactin cells were also observed. Staining of the prolactin cells with carmoisine was extensive. Upon prolonged exposure to anti-growth hormone antibody, ACTH/MSH cells also showed immunostaining which was abolished by absorption of the antiserum with growth hormone but not with synthetic 1-24ACTH. Growth hormone cells evidently correspond to the alpha acidophils of Romeis, prolactin cells in lactation to his eta cells; the relation of his epsilon cells to the pleomorphic "resting" prolactin cells is not clear.