Summary
Light and electron microscopic observations have been made on the adenohypo-physeal tissues of male mice which belong to either KK or C57 BL/6 strain, and the following results were obtained.
-
1.
The acidophil cells of KK mice show evidence of hypertrophy and hyperplasia as compared with those of C57 BL/6 animals. The cytoplasm of the cells exhibits an intense stainability with orange G. Electron microscopically α cells of KK mice show an abundance of secretory granules and the scarcity and irregular arrangement of endoplasmic reticulum.
-
2.
The PAS-basophil cells seen in the interior of the gland occur less frequently in KK mice than in C57 BL/6 animals.
-
3.
The FSH cells of KK mice contain a larger number of distinct granules and have a larger Golgi complex than those of C57 BL/6 mice.
-
4.
In the both mouse strains examined, three types of agranular cells are distinguished in the pituitary gland.
Of these three cell types, only one type shows a variation in frequency with different strains; namely, it appears occasionally in C57 BL/6 mice, while being rare in KK animals.
-
5.
The present observations on the fine structures of the anterior pituitary cells in C57 BL/6 mice are almost coincident with Barnes' reports (1962, 1964) on the ultrastructure of the same gland.
-
6.
Both the light and electron microscopic features of the anterior pituitary cells in KK mice were discussed in relation to the metabolic disorders which have been presumed from a series of our previous studies on several organs of the diabetic animals (Nakamura, 1965; Nakamura and Yamada jr., 1965; Yamada jr., 1965).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes, B.: Electron microscope studies on the secretory cytology of the mouse anterior pituitary. Endocrinology, 71, 618–628 (1962).
: The fine structure of the mouse adenohypophysis in various physiological states. In: Cytologie de l'adénohypophyse (eds. par J. Benoit et C. da Late). Paris: Editions de C.N.R.S. 1963.
Elftman, H.: Phospholipids of the anterior pituitary. Anat. Rec. 121, 288 (1955).
: A chrome alum fixative for the pituitary. Stain Technol. 32, 25–28 (1957).
: Phospholipids of the anterior pituitary. Anat. Rec. 130, 567–579 (1958).
: Combined aldehyde-fuchsin and periodic acid staining of the pituitary. Stain Technol. 34, 77–80 (1959a).
: Aldehyde-fuchsin for pituitary cytochemistry. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 7, 98–100 (1959b).
, and O. Wegelius: Anterior pituitary cytology of the dwarf mouse. Anat. Rec. 135, 43–49 (1959).
Farquhar, M.: “Corticotrophs” of the rat adenohypophysis as revealed by electron microscopy. Anat. Rec. 127, 291 (1957).
Grüneberg, H.: The genetics of the mouse. London: The Hague Martinus Nijhoff 1952.
Herlant, M.: The cells of the adenohypophysis and their functional significance. In: International review of cytology, vol. 17. New York and London: Academic Press 1964.
Hymer, W. C., and W. H. McSham: Isolation of rat pituitary granules and the study of their biochemical properties and hormonal activities. J. Cell Biol. 17, 67–85 (1963).
Little, C. C.: Genetics, biological individuality and cancer. California: Stanford University Press 1954.
Luft, J.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409–414 (1961).
Nakamura, M.: A diabetic strain of the mouse. Proc. Jap. Acad. 38, 348–352 (1962).
: Cytological and histological studies on the pancreatic islets of a diabetic (KK) strain of the mouse. Z. Zellforsch. 65, 340–349 (1965).
, and K. Yamada jr.: A further study of the diabetic (KK) strain of the mouse. F1 and F2 offsprings of the cross between KK and C57 BL/6 mice. Proc. Jap. Acad. 39, 489–493 (1963).
: Enzymorphological studies on the pancreatic islets of a diabetic (KK) strain of the mouse. Z. Zellforsch. 66, 396–404 (1965).
Palade, G.: A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J. exp. Med. 95, 285–298 (1952).
Purves, H., and W. Griesbach: Changes in the gonadotrophs of the rat pituitary after gonadectomy. Endocrinology 56, 374–386 (1955).
Rennels, E.: Electron microscopic alterations in the rat hypophysis after scalding. Amer. J. Anat. 114, 71–92 (1964).
Romeis, B.: Hypophyse. In: Handbuch der microskopischen Anatomie des Menschen (W. von Möllendorff, ed.), Bd. 6, Teil 2. Berlin: Springer 1939.
Siperstein, E.: Identification of the adrenocorticotropin producing cells in the rat hypophysis by autoradiography. J. Cell Biol. 17, 521–546 (1963).
, and V. Allison: Fine structure of the cells responsible for secretion of adrenocorticotrophin in the adrenectomized rat. Endocrinology 76, 70–79 (1965).
Stempak, J.: An improved staining method for electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 22, 697–701 (1964).
Yamada, K. jr.: Chemical cytology of the mouse parathyroid gland. Z. Zellforsch. 65, 805–813 (1965).
Yamada, K. sr., and M. Sano: Electron microscopic observations of the anterior pituitary of the mouse. Okajimas Folia anat. jap. 34, 449–475 (1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamada, K., Nakamura, M. & Yamashita, K. Light and electron microscopic studies on the adenohypophysis of a diabetic (KK) strain of the mouse. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 79, 429–445 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335485
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335485