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Immunocytochemical study of Wulzen's cone of the bovine pituitary

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Summary

The Wulzen's cone of the bovine adenohypophysis presents a variable development and general arrangement. It is joined to the pars intermedia with no intervening connective tissue. It is covered by a single layer of cubical cell epithelium on the side of the hypophysial cleft. Immunofluorescence reveals the presence of different glandular cell types. The most abundant cells are those demonstrated by an anti-oPRL antibody and are either isolated or clustered. Other cells react with anti-hGH, anti-bLH, anti-βoLH or anti-βhTSH antibodies. Some cells react simultaneously with anti-βMSH, anti-1–24ACTH, anti-17–39ACTH, anti-βLPH and anti-βendorphin antibodies. Cell types other than the numerous prolactin cells appear only as isolated elements. We did not observe cells reacting with anti-leu-enkephalin, anti-met-enkephalin or anti-calcitonin antibodies either in the Wulzen's cone or in the pars distalis or pars intermedia.

Résumé

Le cône de Wulzen de l'adénohypophyse bovine présente un développement et une disposition générale variables. Il est accolé à la pars intermedia dont il n'est séparé par aucune cloison conjonctive. Du côté de la fente hypophysaire, il est revêtu par un épithélium simple, cubique. En immunofluorescence, on observe la présence de divers types de cellules glandulaires: les plus abondantes sont des cellules mises en évidence par un anticorps anti-oPRL, isolées ou groupées en amas. D'autres cellules réagissent avec des anticorps anti-hGH, et anti-bLH, anti-βoLH ou anti-/mTSH. Quelques cellules réagissent simultanément avec des anticorps anti-βMSH, anti-1–24ACTH, anti-17–39ACTH, anti-βLPH et anti-βendorphine. Mises à part les nombreuses cellules à prolactine, les autres types cellulaires apparaissent constamment sous l'aspect d'éléments isolés. Nous n'avons pas observé de cellules réagissant avec des anticorps anti-leu-enképhaline, antiinet-enképhaline ou anti-calcitonine ni dans le cône de Wulzen, ni dans la pars distalis et dans la pars intermedia.

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Abbreviations

oPRL:

ovine prolactin

hPRL:

human prolactin

hGH:

human growth hormone

bLH:

bovine luteinizing hormone

βoLH:

β ovine luteinizing hormone

βpFSH:

β porcine follicle stimulating hormone

βhFSH:

β human follicle stimulating hormone

βhTSH:

β human thyrotropin

ACTH:

corticotropin

αMSH:

a melanotropin

βMSH:

βmelanotropin

βLPH:

β lipotropin

PD:

pars distalis

PI:

pars intermedia

PN:

pars nervosa

HC:

hypophysial cleft

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Médicine Alexis Carrel, Laboratoire d'Histologie-Embryologie, Lyon, France

    C. Girod & J. Trouillas

  2. Laboratoire de Neuroendocrinologie sexuelle, INRA, Nouzilly, France

    M. P. Dubois

Authors
  1. C. Girod
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  2. M. P. Dubois
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  3. J. Trouillas
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Girod, C., Dubois, M.P. & Trouillas, J. Immunocytochemical study of Wulzen's cone of the bovine pituitary. Cell Tissue Res. 227, 55–65 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206331

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