Summary
An ultrastructural study of the rostral pars distalis of the pituitary of Aphanius dispar specimens taken from freshwater or hypersaline marshes revealed significant structural differences which indicate higher activity of the prolactin cells in the hypotonic medium. Prolactin cells from freshwater specimens had larger secretory granules, a higher amount of endoplasmic reticulum, and expanded intercellular spaces with many secretory lakes. These cells contained an unusual cytoplasmic structure, consisting of twisted canals with vesicular lumina, connected to the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell. This structure is about 1–2 μm in diameter.
Stellate cells are characterized by extracellular spacing junctions which are particularly noticeable at the confluence of the interstellate cell canaliculi and the pericapillary space.
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Abbreviations
- FW :
-
freshwater
- HS :
-
hypersaline
- NS :
-
neurosecretory
- PCB :
-
paracrystalline body
- PNH :
-
proximal neurohypophysis
- RPD :
-
rostral pars distalis
- SG :
-
secretory granule
- SW :
-
seawater
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This paper is dedicated with affectionate respect to Professor Berta Scharrer on the occasion of her 70th birthday
The assistance of Cynthia Bellon in editing this paper is gratefully acknowledged
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Abraham, M., Dinari-Lavie, V. & Lotan, R. The pituitary of Aphanius dispar (Rüppell) from hypersaline marshes and freshwater. Cell Tissue Res. 179, 317–330 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221103