Summary
In the anterior pituitary glands of neonatally thyroidectomized female rats sacrificed at 30 days of age, the prolactin granules were small and spherical in shape. The administration of thyroxine to neonatally thyroidectomized rats produced an obvious increase in the number and size of secretory granules in prolactin cells; comparatively large, pleomorphic secretory granules were frequently observed in these cells. These enlarged and pleomorphic granules closely resembled those observed in the prolactin cells of sham-operated control rats.
These results may indicate that thyroxine stimulates the basic metabolism or cellular function of prolactin cells of neonatally thyroidectomized rats and leads to the formation of prolactin granules that are similar to those of shamoperated control rats.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker BL (1974) Functional cytology of the hypophysial pars distalis and pars intermedia. In: Greep RO, Knobil E, Sawyer WH, Geiger SR, (ed) Handbook of physiology section 7: Endocrinology Vol IV, The pituitary gland and its neuroendocrine control, Part 1, American Physiological Society, Distributed by The Williams & Wilkins Co, Baltimore, USA pp 45–80
Beauvillain JC, Tramu G, Dubois MP (1977) Characterization by different techniques of adrenocorticotrophin and gonadotrophin producing cells in Lerat pituitary (Eliomys quercinus). A superimposition technique and an immunocytochemical technique. Cell Tissue Res 158:301–317
Dacheux F (1980) Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of prolactin and growth hormone in the porcine pituitary. Cell Tissue Res 207:277–286
Farquhar MG, Rinehart JF (1954) Electron microscopic studies of anterior pituitary gland of castrated rats. Endocrinology 54:516–541
Goldberg RC, Chaikoff IL (1949) A simplified procedure for thyroidectomy of the newborn rat without concomitant parathyroidectomy. Endocrinology 45:64–70
Harigaya T, Kohmoto K, Hoshino K (1983) Immunohistochemical identification of prolactin-producing cells in the mouse adenohypophysis. Acta Histochem Cytochem 16:51–58
Kurosumi K (1968) Functional classification of cell types of the anterior pituitary gland accomplished by electron microscopy. Arch Hist Jpn 29:329–362
Meites J, Turner CW (1947) Effect of thiouracil and estrogen on lactogenic hormone and weight of pituitaries of rats. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 64:488–492
Nogami H, Yoshimura F (1980) Prolactin immunoreactivity of acidophils of the small granule types. Cell Tissue Res 211:1–4
Nogami H, Yoshimura F (1982) Fine structural criteria of prolactin cells identified immunohistochemically in the male rat. Anat Rec 202:261–274
Ottenweller JE, Hedge GA (1981) Thyroid hormones are required for daily rhythm of plasma corticosterone and prolactin concentration. Life Sci 28:1033–1040
Rennels EG (1962) An electron microscope study of pituitary autograft cells in the rat. Endocrinology 71:713–722
Smith PF, Keefer DA (1982) Acrolein/glutaraldehyde as a fixative for combined light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical detection of pituitary hormones in immersion-fixed tissue. J Histochem Cytochem 30:1307–1310
Sternberger LA, Hardy PH Jr, Cuculis JJ, Meyer HG (1970) The unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunohistochemistry: preparation and properties of soluble antigen-antibody complex (horse radish peroxidase-antihorseradish peroxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes. J Histochem Cytochem 18:315–333
Zambrano D, Deis RP (1970) The adenohypophysis of female rats after hypothalamic estradiol implants, an electron microscopic study. J Endocrinol 47; 101–110
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to express their thanks to Dr. Edward G. Rennels for his valuable advice in preparing the manuscript
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shiino, M., Yamauchi, Ke. Secretory granules of prolactin cells of neonatally thyroidectomized female rats. Cell Tissue Res. 242, 179–183 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225574
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225574