Summary
In order to observe the ultrastructural aspects of granule extrusion from gonadotrophs, the authors injected pure, natural porcine LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) into persistent-estrous (PE) rats. Clear-cut extrusions of secretory granules appeared from LH-gonadotrophs 2.5, 5 and 15 minutes after the injection. Massive extrusion was observed at 15 minutes. Serum LH and FSH were also estimated by radioimmunoassay on blood samples taken at the same times after the injections. LH was increased in the blood sera after the injection of LH-RH, but serum FSH was not significantly different among the various treated rats. The rise in serum LH after LH-RH injection was well correlated with the ultrastructural phenomenon of granule extrusion from LH-gonadotrophs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arai, Y.: Changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-system after ovariectomy in persistent estrous and diestrous rats. J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, IV, 10, 369–379 (1964).
Barnes, B. G.: Electron microscope studies on the secretory cytology of the mouse anterior pituitary. Endocrinology 71, 618–628 (1962).
Barraclough, C. A.: Modifications in the CNS regulation of reproduction after exposure of prepubertal rats to steroid hormones. Recent Progr. Hormone Res. 22, 503–539 (1966).
Bradshaw, M., Critchlow, V.: Pituitary concentration of luteinizing hormone in three types of “constant estrous” rats. Endocrinology 78, 1007–1014 (1966).
Costoff, A., McShan, W. H.: Isolation and biological properties of secretory granules from rat anterior pituitary glands. J. Cell Biol. 48, 364–574 (1964).
Couch, E. F., Arimura, A., Schally, A. V., Saito, M., Sawano, S.: Electron microscope studies of somatotrophs of rat pituitary after injection of purified growth hormone releasing factor (GRF). Endocrinology 85, 1084–1091 (1969).
Daane, T. A., Parlow, A. F.: Periovulatory patterns of rat serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during the normal estrous cycle: effects of pentobarbital. Endocrinology 88, 653–663 (1971a).
Daane, T. A., Parlow, A. F.: Serum FSH and LH in constant light-induced persistent estrus: short-term and long-term studies. Endocrinology 88, 964–968 (1971b).
De Virgiliis, G., Meldolesi, J., Clementi, F.: Ultrastructure of growth hormone-producing cells of rat pituitary after injection of hypothalamic extract. Endocrinology 83, 1278–1284 (1968).
Dupon, C., Schwartz, N. B.: Pituitary LH patterns in prepuberal normal and testosterone-sterilized rats. Neuroendocrinology 7, 236–248 (1971).
Farquhar, M. G.: Origin and fate of secretory granules in cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 23, 346–351 (1961).
Hagino, N., Wagner, J. W., Gorski, R. A.: Ovulation induced by hypothalamic lesioning in the rat. Anat. Rec. 148, 228 abst. (1964).
Kurosumi, K.: Functional classification of cell types of the anterior pituitary gland accomplished by electron microscopy. Arch. histol. jap. 29, 329–362 (1968).
Kurosumi, K., Kobayashi, Y.: Corticotrophs in the anterior pituitary glands of normal and adrenalectomized rats as revealed by electron microscopy. Endocrinology 78, 748–758 (1966).
Kurosumi, K., Oota, Y.: Electron microscopy of two types of gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary glands of persistent estrous and diestrous rat. Z. Zellforsch. 85, 34–46 (1968).
McCann, S. M., Porter, S. C.: Hypothalamic pituitary stimulating and inhibiting hormones. Physiol. Rev. 49, 240–284 (1969).
Nakane, P. K.: Classification of anterior pituitary cell types with immunoenzyme histochemistry. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 9–20 (1970).
Niswender, G. D., Midgley, Jr., A. R., Monroe, S. E., Reichert, Jr., L. E.: Radioimmunoassay for rat luteinizing hormone with antiovine LH serum and ovine LH-131I. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 128, 807–811 (1968).
Parlow, A. F., Daane, T. A., Schally, A. V.: Quantitative, differential measurements of rat serum FSH, LH and hypothalamic FSH-RH and LH-RH with specific radioimmunoassays. Program of the 51st Meeting of the Amer. Endocrine Soc. 1969, p. 83 (Abstract).
Pelletier, G., Peillon, F., Vila-Porcile, E.: An ultrastructural study of sites of granule extrusion in the anterior pituitary of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 115, 501–507 (1971).
Rennels, E. G.: Effects of scalding on the fine structure of the rat pituitary gland. Abstracts of Fifth Pan American Congr. of Endocrinology 213–214 (1961).
Rennels, E. G., Bogdanove, E. M., Arimura, A., Saito, M., Schally, A. V.: Ultrastructural observations of rat pituitary gonadotrophs following injection of purified porcine LH-RH. Endocrinology 88, 1318–1326 (1971).
Rennels, E. G., Shiino, M.: Ultrastructural manifestations of pituitary release of ACTH in the rat. Arch. Anat. (Strasbourg) 51, 575–590 (1968).
Salazar, H., Peterson, R. R.: Morphologic observations concerning the release and transport of secretory products in the adenohypophysis. Amer. J. Anat. 115, 199–216 (1964).
Sano, M.: Further studies on the theta cell of the mouse anterior pituitary as revealed by electron microscopy, with special reference to the mode of secretion. J. Cell Biol. 15, 85–97 (1962).
Schally, A. V., Arimura, A., Baba, Y., Nair, R. M. G., Matsuo, H., Redding, T. W., Debeljuk, L., White, W. F.: Isolation and properties of the FSH and LH-releasing hormone. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 43, 393–399 (1971a).
Schally, A. V., Arimura, A., Kastin, A. J., Matsuo, H., Baba, Y., Redding, T. W., Nair, R. M. G., Debeljuk, J., White, W. F.: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: one polypeptide regulates secretion of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. Science 173, 1036–1038 (1971b).
Schally, A. V., Nair, R. M. G., Redding, T. W., Arimura, A.: Isolation of the LH and FSH releasing hormone from pig hypothalami. J. biol. Chem. (1971c) (in press, Dec. 1971).
Shiino, M., Williams, M. G., Rennels, E. G.: Ultrastructural observation of pituitary release of prolactin in the rat by suckling stimulus. Endocrinology 90, 176–187 (1972).
Spurr, A. R.: A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969).
Takewaki, K., Takasugi, N.: Intrasplenische Transplantation von Ovarien auf die weiblichen Ratten, denen von Geburt an Oestrogen, Androgen, Progesteron, Desoxycorticosteronacetate order cholesterin injiziert wurden. Annot. Zool. Japon. 26, 91–98, 1953.
Tixier-Vidal, A., Kerdelhué, B., Bérault, A., Picart, R., Jutisz, M.: Action in vitro du facteur hypothalamique de libération de lutéinisante (LRF) sur l'antéhypophyse d'angnelle. II. Etude ultrastructurale des tissus incubés. Gen. comp. Endocr. 17, 33–59 (1971).
Tixier-Vidal, A., Picart, R.: Etude quantitative par radioautographie au microscope electronique de l'utilisation de la DL-leucine-3H par les cellules de l'hypophyse du canard en culture organotypique. J. Cell Biol. 35, 501–819 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The study was supported by USPHS Grants AM 12583, AM 09094 and AM 07467.
The authors acknowledge the able assistance of Mrs. Martha Castilleja in San Antonio and of Meredith M. Nickel in New Orleans.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shiino, M., Arimura, A., Schally, A.V. et al. Ultrastructural observations of granule extrusion from rat anterior pituitary cells after injection of LH-releasing hormone. Z.Zellforsch 128, 152–161 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306895
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306895