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Le réseau des cellules folliculo-stellaires et les follicules de l'adénohypophyse du rat (Pars distalis)

The network of the folliculo-stellate cells and the follicles of the adenohypophysis in the rat (pars distalis)

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Summary

Electron microscopic investigation of the rat anterior pituitary reveals, throughout the whole pars distalis, a cellular network composed of agranular cells. These cells, the stellate and folliculo-stellate cells, are satellites of the granulated secretory cells.

The cells of the network are characterized both by their multiple cytoplasmic processes and by their organization around cavities, most of them submicroscopic, the “follicles”. Those cells probably represent a large part of the “chromophobe” cells previously observed by light microscopy.

On account of several characters, the pituitary cleft seems to be related to the “réseau folliculo-stellaire” and could be a peculiar part of this system because of its localization, size and contents.

The “réseau folliculo-stellaire” is present in numerous species, showing a typical and differentiated cytology, and close relationships with the interstitial medium. Owing to its morphology and to modifications according to age and experimental conditions, this network seems to be a system intimately involved in the glandular function.

Résumé

Dans l'hypophyse du rat, la microscopie électronique permet de mettre en évidence à l'intérieur de tous les cordons épithéliaux de la pars distalis un réseau de cellules agranulaires: les cellules stellaires et folliculo-stellaires, satellites des cellules granuleuses hormonogènes. Les cellules de ce réseau se caractérisent à la fois par la multiplicité de leurs prolongements et par leur organisation autour de cavités pour la plupart submicroscopiques, «les follicules». Les cellules folliculo-stellaires correspondent à une partie des cellules chromophobes de la microscopie photonique.

La fente hypophysaire, par de nombreux caractères, semble faire partie de ce système folliculo-stellaire, dont elle pourrait représenter une région privilégiée par sa situation, ses dimensions et son contenu.

L'existence des cellules folliculo-stellaires dans un grand nombre d'espèces, leurs caractères cytologiques hautement différenciés, leurs relations étroites avec le milieu intérieur interstitiel et leurs modifications en fonction de l'âge et des conditions expérimentales permettent de penser qu'elles sont étroitement attachées à la fonction glandulaire.

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  1. Laboratoire d'Histologie et Embryologie (ERA 42, CNRS) Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

    Evelyne Vila-Porcile

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Je remercie Mr. le Professeur J. Racadot et toute l'équipe du Laboratoire pour l'aide apportée: Mme O. Racadot (clichés), Mme G. Porcile (tirages, manuscrit), Mlle B. Marie (technique), Mme A. Combrier (manuscrit). Ce travail a été effectué sous la direction de Mr. le Professeur L. Olivier que je remercie vivement pour ses conseils et pour son aide lors de la rédaction du manuscrit.

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Vila-Porcile, E. Le réseau des cellules folliculo-stellaires et les follicules de l'adénohypophyse du rat (Pars distalis). Z. Zellforsch 129, 328–369 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307293

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