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The pars intermedia of the mink, Mustela vison

Fluorescence, light and electron microscopical studies

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Summary

The pars intermedia of intact and experimental female minks has been studied by light, electron and fluorescence microscopy. The general structure of the mink intermediate lobe is described. Two main cell types are recognized. One, termed glandular cell, predominates in number and is characterized by the presence of electron-dense granules about 200 nm in diameter and numerous large vesicles up to 300 nm in diameter. The other, termed stellate cell, is devoid of cytoplasmic vesicles and granules and possesses microfilaments, junctional complexes and elongated processes inserted between the glandular cells. Different treatments (photostimulation and administration of hypertonic saline and metopirone) induced morphological reactions in the glandular cells. The significance of these changes and the possibility of a functional relation between the pars intermedia and ACTH secretion are discussed.

Numerous nerve fibres and axon terminals containing electron-dense granules (60–120 nm) and electron-lucent vesicles (30–40 nm) are observed throughout the pars intermedia.

With the histochemical fluorescence method of Falck-Hillarp a rich system of delicate fluorescent varicose fibres, sometimes provided with irregular swellings or droplets, is observed in the pars intermedia and also in the pars nervosa. Microspectrofluorometrically these fibres exhibit the spectral characteristics of catecholamines. All the cells of the pars intermedia and a large number of cells in the pars distalis show a yellowish weak fluorescence, which becomes much stronger after combined formaldehyde-ozone treatment. This cellular fluorophore shows the same microspectrofluorometric characteristics as does the fluorophores of tryptamine and of certain peptides with NH2-terminal tryptophan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm

    B. Weman & A. Nobin

  2. Department of Histology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

    B. Weman & A. Nobin

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  1. B. Weman
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  2. A. Nobin
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Supported by the Swedish Fur Breeders' Association and the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (grant No. 2124). Thanks are due to Miss W. Carlsson and Miss Y. Lilliemarck for their helpful technical assistance.

Supported by the Harald and Greta Jeanssons Stiftelse and by the Ford Foundation. The skilful technical assistance of Mrs. Eva Svensson and Miss Annika Borgelin is greatfully acknowledged.

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Weman, B., Nobin, A. The pars intermedia of the mink, Mustela vison . Z.Zellforsch 143, 313–327 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307418

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