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Ultrastruktur der gonadotropen Zellen der Rattenhypophyse nach Gabe antiandrogener Substanzen

Ultrastructure of the gonadotropic cells of the pituitary gland in rat following administration of antiandrogens

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Summary

The gonadotrophic cells of the male rat adenohypophysis were investigated by light and electron microscopy after castration, after administration of the antiandrogen cyproterone, and after treatment with the steroidogenesis inhibitor amino-glutethimide. The numbers of FSH and ICSH gonadotrophs were generally higher in the three test groups than in normal controls and their structures were of the same kind. Examination of the ultrastructure revealed an increase and dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, enlargement of the ring-shaped Golgi complexes, and a moderate decrease in the content of secretory granules. The dilatation of the ergastoplasm resulted in some cases in signet-ring cells corresponding to the castration cells seen by light microscopy. No qualitative differences in pituitary gonadotrophs were found to result from surgical or so-called chemical castration, but there were quantitative differences. The ultrastructural and histological features after castration were more evident. Many degenerating gonadotrophs were present. FSH cells could be differentiated from ICSH cells in nearly all cases.

The findings indicate a substantially increased synthesis of FSH and ICSH as a sign of the excessive hypothalamic stimulation which had been proved by hormonal investigations. Hence we may infer that the gonadotrophin-releasing factors do not only stimulate the gonadotrophs but also produce hyperplasia of these cells.

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  1. Pathologisches Institut der Universität Hamburg, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    W. Saeger

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Mit Unterstützung durch den Sonderforschungsbereich Endokrinologie (SFB 34) der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Für die sorgfältige technische Assistenz sei Frau E. Grabow, Frl. B. Dotzauerund Frl. C. Drescher vielmals gedankt.

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Saeger, W. Ultrastruktur der gonadotropen Zellen der Rattenhypophyse nach Gabe antiandrogener Substanzen. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 363, 47–61 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432204

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