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The pituitary of Aphanius dispar (Rüppell) from hypersaline marshes and freshwater

II. Ultrastructure of the rostral pars distalis

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Summary

An ultrastructural study of the rostral pars distalis of the pituitary of Aphanius dispar specimens taken from freshwater or hypersaline marshes revealed significant structural differences which indicate higher activity of the prolactin cells in the hypotonic medium. Prolactin cells from freshwater specimens had larger secretory granules, a higher amount of endoplasmic reticulum, and expanded intercellular spaces with many secretory lakes. These cells contained an unusual cytoplasmic structure, consisting of twisted canals with vesicular lumina, connected to the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell. This structure is about 1–2 μm in diameter.

Stellate cells are characterized by extracellular spacing junctions which are particularly noticeable at the confluence of the interstellate cell canaliculi and the pericapillary space.

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Abbreviations

FW :

freshwater

HS :

hypersaline

NS :

neurosecretory

PCB :

paracrystalline body

PNH :

proximal neurohypophysis

RPD :

rostral pars distalis

SG :

secretory granule

SW :

seawater

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

    Mordechai Abraham, Vered Dinari-Lavie & Ruth Lotan

Authors
  1. Mordechai Abraham
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  2. Vered Dinari-Lavie
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  3. Ruth Lotan
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Additional information

This paper is dedicated with affectionate respect to Professor Berta Scharrer on the occasion of her 70th birthday

The assistance of Cynthia Bellon in editing this paper is gratefully acknowledged

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Abraham, M., Dinari-Lavie, V. & Lotan, R. The pituitary of Aphanius dispar (Rüppell) from hypersaline marshes and freshwater. Cell Tissue Res. 179, 317–330 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221103

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221103

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