Summary
The three lobes of the pituitary gland of the rat were examined histochemically for specific (AChE) and non-specific (BuChE) cholinesterase at the light and electron microscopic levels. Acetylthiocholine was utilized in conjunction with ethopropazine to demonstrate AChE, and butyrylthiocholine with BW284C51 to demonstrate BuChE. Using the histochemical method of Lewis and Shute, only BuChE was detected in the posterior pituitary by both light and electron microscopy; the enzyme was localized to certain pituicytes, including the endoplasmic and nuclear membranes of these cells and the pituicyte-neurosecretory neuron junctions. Endothelial cells of the posterior pituitary were also BuChE-positive. In the intermediate lobe, AChE was localized to the polygonal glandular cells, whereas BuChE was localized to cells of the interlobular septa and to elongated, densely staining cells which penetrate the lobules. In the anterior lobe, β cells were positive for AChE, whereas follicular cells were positive for BuChE.
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Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.
Medical Research Associate of the MRC of Canada.
The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Maria Prasher.
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Whitaker, S., La Bella, F.S. Electron microscopic histochemistry of cholinesterase in the posterior, intermediate, and anterior lobes of the rat pituitary. Z.Zellforsch 130, 152–170 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306954
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306954