Skip to main content
Log in

Immunocytochemical evidence for the ability of the human pharyngeal hypophysis to respond to change in endocrine feedback

  • Published:
Virchows Archiv A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Two pharyngeal hypophyses from patients with endocrine disorder were examined light microscopically and immunocytochemically. The pharyngeal hypophysis from a patient with primary hypothyroidism was hypertrophic, with TSH cell hyperplasia; while that from a patient treated with metoclopramide, a dopamine-receptor-blocking drug, showed PRL cell hyperplasia. These findings strongly suggest that under certain circumstances the pharyngeal hypophysis is able to respond with specific changes to variations in the endocrine feedback.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aono T, Shioji T, Kinugasa T, Onishi T, Kurachi K (1978). Clinical and endocrinological analyses of patients with galactorrhea and menstrual disorders due to sulpiride or metoclopramide. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 47:675–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Asa SL, Penz G, Kovacs K, Ezrin C (1982). Prolactin cells in the human pituitary. A quantitative immunocytochemical analysis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 106:360–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Childs (Moriarty) G, Unabia G (1982) Application of the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method to the light microscopic localization of pituitary hormones. J Histochem Cytochem 30:713–716

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciocca DR, Puy LA, Stati AO (1985) Identification of seven hormone-producing cell types in the human pharyngeal hypophysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 60: in press

  • Erdheim J (1904) Über Hypophysenganggeschwulste und Hirncholesteatome. Kaiser Akad Wiss, Math Naturwiss 113:537–726

    Google Scholar 

  • Hachmeister U (1967) Die Stellung der Rachendachhypophyse im System Hypothalamus-Adenohypophyse. Endokrinologie 51:145–163

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath P (1969) The extra-sellar post-hypophysectomy remnant. Br J Surg 56:64–67

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath P (1972) The trans-sphenoidal vascular route in relation to the human pharyngeal hypophysis. J Anat 113:383–390

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath P (1978) Aspects of the human pharyngeal hypophysis in normal and anencephalic fetuses and neonates and their possible significance in the mechanism of its control. J Anat 127:65–81

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhie JL, Beck JS (1968) Growth hormone in the normal pharyngeal pituitary gland. Nature 219:625–626

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhie JL, Beck JS (1973) The histological features and human growth hormone content of the pharyngeal pituitary gland in normal and endocrinologically-disturbed patients. Clin Endocrinol 2:157–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Melchionna RH, Moore RA (1938). The pharyngeal pituitary gland. Am J Pathol 14:763–771

    Google Scholar 

  • Romeis B (1940) Die Rachendachhypophyse. In: von Mollendorff W (ed) Handbuch der Mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, vol. 6. Julius Springer, Berlin p 383

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Buren JM, Bergenstal DM (1960) An evaluation of graded hypophysectomy in man. A quantitative functional and anatomical study. Cancer 13:155–171

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) of Argentina

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ciocca, D.R., Puy, L.A. & Stati, A.O. Immunocytochemical evidence for the ability of the human pharyngeal hypophysis to respond to change in endocrine feedback. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 405, 497–502 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00737175

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00737175

Key words

Navigation