Immunocytochemistry of a private luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone system in the pituitary

• Published in: Cell and tissue research Vol. 235; no. 2; pp. 263 - 266
• Main Authors: YUAN LI, J, KNAPP, J, STERNBERGER, L. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-01-1984
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Antibody Complex; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analysis; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis; Immune Sera; Immunoenzyme Techniques; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Morphology. Functional localizations; Pituitary Gland - cytology; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rat; Immunocytochemistry; Rodentia; Peptide hormone; Pituitary gland; Luteinizing hormon-releasing hormon
• ISSN: 0302-766X; 1432-0878
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00217849

Immunocytochemistry of paraffin sections of Bouin-fixed rat pituitaries with antiserum to luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) revealed two types of cells. Type I cells exhibit granular staining throughout their cytoplasm. The immunoreactivity of type II cells is confined to a much smaller area of the cytoplasm. Type I cells are located in the ventral margin of the pars intermedia, the region between the pars intermedia and the pars distalis, and the pars distalis adjacent to this region. Type II cells have a broader distribution in the pars distalis, but tend to concentrate in the region of the pars distalis near the pars intermedia. Type I cells are distinct from gonadotropes. Type II cells appear to comprise a subgroup of gonadotropes. Staining in type I, but not type II, cells in pituitary explants, maintained in serum-free media for seven days, is as intense as that in normal pituitary tissue. The data suggest that the type I cells are producing an intrinsic LHRH-like material and may be responsible, in part, for the regulation of some gonadotropes.