| Folliculo-stellate cells and intercellular communication within the rat anterior pituitary gland. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 9361265 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Folliculo-stellate (FS) cell are agranular and arranged around a follicle. They contain the S-100 protein and beta-adrenergic receptors. It has been suggested that they can act as stem cells, since they show mitotic figures, and could transform into granular or chromophilic cells according to the concept of a "cell renewal system." Cell-to-cell interactions among pituitary cells have been described, and recent progress with freeze-fracture electron microscopy has provided novel observations of the cell surface and gap junctions within the rat or teleost fish pituitary gland, or in cultured rat pituitary cells. In adult rats, the anterior pituitary was composed of lobules incompletely separated by a basement membrane. Follicles consisted exclusively of FS cells. Gap junctions were observed only between adjacent FS cells, in rare cases on the tips of their cytoplasmic processes. Thus, the FS cells, connected by gap junctions, made up a dense cellular network throughout the pituitary. Gap and tight junctions were absent on granular cells. Elongated follicles with columnar FS cells were observed in 10-day-old rats and were separated into smaller units. The number of gap junctions rapidly increased with age until 40-45 days of age. Few S-100 protein positive cells were observed on day 10, along the marginal cell layer and near the so-called postero-lateral wing. The frequency of positive cells increased with age and by day 40; numerous cells were observed throughout the anterior lobe. Gap junction number also varied with the stage of the estrous cycle, and frequency; during diestrus, they were half of that during proestrus or estrus. The number of gap junctions increased in late pregnancy and in lactating rats, probably due to changes in estrogen and progesterone. Hormone (LH-RH and testosterone) treated groups of rats showed accelerated development by almost 10 days, compared with controls. In castrated male rats, the ultrastructure of the pituitary remained immature even at 40 days of age, when the number of gap junctions was a quarter or less than the number in intact rats. Testosterone treatment restored the frequency of gap junctions to a normal level. We conclude that the appearance of gap junctions in the pituitary cells and maturation of the gland are dependent to a large degree upon gonadal steroids. |
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Authors:
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T Soji; Y Mabuchi; C Kurono; D C Herbert |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Microscopy research and technique Volume: 39 ISSN: 1059-910X ISO Abbreviation: Microsc. Res. Tech. Publication Date: 1997 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1997-12-17 Completed Date: 1997-12-17 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9203012 Medline TA: Microsc Res Tech Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 138-49 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Anatomy, Nagoya City University Medical School, Aichi, Japan. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Cell Communication Cells, Cultured Estrus Female Gap Junctions / metabolism, ultrastructure Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism Lactation Male Pituitary Gland, Anterior / cytology*, metabolism, ultrastructure* Pregnancy Rats Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / metabolism S100 Proteins / metabolism Testosterone / metabolism |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; 0/S100 Proteins; 33515-09-2/Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; 58-22-0/Testosterone |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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