Immunohistochemical detection of changes in growth hormone cells in rat pituitaries in protein deficiency.
1. An immunohistochemical method was used to study the effect of a low-protein diet on growth hormone (GH) cells in the pituitaries of developing rats. The deficient diet (80 g protein/kg) was administered during gestation and lactation, or during the time after weaning until 90 d of age, or during both periods. 2. GH-cell changes were much more striking in males than in females. 3. In males, GH-producing cells were usually reduced in size and number in all treatments. The effect was most intense when protein deprivation occurred throughout gestation and sucking, and continued until 90 d of age, but it was also evident in animals given the low-protein diet only after weaning. Recuperation appeared to be almost complete when offspring of deprived dams were fed on a normal diet after weaning. 4. It is concluded that a low-protein diet reduces the amount of GH in the rat pituitary in a way similar to that with a protein-free diet.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000906:Antibodies; D013006:Growth Hormone