title: Ultrastructure and morphometry of ACTH-producing cell in the rat anterior pituitary gland stimulated by lysin-vasopressin and prostaglandin E1.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the qualitative and quantitative changes of ACTH-cells in the rat after application of a specific and a non-specific stimulus. A CRF-analog (lysin-vasopressin) and a prostaglandin (prostaglandin E1) were used. 40 rats were injected lysin-vasopressin or prostaglandin E1, respectively, for 4 weeks. The pituitary glands were investigated by means of light microscopy, electron microscopy and morphometry. Activation of the ACTH-cells could be observed after use of both substances, the effect of lysin-vasopressin being more intense than that of prostaglandin E1. Enlargement of the nucleus, the cytoplasm and the organelles involved in hormone-production and -transport were found and verified by morphometry. Additionally an increase in number of the cells could be demonstrated. Prostaglandin influenced not only ACTH-cells, but also other cells of the anterior pituitary.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D008236:Lypressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D011458:Prostaglandins E; D014667:Vasopressins; D008236:Lypressin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone