Human pituitary growth hormone cells in old age.
Pituitaries obtained at autopsy from 18 men and 17 women, over 80 years of age, who died of various acute illness, were investigated histologically by various staining procedures, including the immunoperoxidase technique. Compared with pituitaries of 10 male and 10 female subjects who died of short-lasting diseases between 20 and 56 years of age, no involution of growth hormone cells was found in pituitaries of the older group. Incidence, distribution, granulation and immunoreactivity of growth hormone cells showed no apparent differences related to age and sex. Lack of regression of growth hormone cells with advancing age indicates that the pituitary can produce growth hormone in old subjects.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D013006:Growth Hormone