title: Identification of lactotropes (PRL cells), somatotropes (GH cells), corticotropes (ACTH cells) and thyrotropes (TSH cells) in the pituitary gland of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus L. (Insectivora), by immunohistochemistry.
abstract: By means of immunohistochemistry, lactotropes, somatotropes, corticotropes and thyrotropes in the pituitary of the male musk shrew, Suncus murinus L., were identified at the electron-microscopic level. Lactotropes were classified into three types: type I containing large (200-450 nm in diameter) round secretory granules, type II with medium-sized (150-250 nm in diameter) ones and type III with small (50-150 nm in diameter) ones. Somatotropes were also classified into type I somatotropes that contain large (450 nm in diameter) spherical secretory granules and type II somatotropes containing comparatively small (300 nm in diameter) round granules. Both type I and II somatotropes were small and sometimes contained rod-shaped granules. Corticotropes were round or oval cells with round secretory granules in various densities and sizes (150-500 nm in diameter) scattered all over the cytoplasm. Thyrotropes were angular or polyhedral cells containing electron-transparent round secretory granules (200-300 nm in diameter) and large irregularly shaped granules with a maximum diameter of about 1,500 nm. Each type of the cells may be distinguished by its respective ultrastructural characteristics alone without the aid of immunohistochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muto
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000737:chemistry*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000737:chemistry; D012788:Shrews; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone