Ultrastructure of pituitary folliculo-stellate cells of lactating rat during treatment with 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine.
Folliculo-stellate cells of adenohypophysis were studied by transmission electron microscopy in lactating rats during treatment with the dopaminergic agonist 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine. Folliculo-stellate cells showed marked activation in control lactating rats, were unaffected by a single injection of the drug (3 mg/kg), regressed to the morphology of those found in non-lactating animals upon 6 days of drug treatment (1 mg/kg/die) both in presence and in absence of the suckling stimulus. However, morphometric analysis showed a proportion of folliculo-stellate cells in the gland which was similar in the four experimental groups (range: 11.3-13.5%), despite the increasing reduction of prolactin cells (55, 44, 32, 30%). In chronically treated animals to which suckling had been denied, extruding and degenerating prolactin cells were found, as well as extracellular material in non follicular spaces; the latter were lined by both folliculo-stellate and endocrine cells. These data suggest a dual reactivity of folliculo-stellate cells in the adenohypophysis according to the functional status of the gland.
Sbarbati
A
A
Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Verona, Italy.
Zancanaro
C
C
Barbatelli
G
G
Cinti
S
S
Osculati
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin