title: Hypothalamic-hypophyseal vascular connections in the fetal sheep.
abstract: We have studied the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary vascular connections in the fetal sheep using ink-filling techniques. The presence of ink-filled vessels in components of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is interpreted as indicating patency of the system. Ink-filled vessels were identified in the median eminence, the pituitary stalk and the pituitary gland as early as 45 days of gestation and at all subsequent ages investigated. These results suggest that the pituitary could potentially respond to hypothalamic releasing factors from as early as 45 days of gestation in the fetal sheep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levidiotis
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wintour
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Oldfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology; D007281:Ink; D012756:Sheep