Isolation, culture and cell-type identification of adult human pituitary cells.
Pituitary cells were isolated from adult human pituitary glands obtained at autopsy 4-12 h postmortem by enzyme treatment (collagenase and dispase) and by Percoll density gradients. Cells thus isolated were maintained in culture for more than 6 months. By immunoperoxidase staining methods using rabbit sera monospecific against various pituitary hormones, a large number of cultured cells reacted positively. The hormones identified in these cells were growth hormone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and thyrotropin. Electron-microscopic examination of cultured cells revealed the presence of secretory granules in cytoplasm characteristic of in vivo human pituitary cells.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors