The effect of age on the number of pituitary cells immunoreactive to growth hormone and prolactin.
The results of a combined immunocytochemical, morphometric, and clinicopathologic analysis of growth-hormone-producing and prolactin-producing pituitary cells in 28 subjects ranging in age from 16 to 90 are reported. There was a significant age-related decline in the number and size of growth-hormone-producing cells, which was most marked in the transition from youth to middle age. There was also a significant age-related decline in the number of pituitary parenchymal cells but not in pituitary weight. Prolactin cells did not show a significant decline in number with age.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis*; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology
D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone