title: The developmental expression of neurofilament and glial filament proteins in the human pituitary gland: an immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (MA) specific for neurofilaments (NF) and glial filaments (GF) were used to study the development of the normal human pituitary gland in fetuses, premature infants and adults. A total of 16 serially sectioned pituitary glands was examined. The expression of both NF and GF proteins correlated with maturation of the pituitary gland. Axons, but not cell bodies, were observed to contain immunoreactive NF proteins and these labeled axons were restricted almost exclusively to the pars nervosa. However, in early stages of development, intra-axonal NF proteins were not detectable. Aggregates of NF material in ' blobs ' were also observed in the pars nervosa of adults and a premature infant who survived 6 months following birth. They were never observed in more immature pituitary glands. Cells containing immunoreactive GF proteins were present in all subdivisions of the pituitary gland and they were more common in later stages of development. However, such cells represented only a minority of those present in the pituitary gland and cells in the pars distalis did not express GF protein until after birth. ' Blobs ' comprised of immunoreactive GF proteins were also seen. They were restricted to the pars nervosa and appeared later in development.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins