Effects of experimentally induced chronic hyperprolactinemia on the ultrastructure of pinealocytes in male rats.
The influence on the ultrastructure of pinealocytes of long-term hyperprolactinemia caused by ectopic pituitary transplants and of suppression of prolactin release by bromocriptine was examined morphometrically in male rats. Hyperprolactinemia resulted in an increase in the relative volumes of granular endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles containing a flocculent material, mitochondria, and lipid droplets. Treatment of grafted rats with bromocriptine reversed the effects of hyperprolactinemia. However, bromocriptine had no apparent influence on the pinealocytes of intact rats. The effects of hyperprolactinemia on the ependymallike secretory process in the pinealocyte were especially pronounced.
D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000637:transplantation*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin