In vitro morphometric and proliferative variations in VIP-immunoreactive pituitary cells induced by estradiol.
Using double labelling for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a study was conducted to elucidate the repercussions of the addition of estradiol to monolayer pituitary cultures on the morphology, size, number, mitotic index and PCNA labelling index of VIP-immunoreactive cells, comparing the results with those obtained in control cultures. The addition of estradiol (100 nM) over 3 h of incubation led to a significant increase (p < 0.01) in the cellular, cytoplasmic and nuclear areas of VIP-immunoreactive cells and in the number of these cells. The same treatment elicited an even greater increase in the mitotic index (p < 0.01) and PCNA labelling index (p < 0.01) of VIP-immunoreactive cells. The results obtained suggest that estrogens induce proliferation and hyperplasia of in vitro VIP-immunoreactive pituitary cells.
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain.
J
J
Carretero
M
M
Rubio
F
F
Sánchez
R J
RJ
Vázquez
M
M
Santos
J
J
Blanco
R
R
Vázquez
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004958:Estradiol