Morphometric evidence of the regulation of the activity of LH-immunoreactive cells by corticosterone. An in vivo and in vitro study.
The present study was performed to investigate the morphometric effects of the administration of corticosterone on LH-immunoreactive cells of pituitary monolayer cultures. In addition, the effect of bilateral adrenalectomy on the LH-adenohypophyseal cells was explored. In vitro administration of corticosterone induced a marked decrease in the morphometric parameters considered (cellular, cytoplasmic and nuclear areas). In vivo, bilateral adrenalectomy produced a significant increase in these parameters when compared to those obtained in normal and sham-operated animals. However, when the bilaterally adrenalectomized rats received a daily dose of corticosterone no significant changes in the morphometric parameters were found. Morphometrically, these combined in vivo-in vitro findings confirm a corticosterone-induced hypoactivity of LH-cells together with a direct effect of this glucocorticoid on LH-adenohypophyseal cells.
Rubio
M
M
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Carretero
J
J
Cabo
J J
JJ
Santos
M
M
Vázquez
R J
RJ
Vázquez
R
R
Sánchez
F
F
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone