title: The relationship of galanin immunoreactive nerve fibers to glandular cells in the anterior pituitary in the monkey.
abstract: The anterior pituitary is known to be regulated by hypothalamic hormones via the portal system. However, our recent studies have demonstrated the presence of a substantial amount of substance P (SP)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and galanin (GAL)- immunoreactive (ir) nerve fibers with numerous varicosities in the anterior pituitaries of the Macaca mulatta monkey. The present study investigated the relationship of the GAL-ir nerve fibers to the glandular cells. The M. mulatta monkeys were used and sections of the anterior pituitary were double immunostained. GAL-ir nerve fibers and/or varicosities were found in proximity to contact directly with corticotropes, somatotropes, lactotropes, gonadotropes and thyrotropes without any exception. These findings indicate that a direct neural factor may be involved in the regulation of adenohypophyseal secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000032:analysis*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019004:Galanin; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone