Galanin coexists with pituitary hormones in the fetal rat.
Immunocytochemical analysis of endocrine cells of the developing rat pituitary has shown clearly that, starting from E16, the galanin-immunoreactive cells are heterogeneous, the neuropeptide being present in cells containing the majority of pituitary hormones. A proportion of galanin-containing corticotropes, starting from about 17% at E16 reached about 29% at E21, while the galanin-containing lactotrope increase in the same period was from about 13% to 34%. Galanin-containing thyrotropes ranged from about 11% at E16 to about 13% at E21, while the proportion of galanin-containing luteotropes increased consistently from about 17% at E19 to about 27% at E21. Only the trend of galanin-containing somatotropes was inverted, falling from about 26% to 13%. We conclude that the multiple coexistence of galanin with most of the pituitary hormones during fetal development is a further example of plasticity of endocrine pituitary cells, and that galanin may have a role in cytodifferentiation.
Cimini
V
V
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomorfologiche e Funzionali, Cattedra di Istologia, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy. cimini@unina.it
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C030304:lactotropin; D019004:Galanin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone