Effects of hydrocortisone on the formation of gap junctions and the abnormal growth of cilia within the rat anterior pituitary gland: possible role of gap junctions on the regulation of cell development.
We investigated the effects of hydrocortisone on the formation of gap junctions in and the growth of cilia on folliculo-stellate cells. The male rats of experimental groups were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 5 mg/kg of hydrocortisone from Day 20 to 60. Five rats were killed at ages 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after initiation of injections, and the pituitary gland was removed from each rat. Then, the specimens were prepared for observation by transmission electron microscopy. A delay in the formation of gap junctions between folliculo-stellate cells was observed in hydrocortisone treated rats compared with control rats on Day 30, 40 and 50. Another finding in the present study was the increase of ciliated follicles on Day 40 and 50 in the hydrocortisone treated groups, simultaneous with the delay in gap junction formation. The results suggest that hydrocortisone has a suppressive effect on the gap junction formation between folliculo-stellate cells, and loss of intercellular communication by way of gap junctions may lead to alteration of morphological development of the cell.
Sakuma
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Department of Anatomy, Nagoya City University Medical School, Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi, Japan. esakuma@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Soji
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T
Herbert
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DC
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D006854:Hydrocortisone