title: Immunohistochemistry of the golden hamster pituitary during chronic administration of diethylstilbestrol: a quantitative analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine by immunohistochemistry the morphologic changes affecting pituitary cell populations in male Syrian hamsters undergoing chronic exposure (3 days to 9 months) to diethylstilbestrol (DES). Cell proliferation in the hypophysis was monitored by the immunohistochemical demonstration of S-phase cells after pulse labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine. Cell proliferation analysis was combined with the identification of different cell populations by immunostaining with antisera raised against hypophyseal hormones. Sections processed for double-label immunofluorescence were examined by confocal microscopy. In the adenohypophysis, the relative surface occupied by gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs decreased rapidly during the first months of treatment while corticotroph and somatotroph populations remained unaffected. Accordingly, the incidence of S-phase cells in these four cell populations was lower than or similar to control values. In contrast, lactotrophs increased gradually during the first month of exposure to DES to reach a maximum value at 2-4 months. At the beginning, this increase was primarily due to hyperplasia but later on it also involved cellular hypertrophy. Somatomammotrophs did not seem to be involved in this model. In the pars intermedia, the labeling index of melanotrophs rose rapidly to reach values 5-6 times higher than controls. After 4 months, neoplasms originating from the pars intermedia were seen invading both the neuro- and the adenohypophysis. At the end of treatment, the pituitary was markedly enlarged resulting from the development of an adenoma of the pars intermedia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut, Avenue du Champ de Mars, 6-Pentagone 2A, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberge
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonclercq
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zanen
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Heuson-Stiennon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toubeau
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D006224:Cricetinae; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D006728:Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D006728:Hormones; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine