title: Immunocytochemical distribution of somatotrophs in porcine anterior pituitary.
abstract: The objective of this immunohistochemical study was to identify the spatial distribution patterns of growth hormone (GH) secreting cells (somatotrophs) in the newborn and prepubertal porcine pituitary. No differences were observed among the total somatotrophs per unit area across the three ages. There were, however, changes in spatial distribution of somatotrophs in porcine pituitary with developmental age. Distinctive characteristics of the pattern included a high population of somatotrophs (44 +/- 1.2; mean +/- standard error of the mean per 30,495 microm(2)) in regions 1 and 5 and a low population (22 +/- 1.4) in regions 2 and 4 at each level (P < 0.05). Somatotrophs increased 55% in region 3 from proximal to distal levels at all ages. With increasing age, however, somatotrophs in region 3 at the proximal level decreased 33%. From these results, we suggest that there may be regional specificity of cellular differentiation and transformation to facilitate GH secretion to meet the need for endocrine regulation as the animal ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Iowa State University, 2356 Kildee Hall, Ames, IA 50011-3150, USA.
authors.forename: Jin-Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jeftinija
authors.forename: Srdija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeftinija
authors.forename: Marvin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stromer
authors.forename: Colin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Scanes
authors.forename: Lloyd L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone