title: Immunocytochemical localization and ultrastructural study of gonadotroph cells in the female desert lizard Uromastyx acanthinura.
abstract: The pars distalis from the pituitary gland of adult female desert lizards (Uromastyx acanthinura), captured during vitellogenesis (late may) and hivernal period, was studied with immunocytochemical methods using specific antisera against human FSH (hFSH) and LH (hLH). The immunostaining with anti-hLH and anti-hFSH allowed the identification of only FSH-like containing cells. The FSH-like immunoreactive cells were affected differently by a physiological stage and showed some heterogenous cytological characteristics. During vitellogenesis, four aspects of rostral FSH-like immunoreactive cells could be recognized. The expression of FSH-like in mainly immunoreactive cells was parallel to an intense synthetic activity and to the presence of ultrastructural features indicating an intense release of the hormone. This release was considerably altered in winter, the immunoreactive cells stored an important amount of secretion granules which increased in size and undergo a crinophagic process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Recherche des Zones Arides de la Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, BP 32 El-Alia, DZ-16111 Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammouche
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gernigon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Exbrayat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D003889:Desert Climate; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D052681:Gonadotrophs / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014818:Vitellogenesis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone