title: Effect of the photoperiod and administration of melatonin on the pars tuberalis of viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): an ultrastructural study.
abstract: The pituitary pars tuberalis (PT) is a glandular zone exhibiting well-defined structural characteristics. Morphologically, it is formed by specific secretory cells, folliculostellate cells, and migratory cells coming from the pars distalis. The purpose of this work was to investigate differences in specific cellular characteristics in the PT of viscachas captured in summer (long photoperiod) and winter (short photoperiod), as well as the effects of chronic melatonin administration in viscachas captured in summer and kept under long photoperiod. In summer, the PT-specific cells exhibited cell-like characteristics with an important secretory activity and a moderate amount of glycogen. In winter, the PT-specific granulated cells showed ultrastructural variations with signs of a reduced synthesis activity. Also, PT showed a high amount of glycogen and a great number of cells in degeneration. After melatonin administration, the ultrastructural characteristics were similar to those observed in winter, but the amount of glycogen was higher. These results suggest possible functional implications as a result of morphological differences between long and short photoperiods, and are in agreement with the variations of the pituitary-gonadal axis, probably in response to the natural photoperiod changes through the pineal melatonin. The ultrastructural differences observed in PT, after melatonin administration, were similar to those observed in the short photoperiod, thus supporting the hypothesis that these cytological changes are induced by melatonin.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Anatomía Humana, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina. eperezro@unsl.edu.ar
authors.forename: Edith Perez
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Romera
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fogal
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piezzi
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scardapane
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005843:Geography; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017440:Photoperiod; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D006003:Glycogen; D008550:Melatonin