Intercellular communications within the rat anterior pituitary. XVI: postnatal changes of distribution of S-100 protein positive cells, connexin 43 and LH-RH positive sites in the pars tuberalis of the rat pituitary gland. An immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study.
The architecture of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) nerve ends and the S-100 protein containing folliculo-stellate cells forming gap junctions in the pars tuberalis is basically important in understanding the regulation of the hormone producing mechanism of anterior pituitary glands. In this study, intact male rats 5-60 days old were prepared for immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. From immunostained sections, the S-100 containing cells in pars tuberalis were first detected on day 30 and increased in number to day 60; this was parallel to the immunohistochemical staining of gap junction protein, connexin 43. LH-RH positive sites were clearly observed on just behind the optic chiasm and on the root of pituitary stalk on day 30. On day 60, the width of layer increased, while follicles and gap junctions were frequently observed between agranular cells in 10 or more layers of pars tuberalis. In the present study, we investigated the sexual maturation of the anterior pituitary glands through the postnatal development of S-100 positive cells, connexin 43 and LH-RH nerves. It is suggested that the folliculo-stellate cell system including the LH-RH neurons in the pars tuberalis participates in the control of LH secretion along with the portal vein system.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. Electronic address: i.wada@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
Ikuo
I
Wada
Department of Functional Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Eisuke
E
Sakuma
Department of Anatomy and Structural Science, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Shirasawa
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Kenjiro
K
Wakabayashi
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Takanobu
T
Otsuka
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Kazuki
K
Hattori
Division of Histology and Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
Takashi
T
Yashiro
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
Damon C
DC
Herbert
Department of Functional Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Tsuyoshi
T
Soji
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D018031:Connexin 43; D009418:S100 Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Folliculo-stellate cell; LH-RH; Pars tuberalis; Rat; S-100 protein