ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Pituitary
;
Mouse
;
Pars intermedia
;
Adrenoglomerulotropin
;
Morphometric cytology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Ultrastructural changes in the pars intermedia of the mouse pituitary caused by dietary sodium deprivation were investigated quantitatively. Of the six classes of organelles and inclusions selected for analysis in the pars intermedia cells, only the mitochondria showed no significant changes, while all of the remaining classes showed statistically significant changes. The most conspicuous changes were an abrupt decrease in the number of secretory granules and the appearance of parallel arrays of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The Golgi apparatus also showed hypertrophy accompanied by newly formed granules. The number of vesicles increased temporarily and then decreased. These findings indicate that dietary sodium depletion, a stimulus to greater aldosterone secretion, causes significant changes in the pars intermedia cells within 3 days, and these signs of hyperfunction last up to 5 days. The present study suggests a possible new role of the pars intermedia in the regulation of aldosterone secretion in response to dietary sodium deprivation in the mouse.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00223729
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