Summary
The cells that produce luteinizing hormone (LH) in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail were identified immunohistochemically using anti-chicken LH serum and horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin serum. The LH cells are localized in the caudal lobe of the pars distalis. They are elongate in shape and are polarized toward the sinusoids, especially in their active states. Alterations in size of LH cells are directly related to changes in circulating LH levels as induced by castration or photostimulation. The LH cells identified immunohistochemically were only stained by alcian blue with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian blue and orange G.
PAS-positive gonadotropic cells in the cephalic lobe were stained immunohistochemically only slightly if at all using anti-chicken LH serum and consequently may be FSH producing cells. In the cephalic lobe another type of basophilic cell was stained with alcian blue. These cells were also stained immunohistochemically with anti-chicken LH serum. These cells may possibly be identified as TSH cells due to the characteristics of the antichicken LH serum used in this study which cross react with LH and TSH but only slightly with FSH, and also on the basis of previous light and electron microscopic studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avrameas, S.: Coupling of enzymes to proteins with glutaraldehyde. Use of the conjugates for the detection of antigens and antibodies. Immunohistochemistry 6, 43–52 (1969)
Davies, D.T., Follett, B.K.: Changes in plasma luteinizing hormone in the Japanese quail after electric stimulation to the hypothalamus. J. Endocr. 63, 31p-32p (1974)
Follett, B.K., Scanes, C.G., Cunningham, F.J.: A radioimmunoassay for avian luteinizing hormone. J. Endocr. 52, 359–378 (1972)
Herlant, M.: Etude critique de deux techniques nouvelles destinées à mettre en évidence les différentes catégories cellulaires présent dans le gland pituitaire. Bull. Micr. appl. 10, 37–44 (1960)
Mikami, S., Kurosu, T., Farner, D.S.: Light and electron microscopic studies on the secretory cytology of the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. Cell Tiss. Res. 159, 144–166 (1975)
Nakane, P.K.: Simultaneous localization of multiple tissue antigens using the peroxidase-labeled antibody method: A study of pituitary gland of the rat. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 557–560 (1968)
Nakane, P.K.: Classification of anterior pituitary cell types with immunoenzyme histochemistry. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 9–20 (1970)
Nakane, P.K., Pierce, G.B.: Enzyme-labeled antibodies: Preparation and application for the localization of antigens. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 929–931 (1966)
Nakane, P.K., Pierce, G.B.: Enzyme-labeled antibodies for the light and electron microscopic localization of tissue antigens. J. Cell Biol. 33, 307–318 (1967)
Papkoff, H.: Subunit interrelationship among the pituitary glycoprotein hormones. Gen. comp. Endocr., Suppl. 3, 609–616 (1972)
Sharp, P.J., Follett, B.K.: The blood supply to the pituitary and basal hypothalamus in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). J. Anat. (Lond.) 104, 227–232 (1969)
Stetson, M.H.: Hypothalamic regulation of testicular function in Japanese quail. Z. Zellforsch. 130, 389–410 (1972a)
Stetson, M.H.: Hypothalamic regulation of gonadotropin release in female Japanese quail. Z. Zellforsch. 130, 411–428 (1972b)
Tixier-Vidal, A., Follett, B.K.: The adenohypophysis. In: Avian biology (D.S. Farner and J.R. King, eds.), Vol. III, pp. 110–182. New York: Academic Press 1973
Tixier-Vidal, A., Follett, B.K., Farner, D.S.: The anterior pituitary of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. The cytological effect of photoperiodic stimulation. Z. Zellforsch. 92, 610–635 (1968)
Vitums, A., Mikami, S., Oksche, A., Farner, D.S.: Vascularization of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal complex in the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii. Z. Zellforsch. 64, 541–569 (1964)
Wada, M.: Effect of hypothalamic implantation of puromycin on photostimulated testicular growth in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Gen. comp. Endocr. 22, 54–61 (1974)
Wada, M.: Cell types in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail and effect of injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Cell Tiss. Res. 159, 167–178 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We express our gratitude to Professors Hideshi Kobayashi and Katsumi Wakabayashi for their valuable guidance during the experiment. We also express our cordial thanks to Professor B.K. Follett for the gift of anti-chicken LH serum and standard LH. This work was supported in part by Grants from Ministry of Education of Japan and from the Ford Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wada, M., Asai, T. Immunohistochemical localization of LH-producing cells in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica . Cell Tissue Res. 167, 453–460 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215177
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215177