Summary
Pituitary glands were examined using reference staining (hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and alcian blue) and the peroxidase-labeled antibody method, for 1) “invading” anterior cells in the posterior lobe, 2) intermediate colloid forming follicles, and 3) pars tuberalis cells.
The results showed: 1) that the majority of cases possessed “invading” anterior cells of various amount. Most of these cells were positive for ACTH1–18, ACTH17–39 and β-MSH. However, on a few occasions, scattered GH, PRL, FSHα, FSHβ, LHβ and even TSHβ cells were also present. 2) Colloid forming follicular cells were mostly ACTH cells, but also contained occasional other hormone-secreting cells. Hormone negative cells were correlated with salivary type epithelium. Well established acinic type salivary glands and ciliated epithelium were negative for any hormones immunohistochemically. 3) Pars tuberalis cells were predominantly gonadotrophs but also included TSHβ and ACTH cells. Some cells appeared to contain both FSHβ and LHβ. When these cells underwent squamous metaplasia, they seemed to lose their hormone secreting activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, B.L.: Cellular composition of the human pituitary pars tuberalis as revealed by immunohistochemistry. Cell Tiss. Res. 182, 151–163 (1977)
Lewis, D., Lee, F.C.: On the glandular elements in the posterior lobe of the human hypophysis. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp 41, 241–277 (1927)
Locke, W., Schally, A.B.: The hypothalamus and pituitary in health and disease, pp. 3–65. Springfield, Illinois, USA: Charles C. Thomas 1972
Nakane, P.K.: Classification of anterior pituitary cell types with immunoenzyme histochemistry. J. Histochem. Cytochem 18, 9–20 (1970)
Nakane, P.K.: Recent progress in the peroxidase-labeled antibody method. Ann. NY. Acad. Sci. 254, 203–211 (1975)
Osamura, R.Y.: Functional prenatal development of anencephalic and normal anterior pituitary glands —In human and experimental animals studied by peroxidase-labeled antibody method. Acta Pathol. Jpn. 27, 495–509 (1977)
Osamura, R.Y., Watanabe, K.: Peroxidase-labeled antibody method. Principles and its applications to endocrinology. Clin. Endocrinol. 24, 1074–1087 (1976)
Osamura, R.Y., Watanabe, K.: Functional differentiation of the posterior limb of Rathke's pouch in human fetal pituitary glands studied by peroxidase-labeled antibody method. Acta Histochem. Cytochem. 10, 471–477 (1977)
Phifer, R.F., Spicer, S.S., Orth, D.N.: Specific demonstration of the human hypophyseal cells which produce adrenocorticotropic hormone. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab 31, 347–361 (1970)
Phifer, R.F., Orth, D.N., Spicer, S.A.: Specific demonstration of the human hypophyseal adrenocorticomelanotropic (ACTH/MSH) cells. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab 39, 684–692 (1974)
Rasmussen, A.T.: Ciliated epithelium and mucus secreting cells in the human hypophysis. Anat. Rec. 41, 273–282 (1929)
Rasmussen, A.T.: The incidence of tubular glands and concretions in the adult human hypophysis cerebri. Anat. Rec. 55, 139–149 (1933)
Schochet, S.S., McCormick, W.F., Halmi, N.S.: Salivary glands rests in the human pituitary. Arch. Pathol. 98, 193–200 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Part of this study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Osamura, R.Y., Watanabe, K. An immunohistochemical study of epithelial cells in the posterior lobe and pars tuberalis of the human adult pituitary gland. Cell Tissue Res. 194, 513–524 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236170
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236170