Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructure of rat pituitary gonadotrophs following incubations of the gland with synthetic LH-RH

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The action of luteinizing releasing hormone (LH-RH) on FSH and LH-gonadotrophs from the anterior pituitary glands of normal rats has been studied with electron microscopy. After 15 min. incubation with LH-RH, LH cells showed secretory granules undergoing exocytosis, but FSH did not appear to release secretory products. On the other hand, incubations with the releasing hormone for 3 and 6 hr stimulated exocytosis from both FSH and LH-gonadotrophs. Of more interest was the finding that FSH cells appeared as typical “signet cells” of castration when glands were incubated for 3 and 6 hr with the releasing hormone. The appearance of such “signet cells” was prevented if puromycin was added to the medium together with LH-RH.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arimura, A., Debeljuk, L., Schally, A. V.: Stimulation of FSH release in vivo by prolonged infusion of synthetic LH-RH. Endocrinology 91, 529–532 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, B. G.: Electron microscope studies on the secretory cytology of the mouse anterior pituitary. Endocrinology 71, 618–628 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuerdo-Rocha, S., Zambrano, D.: The action of protein synthesis inhibitors and thyrotrophin releasing factor on the ultrastructure of rat thyrotrophs. J. Ultrastruct. Res. (in press) (1974)

  • Farquhar, M. G., Rinehart, J. F.: Electron microscope studies of the anterior pituitary gland of castrate rats. Endocrinology 54, 515–541 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambetti, P., Gonatas, N. K., Flexner, L. B.: The fine structure of puromycin-induced changes in mouse entorhinal cortex. J. Cell Biol. 36, 329–340 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillemin, R.: The adenohypophysis and its hypothalamic control. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 29, 313–348 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ichikawa, A.: Fine structural changes in response to hormonal stimulation of the perfused canine pancreas. J. Cell Biol. 24, 369–385 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurosumi, K.: Functional classification of cell types of the anterior pituitary gland accomplished by electron microscopy. Arch. Histol. Jap. 29, 329–362 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurosumi, K., Oota, Y.: Electron microscopy of two types of gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary glands of persistent estrus and diestrus rats. Z. Zellforsch. 85, 34–46 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCann, S. M., Porter, J. C.: Hypothalamic pituitary stimulating and inhibiting hormones. Physiol. Rev. 49, 240–284 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mittler, J. C., Meites, J.: Effects of hypothalamic extract and androgen on pituitary FSH release in vitro. Endocrinology 78, 500–504 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palade, G.: Intracisternal granules in the exocrine cells of the pancreas. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, 417–422 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier, G., Peillon, F., Vila-Porcile, E.: An ultrastructural study of sites of granule extrusion in the anterior pituitary of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 115, 501–507 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Piacsek, B. E., Meites, J.: Effects of castration and gonadal hormones on hypothalamic content of luteinizing releasing factor (LBF). Endocrinology 79, 432–439 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Redding, T. W., Schally, A. V.: Preparation of tritiated thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its distribution and excretion in mice and rats. 51st Meet. Endocrine Soc., New York, N.Y., pp. 65 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Redding, T. W., Schally, A. V., Arimura, A., Matsuo, H.: Stimulation of release and synthesis of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in tissue cultures of rat pituitaries in response to natural and synthetic LH and FSH releasing hormone. Endocrinology 90, 764–770 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennels, E. G., Bogdanove, E. M., Arimura, A., Saito, M., Schally, A. V.: Ultrastructural observations of rat pituitary gonadotrophs following injection of purified porcine LH-RH. Endocrinology 88, 1318–1326 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schally, A. V., Arimura, A., Baba, Y., Matsuo, H., Nair, R. M. G., Redding, T. W., Debeljuk, L., White, W. F.: Isolation and properties of the FSH and LH-releasing hormone. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 43, 393–399 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schally, A. V., Baba, V., Redding, T. W.: Studies on the enzymatic and chemical inactivation of hypothalamic follicle stimulating hormone-releasing hormone. Neuroendocrinology 8, 70–80 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schally, A. V., Redding, T. W., Matsuo, H., Arimura, A.: Stimulation of FSH and LH release in vitro by natural and synthetic LH and FSH releasing hormone. Endocrinology 90, 1561–1568 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiino, M., Arimura, A., Schally. A. V., Rennels, E. G.: Ultrastructural observations of granule extrusion from rat anterior pituitary cells after injection of LH-releasing hormone. Z. Zellforsch. 128, 152–161 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tashiro, Y., Morimoto, T., Matsuura, S., Nagata, S.: Studies on the posterior silk gland of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. I. Growth of posterior silk gland cells and biosynthesis of fibroin during the fifth larval instar. J. Cell Biol. 38, 574–588 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura, F., Harumiya, K.: Electron microscopy of the anterior lobe of the pituitary in normal and castrated rats. Endocrin. Jap. 12, 119–121 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zambrano, D.: The nucleus lateralis tuberis system of the gobiid fish Gillichthys mirabilis. III. Functional modifications of the neurons and gonadotropic cells. Gen. comp. Endocr. 17, 164–182 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zambrano, D., De Robertis, E.: Ultrastructural aspects of the inhibition of neurosecretion by puromycin. Z. Zellforsch. 76, 458–470 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Member of the Scientific Career, CONICET, Argentina.

Fellow of the Institute of Pharmacology and Bromatology, Argentina. — The authors gratefully acknowledge the microtechnical assistance of Miss. L. Riboldazzi. This study was aided by a grant from the CONICET to Dr. Zambrano.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zambrano, D., Cuerdo-Rocha, S. & Bergmann, I. Ultrastructure of rat pituitary gonadotrophs following incubations of the gland with synthetic LH-RH. Cell Tissue Res. 150, 179–192 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222169

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222169

Key words

Navigation