Summary
The response of somatotrophs to large doses of purified bovine growth hormone was examined in uninephrectomized rats drinking 1% sodium chloride in an attempt to prolong the action of the hormone. Growth hormone produced a triphasic response in the ultrastructure of somatotrophs. Uninephrectomy and salt alone induced no changes in somatotrophs as compared to unoperated animals consuming tap water. In the first phase (3 days) the cross sectional area of the cell increased, the size of the largest granule per cell as well as the number of granules per cell increased significantly. All these parameters then reached control level after 7 days of injections during a second phase. Suppression of somatotrophs by exogenous growth hormone was evident by 16 days (third phase) when the area of the cell, the size of the largest secretory granule as well as the number of granules per cell all decreased significantly. Somatotrophs apparently did not react to suppression by a lysosomal mechanism inasmuch as no increase in the number of lysosome-derived structures was seen even at 16 days.
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Supported by research grant HL 06975 from the National Heart and Lung Institute. Dr. Nakayama is the recipient of a Bertha P. and Henry C. Buswell fellowship. The authors are grateful to Mrs. Neonile Fylipiw, Mrs. Elisabeth Lawson, Mr. Luther Joseph, Mrs. Geneva Joseph and Mr. Robert Linsmair for skilled technical assistance.
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Nakayama, I., Nickerson, P.A. Suppression of somatotrophs in growth hormone injected rats. Z.Zellforsch 140, 309–314 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307020