Summary
The presence of renin, angiotensin I-converting enzyme and angiotensin II detected by immunocytochemistry in the adult male rat anterior pituitary has suggested the existence of a pituitary renin-angiotensin system. To establish another mammalian experimental model we have investigated the presence of renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin I-converting enzyme, and angiotensin II in five normal lamb anterior pituitaries by immunocytochemistry after cryoultramicrotomy. Renin, angiotensinogen and angiotensin II immunoreactivities were observed only in cytoplasmic granules of lactotrophs, and the three proteins were found co-localized with prolactin in the same granules by double immunolabelling. No immunoreactive angiotensin I-converting enzyme was observed. These results suggest an activation of renin in the cytoplasmic granules of lactotrophs leading to a local synthesis of angiotensin II. Thus, the lamb anterior pituitary may provide a good experimental model for investigating the possible autocrine action of a local renin-angiotensin system on prolactin release in the human pituitary.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alhenc-Gelas R, Weare JA, Johnson RL, Erdos EG (1983) Measurement of human converting enzyme level by direct radioimmunoassay. J Lab Clin Med 101:83–96
Boonstra J, Van Maurik P, Defize LHK, de Laat SW, Leunissen JLM, Verkley AJ (1985) Visualization of epidermal growth factor receptor in cryosection of cultured A 431 cells by immunogold labeling. Eur J Cell Biol 36:209–216
Camilleri JP, Phat VN, Bariety J, Corvol P, Menard J (1980) Use of a specific antiserum for renin detection in human kidney. J Histochem Cytochem 28:1343–1346
Chabot JG, Gray DA, Dubois PM, Morel G (1989) Presence of angiotensin II in the adult male rat anterior pituitary gland: immunocytochemical study after cryoultramicrotomy. Exp Cell Res 180:189–197
Deschepper CF, Bouhnik J, Cumin F, Ganong WF (1985) Immunocytochemical localization of the components of the renin angiotensin system in the pituitary gland of the male rat. Fed Proc 44:1358 (abstract)
Deschepper CF, Crumrine DA, Ganong WF (1986) Evidence that the gonadotrophs are the likely site of production of angiotensin II in the anterior pituitary of the rat. Endocrinology 119:36–43
Deschepper CF, Ganong WF (1988) Renin and angiotensin in endocrine glands in frontiers. In: Martini L, Ganong WF (eds) Neuroendocrinology, vol 10. Raven Press, New-York, pp 79–98
Griffiths G, Simons K, Warren G, Tokuyasu KT (1983) Immunoelectron microscopy using thin, frozen sections application to studies of the intracellular transport of semliki forest virus spike glycoproteins. In: Fleischer S, Fleischer B (eds) Methods in enzymol, vol 96. Academic Press, New York, pp 466–485
Genain C, Bouhnik J, Tewsbury D, Corvol P, Menard J (1984) Characterization of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid human angiotensinogen and des-angiotensin-I angiotensinogen by direct radioimmunoassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 59:478–484
Malarkey WB, Zvara BJ, De Groff VL (1987) Angiotensin II promotes prolactin release from normal human anterior pituitary cell cultures in a calcium-dependant manner. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 64:713–717
Hemming FJ, Mesguich P, Morel G, Dubois PM (1983) Cryoultramicrotomy versus plastic embedding: comparative immunocytochemistry of rat anterior pituitary cells. J Microsc 131:25–34
Mukai M, Torikata C, Hirose S, Murakami K, Kageyama K (1984) Biochemical and immunohistochemical localization of renin in human pituitary. Lab Invest 51:425–428
Mukherjee A, Kulkarni P, McCann SM, Negro-Vilar A (1982) Evidence for the presence and characterization of angiotensin II receptors in rat anterior pituitary membranes. Endocrinology 110:665–667
Picard C, Ronco P, Moullier P, Yao J, Baudoin B, Geniteau Legendre M, Verroust P (1986) Epitope diversity of angiotensin II analysed with monoclonal antibodies. Immunology 57:19–24
Saint-André JP, Rohmer V, Alhenc-Gelas F, Menard J, Bigorgne JC, Corvol P (1986) Presence of renin, angiotensinogen and converting enzyme in human pituitary lactotroph cells and prolactin adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 63:231–237
Saint-André JP, Rohmer V, Pinet F, Rousselet MC, Bigorgne JC, Corvol P (1989) Renin and cathepsin B in human pituitary lactotroph cells. An ultrastructural study. Histochemistry 91:291–297
Tokuyasu KT (1973) A technique for ultracryotomy of cell suspensions and tissues. J Cell Biol 57:551–565
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kettani, S., Beldent, V., Rousselet, M.C. et al. Presence of renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin II in the lamb anterior pituitary gland: immunocytochemical study after cryoultramicrotomy. Histochemistry 95, 561–566 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266742
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266742