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Ontogenesis of the α-MSH, β-MSH and ACTH cells in the foetal hypophysis of the rat. Correlation with the growth of the adrenals and adrenocortical activity

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Summary

Pituitary sections from 15 to 21 day-old rat foetuses have been studied with the immunofluorescence technique, using antibodies anti α-MSH, anti β-MSH and anti β (1–24) ACTH. The first ACTH cells appear on day 17 of pregnancy in the pars distalis of the hypophysis and only on day 18 in the pars intermedia. β-MSH cells have been observed on day 16 in the pars anterior and on day 17 in the pars intermedia, while α-MSH cells appear only on day 18 and exclusively in the pars intermedia. The cytodifferentiation of the β-MSH and ACTH cells occurs in the pars intermedia with about a 24 hour delay in comparison to that of the pars distalis. The first revealed cells are always located in the posterior half of the pituitary gland. The corticostimulating activity of the hypophysis has been tested with the fluorescence intensity of the corticotrophs, the adrenal weight, the adrenal content in corticosterone and the plasma corticosterone level. The fluorescence of the corticotrophs increases on day 18, shows a maximum on day 19 and decreases until term. The adrenal weight rises regularly between day 16 to day 20, thereafter the increase subsides. Adrenal and plasma corticosterone concentrations reach a peak on day 19 of pregnancy. These data suggest that hypophyseal corticostimulating activity is very high between days 18 and 19 and decreases between days 19 and 21.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie du Développement, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris et Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, Université d'Amiens, 80039, Amiens, France

    J. P. Dupouy

  2. INRA. Centre de recherches de Tours, Nouzilly, B.P. 1 37380, Monnaie, France

    M. P. Dubois

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  1. J. P. Dupouy
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  2. M. P. Dubois
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Dupouy, J.P., Dubois, M.P. Ontogenesis of the α-MSH, β-MSH and ACTH cells in the foetal hypophysis of the rat. Correlation with the growth of the adrenals and adrenocortical activity. Cell Tissue Res. 161, 373–384 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220005

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220005

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