Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies of the viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus) pituitary pars tuberalis

Abstract

The hypophyseal pars tuberalis (PT) has been the focus of numerous studies attempting to understand its physiological role in the reproductive regulation and modulation by the neuroendocrine system. Ultrastructural studies of the PT in a number of species have shown that it consists of a well-developed hypophyseal area with important secretory activity, demonstrated by the abundance of secretory granules in the cytoplasm and the marked blood irrigation. This article describes ultrastructural and immunocytochemical aspects of the PT in viscachas captured in their habitat. The cell types identified were PT-specific cells, agranulated cells, and Folliculostellate cells. PT-specific cells are divided into type I and II. Type I cells have cytoplasms with secretory granules of 150-500 nm diameter. The secretory granules of type II PT-specific cells are 65-200 nm in diameter. Both cellular types exhibit numerous nerve endings on the plasmatic membranes. Agranulated cells exhibit nuclei with lax chromatin, mitochondria, phagosomes, scarce Golgi complex, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Folliculostellate cells exhibit an irregularly shaped and moderately condensed nucleus. All the described cellular types exhibit deposits of cytoplasmic glycogen. The immunocytochemical study revealed the presence of cells immunostained for LH-␤ and FSH-␤ in the PT caudal zone. ACTH was only detected in the zona tuberalis. No staining was observed with antiprolactin, anti-TSH-␤, and anti-GH sera. Folliculostellate cells exhibited staining with anti-S-100. The results demonstrate that the viscacha PT is a hypophyseal zone with specific cellular types, which exhibits evident secretory activity. The presence of nerve endings suggests neural control of the function of PT cells.

Effect of the Photoperiod and Administration of Melatonin on the Pars Tuberalis of Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): An Ultrastructural Study

“…Studies on different species have shown that the PT is a well‐developed pituitary area with an important secretory activity, made evident by the presence of secretory granules and abundant irrigation (Oota and Kurosomi,1966; Dellmann et al,1974; Fitzgerald,1979; Perez Romera et al,2005).…”

“…The PT of viscacha has two types of PT‐specific cells: Type I and Type II. These cells do not react with antibodies directed against the PD hormones (Perez Romera et al,2005). Both cell types showed ultrastructural differences in relation to the photoperiod length.…”

“…All the described cellular types exhibit deposits of cytoplasmic glycogen. Numerous nerve endings in contact with the plasma membrane are observed in the secretory cells (Perez Romera et al,2005).…”

“…In our laboratory, previous studies have been conducted to determine the structural and ultrastructural characteristics of pituitary PD (Mohamed et al,1995;2000), pars intermedia (Scardapane,1990) and PT of the viscacha (Perez Romera et al,2005). However, studies on the influence of the photoperiod and melatonin administration on the PT have not been carried out in this species.…”