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

ZAMBRANO, D; CUERDO ROCHA, S.; BERGMANN, I.E.

CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH

Año: 1974 vol. 150 p. 179 - 192

0302-766X

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 e4xocytosis, 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.