Morphometric and ultrastructural analysis of different pituitary cell populations in undernourished monkeys

Abstract

Undernutrition elicited by a low-protein diet determines a marked reduction of hypophyseal activity and affects the function of the respective target organs. The objective of the present investigation was to study the ultrastructural and quantitative immunohistochemical changes of the different pituitary cell populations in undernourished monkeys that had been previously shown to have significant changes in craniofacial growth. Twenty Saimiri sciureus boliviensis monkeys of both sexes were used. The animals were born in captivity and were separated into two groups at one year of age, i.e., control and undernourished animals. The monkeys were fed ad libitum a 20% (control group) and a 10% (experimental group) protein diet for two years. Pituitaries were processed for light and electron microscopy. The former was immunolabeled with anti-GH, -PRL, -LH, -FSH, -ACTH, and -TSH sera. Volume density and cell density were measured using an image analyzer. Quantitative immunohistochemistry revealed a decrease in these parameters with regard to somatotrophs, lactotrophs, gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs from undernourished animals compared to control ones. In these populations, the ultrastructural study showed changes suggesting compensatory hyperfunction. On the contrary, no significant changes were found in the morphometric parameters or the ultrastructure of the corticotroph population. We conclude that in undernourished monkeys the somatotroph, lactotroph, gonadotroph, and thyrotroph cell populations showed quantitative immunohistochemical changes that can be correlated with ultrastructural findings.

The prostate of weaned pups is altered by maternal malnutrition during lactation in rats

“…Some reported studies have shown that food deprivation decreased growth-hormone (GH)-releasing hormone and consequently the GH serum levels, which could easily explain the low weight gain of these animals [1]. We have also shown that pups whose mothers were subjected to protein or energy malnutrition during lactation present an alteration in the leptin serum concentration [2], which could also be related to the low weight gain of the animals.…”

“…It could possibly be a multifactorial disease, affecting several organs and functions, which may not be related to each other. Previous works have shown that malnutrition can affect several systems [1,2].…”

“…Malnutrition is known to have a wide variety of effects on the endocrine system [1,2]. With regard to the reproductive system, it has been shown that food restriction can inhibit both the maintenance and onset of reproductive capability [3], and reduce the androgen receptor protein level in the testis of adult rats [4].…”

Maternal Food Restriction During Lactation Reduces Mandible Growth of the Female Offspring in Adulthood: Experimental and Morphometric Analysis

“…The deficiency in body weight gain seen in malnourished offspring could result from a reduction or absence of growth hormone (GH) because food deprivation reduces the number of GH secretory cells, as shown by immunostaining of hypothalamic sections for GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and quantification of the mRNA levels for GHRH and GH (Brogan et al, 1997;Cónsole et al).…”

“…Undernutrition has a wide variety of effects on the endocrine system (Moura et al, 1996;Cónsole et al, 2001;Teixeira et al, 2002;) that can reduce the body weight (Passos et al, 2000;Teixeira et al, 2002;Santos et al, 2004;Fernandes et al, 2007;Fernandes et al, 2008). Indeed, the use of body weight as a measure of growth has shown that protein malnutrition produces smaller-sized individuals (Pucciarelli, 1981;Cotheran et al, 1985;Cameron & Experimental procedures and diets.…”