The adenohypophysis of the flounder, Pleuronectes flesus, and the minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus

Abstract

The pituitary gland of the flounder, Pleuronectes flesus, showed several unusual cytological features. Between the RPD and the PPD was a zone of cells that stained purple with Alcian blue--PAS--orange G. Many of these cells were apparently degenerating. In the PPD the strands and coils of presumptive STH cells showed a tremendous variation in both size and staining properties. In the PI there were two cell types, the PAS-positive one bordering the neurohypophysis. Around the periphery of the PI was a zone of chromophobic cells, and throughout the PI were numerous intracellular and extracellular acidophil spheres. No well defined ACTH cells were found in the RPD of the minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). The Alcian blue--PAS--orange G technique distinguishes between blue TSH cells and purple GTH cells in the RPD and PPD. GTH cells from animals collected in the winter were vacuolated. The PI contained two cell types whose staining reactions and ultrastructure were extremely variable. Intra- and extra-cellular acidophil spheres were present.

Glycoprotein gonadotropin in the plasma and its cellular origin in the adenohypophysis of sham-operated and ovariectomized rainbow trout, salmo gairdneri

“…(unpublished results). This location and the small size of the granules measuring approximately 160 nm are common characteristics of TSH-cells (Nagahama 1973(Nagahama , 1977Bern et al 1974;Benjamin 1975). This does, of course, not implicate that all category 3-cells belong to the TSH-cell type.…”