THE SITE OF FOLLICLE STIMULATING AND LUTEINISING HORMONE PRODUCTION IN THE RAT PITUITARY

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Abstract
In addition to basophils concerned with thyrotropic hormone secretion, the anterior pituitary of the rat contains 2 specific types of basophil cell concerned with gonadotropic hormone secretion. The peripherally situated gonadotrops are distinguished by a coarse cytoplasmic granulation due to glycoprotein with a high sugar content. They are considered to be responsible for the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone. The centrally situated gonadotrops have finer granules and the glycoprotein reaction is less intense. They are considered to be responsible for the secretion of the luteinizing hormone. Testosterone propionate (250 [mu]g/day) has a differential effect on the gonadotropic cell types of the adult female rat pituitary, promoting granule storage in the peripheral (follicle stimulating hormone-producing) cells, and depressing the granule content of the central (luteinizing hormone-producing) cells.