IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF GONADOTROPHS AND OF THYROTROPHS IN RAT PITUITARY-GLAND

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 171  (4) , 907-+
Abstract
On paraffin or semi-thin sections various anti-LH [luteinizing hormone] or anti-TSH [thyrotropin] sera stain indifferently all the thyrotrophs and the gonadotrophs. Inversely anti-.beta.-TSH, anti-.beta.-LH or anti-.beta.-FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] purified sera permit the discrimination of these 2 cell populations. The constancy of fixation of the anti-.beta.-LH and anti-.beta.-FSH sera on all the gonadotrophs indicates their ability to produce both FSH and LH. In a fewer female rats the central gonadotrophs are stained more weakly by anti-.beta.-FSH serum than by anti-.beta.-LH serum. The purification of the antisera does not permit selective staining of the secretory granules of the thyrotrophs or of the gonadotrophs.