Distribution of α- and β-Subunits of Glycoprotein Hormones in Thyrogonadotroph in the Anterior Pituitary Cells of the Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus)

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Abstract
In order to examine the distribution pattern of α- and β-subunits of glycoprotein hormones in small and large granules in the thyrogonadotrophs of the musk shrew, we used an antiserum against a synthesized peptide consisting of the sequence 37–53 of the rat α-subunit, which is highly conservative among several mammalian species, and also antisera to LHβ, FSHβ and TSHβ. Both α- and LHβ-subunits were colocalized in what appeared at the light-microscopic level to be the same cells, and the population ratio of α- and LHβ-subunit immunoreactive cells was almost equal within each group of animals. In addition, we also demonstrated thyrogonadotrophs in the infant musk shrew as well as in the adult. Concerning small and large granules in thyrogonadotrophs of the musk shrew, we could observe small granules immunoreactive for only the α-subunit, for the LHβ-subunit and for both the α- and LHβ-subunits; while only the LHβ-subunit was observed in the large granules and the α-subunit was absent. Consequently, we propose that the large granules observed in the thyrogonadotrophs of the musk shrew may be storage sites for β-subunits and are not secretory-type granules.

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