ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLANDS FROM LACTATING AND ESTROGEN-TREATED RATS1

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Abstract
Anterior pituitary glands from mature virgin female, estrogen, treated, and lactating rats were studied with the electron microscope. It was found that the endoplasmic reticulum underwent extensive change during lactation. A similar situation was also found in the pituitaries of the estrogen treated animals. This well developed reticulum was localized mainly in the acidophils with 600 mμ granules, indicating these cells are probably responsible for the elaboration of lactogenic hormone. In addition to thin sections for electron microscopy, thick sections were taken for light microscopy. The pituitaries from the animals which were injected with estrogen were assayed for lactogenic hormone. On the basis of these results and those of others a scheme is presented for production and release of lactogenic hormone from certain of the acidophilic cells.