Ultrastructural study of the adenohypophysis of the Chinese hamster

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Abstract
The adenohypophysis of normal Chinese hamsters of both sexes was examined ultrastructurally. Organs were fixed by intravascular perfusion with S-collidine-buffered glutaraldehyde solution. Seven types of cells were differentiated and, according to morphological characteristics, classified as (1) mammotropes, with very large (400–800 nm) and polymorphous secretory granules; (2) somatotropes, either in the storage phase with numerous large, dense granules (average 300 nm), or in the hormone synthesis phase, with abundant endoplasmic reticulum and large Golgi apparatus; (3) corticotropes, with irregular cell shape, and granules (average 160 nm) arranged in lines parallel to the cell membrane; (4) FSH gonadotropes, with abundant and dilated endoplasmic reticulum, and granules (190–320 nm) uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm; (5) LH gonadotropes, with granules (120–220 nm) of varied density; (6) thyrotropes, with irregular cell shape and very small granules (120–160 nm), and (7) agranulated cells. The ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis of the Chinese hamster corresponds closely with observations reported in rats, mice and Syrian hamsters.