Abstract
Lactotroph hyperplasia is a prominent finding in the adenohypophyses of pregnant women. In order to elucidate the morphogenesis of this change, pituitaries from 16 women in various phases of pregnancy were collected at autopsy and studied by histology, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results showed that the increase in the amount of prolactin (PRL) mRNA paralleled the progressive lactotroph hyperplasia. The presence of mitoses in PRL-immunoreactive cells provided evidence that proliferation of preexisting lactotrophs contribute to lactotroph accumulation. Growth hormone (GH) immunoreactive cells showed a marked reduction in GH mRNA indicating that GH synthesis was inhibited. In many GH-immunoreactive cells, PRL mRNA became apparent. These findings demonstrate that GH is stored following discontinuation of GH synthesis. It appears that, when PRL is secreted in excess during pregnancy, somatotrophs are recruited to produce PRL. These somatotrophs begin to express PRL mRNA, transform to bihormonal mammosomatotrophs and possibly later to lactotrophs, contributing to PRL production. Mature somatotrophs may be regarded as reserve cells in the adenohypophysis, having the potential to switch hormone synthesis and to convert to mammosomatotrophs and possibly lactotrophs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 291-296 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1992 |
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Keywords
- Human pituitary
- Immunocytochemistry
- In situ hybridization
- Pregnancy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Pituitary lactotrophs and somatotrophs in pregnancy : a correlative in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical study. / Stefaneanu, Lucia; Kovacs, Kalman; Lloyd, Ricardo V.; Scheithauer, Bernd W.; Young, William Francis; Sano, Toshiaki; Jin, Long.
In: Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology, Vol. 62, No. 1, 12.1992, p. 291-296.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pituitary lactotrophs and somatotrophs in pregnancy
T2 - a correlative in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical study
AU - Stefaneanu, Lucia
AU - Kovacs, Kalman
AU - Lloyd, Ricardo V.
AU - Scheithauer, Bernd W.
AU - Young, William Francis
AU - Sano, Toshiaki
AU - Jin, Long
PY - 1992/12
Y1 - 1992/12
N2 - Lactotroph hyperplasia is a prominent finding in the adenohypophyses of pregnant women. In order to elucidate the morphogenesis of this change, pituitaries from 16 women in various phases of pregnancy were collected at autopsy and studied by histology, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results showed that the increase in the amount of prolactin (PRL) mRNA paralleled the progressive lactotroph hyperplasia. The presence of mitoses in PRL-immunoreactive cells provided evidence that proliferation of preexisting lactotrophs contribute to lactotroph accumulation. Growth hormone (GH) immunoreactive cells showed a marked reduction in GH mRNA indicating that GH synthesis was inhibited. In many GH-immunoreactive cells, PRL mRNA became apparent. These findings demonstrate that GH is stored following discontinuation of GH synthesis. It appears that, when PRL is secreted in excess during pregnancy, somatotrophs are recruited to produce PRL. These somatotrophs begin to express PRL mRNA, transform to bihormonal mammosomatotrophs and possibly later to lactotrophs, contributing to PRL production. Mature somatotrophs may be regarded as reserve cells in the adenohypophysis, having the potential to switch hormone synthesis and to convert to mammosomatotrophs and possibly lactotrophs.
AB - Lactotroph hyperplasia is a prominent finding in the adenohypophyses of pregnant women. In order to elucidate the morphogenesis of this change, pituitaries from 16 women in various phases of pregnancy were collected at autopsy and studied by histology, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results showed that the increase in the amount of prolactin (PRL) mRNA paralleled the progressive lactotroph hyperplasia. The presence of mitoses in PRL-immunoreactive cells provided evidence that proliferation of preexisting lactotrophs contribute to lactotroph accumulation. Growth hormone (GH) immunoreactive cells showed a marked reduction in GH mRNA indicating that GH synthesis was inhibited. In many GH-immunoreactive cells, PRL mRNA became apparent. These findings demonstrate that GH is stored following discontinuation of GH synthesis. It appears that, when PRL is secreted in excess during pregnancy, somatotrophs are recruited to produce PRL. These somatotrophs begin to express PRL mRNA, transform to bihormonal mammosomatotrophs and possibly later to lactotrophs, contributing to PRL production. Mature somatotrophs may be regarded as reserve cells in the adenohypophysis, having the potential to switch hormone synthesis and to convert to mammosomatotrophs and possibly lactotrophs.
KW - Human pituitary
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - In situ hybridization
KW - Pregnancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026726542&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026726542&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF02899695
DO - 10.1007/BF02899695
M3 - Article
C2 - 1359702
AN - SCOPUS:0026726542
VL - 62
SP - 291
EP - 296
JO - Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology
JF - Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology
SN - 0340-6075
IS - 1
ER -