Heterogeneity and Development of Somatotrophs and Mammotrophs in the Rat

概要

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Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) are secreted from corresponding secretory cells, somatotrophs (GH cells) and mammotrophs (PRL cells) in the pituitary gland. A novel cell type, the mammosomatotroph (MS cell), which contains both GH and PRL in the same cell, has been found in many species including rats, mice and humans. In this article, we demonstrate the heterogeneity of GH cells and PRL cells at various levels, mainly in the rat, and discuss the developmental and functional significance of these heterogeneities. Age-related alteration in GH and PRL secretion is summarized, since it is one of the most important aspects of the developmental changes in pituitary glands. Heterogeneities of GH and PRL cells may be the outcome of various difference in the molecular variance of hormones, the intracellular age of hormones, the difference in receptors on the pituitary cells for hypothalamic regulatory hormones, the different mechanisms of intracellular signal transduction, and the location of pituitary cells in the gland, and may also reflect the maturation of pituitary cells. The possible relationship among GH cell, PRL cell and MS cells is discussed.
社団法人日本動物学会の論文
1992-10-15