Cell types in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail and effects of injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

Abstract

The cells of the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail were studied by both light and electron microscopy after exposure to long photoperiods or injection of lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH). Six cell types were identified in the adenohypophysis by examining alternate thick and thin sections by light and electron microscopy. In the cephalic lobe, there are four types of glandular cells. They are the prolactin cells, ACTH cells, TSH cells, and gonadotropic cells (FSH?). In the caudal lobe, there are two types of cells, STH cells and gonadotropic cells (LH?). After exposure to long daily photoperiods, gonadotropic cells in both lobes were strongly activated. They became larger and accumulated many granules. ACTH cells became vacuolated; granules were sparse. Synthetic LRH injection (10 mug/0.2 ml/day) for 10 days to the non-photostimulated quail stimulated certain numbers of the gonadotropic cells in the both lobes, although the response of the cells was less than that induced by photostimulation. No response was seen in the other cell types.