The embryological development and cytodifferentiation of the anterior pituitary in the marsupial, Isoodon macrourus

Abstract

Light and electron microscopy were used to study the development of the anterior pituitary gland from fetal stages to the end of pouch life in the marsupial I. macrourus. The early morphological development of the anterior pituitary in I. macrourus follows a similar pattern of events to that described for eutherians. Rathke's and Seessel's pouches were present in 10 1/2 day old embryos. At birth these pouches had formed a multi-chambered vesicle which was still connected to the stomodeum by a thin cord of tissue. A small number of granules (200-400 nm dia.) were found in cells at birth. These cells could not be classified on ultrastructural features but alcian blue-periodic acid Schiffs-orange G staining suggested one cell type was possibly a presumptive thyrotroph. There were no capillaries in the pars distalis at birth. The cords connecting Rathke's and Seessel's pouches to the stomodeum were located at the site of the periosteal bud of the developing basisphenoid which commenced to ossify at 7 days. At this stage presumptive thyrotrophs, gonadotrophs, and somatotrophs could be distinguished using alcian blue-periodic acid Schiffs-orange G staining. However, five cell types could be categorised at the same age using ultrastructural characteristics alone. Precise names for these cells are unavailable but two closely resemble presumptive mammotrophs and thyrotrophs described for another marsupial M. eugenii. By 13 days after birth the anterior pituitary of I. macrourus had become vascular and acidophils were concentrated in a posterior zone. There was little gross morphological change from 13 to 66 days after birth by which the time weaning has occurred. Cilia were seen in cells of the anterior pituitary and mitosis of granulated cells was observed from birth onwards. There is a considerable range of variation in pituitary cytogenesis amongst marsupials, and its functional significance awaits further investigation.