Ultrastructural localization of gonadotrophic hormones in the porcine pituitary using the immunoperoxidase technique

Abstract

Using specific antibodies against beta subunits of porcine LH and FSH, the pituitary cells which produce these two gonadotrophins were identified in the porcine pituitary at the ultrastructural level using the immunoperoxidase technique. It was clearly shown that most of the gonadotrophic cells are responsible for the production of both FSH and LH. However, some cells, only positive for FSH or LH, indicate that the concentrations of FSH and LH vary from cell to cell. At the ultrastructural level, the FSH/LH cells contain one class of secretory granules strongly positive for bvth FSH and LH as well as large negatively stained dense bodies. These findings indicate that the "one cell-one hormone" concept may not apply to gonadotrophic hormones; a FSH/LH cell cannot be distinguished from a LH or FSH cell without immunocytochemical identification of its hormonal content.