Ultrastructural study of the adenohypophysis of the male Chinese quail

Abstract

The ultrastructural analysis of the adenohypophysis in the male Chinese quail reveals seven different types of granular cells, and agranular folliculo-stellate cells. The cell types are assumed to be endocrine cells and are classified as: Type I cells (presumptive LH-gonadotrophs), with dilated endoplasmic reticulum, perinuclear spaces, and granules of 150--260 nm; Type II cells (presumptive FSH-gonadotrophs), with regularly-shaped cytoplasmic cisterns and small granules (80--150 nm); Type III cells (presumptive thyrotrophs), very close in appearance to the type II cells of normal birds; Type IV cells (presumptive prolactin cells), with very large secretory granules (up to 400 nm), Type V cells (presumptive corticotrophs), with abundant and electron-dense granules (160--300 nm); Type VI cells, with irregularly-shaped granules; Type VII cells (presumptive somatotrophs), with abundant granules (130--220 nm) and less cytoplasmic structures. Cytological characteristics of the nucleus, and more particularly the presence of a Feulgen-postive nucleolus with a very particular ultrastructure are here reported. It is proposed that heterospecific associations of Chinese quail cells with chick cells can be used in embryological work for the study of cellular interactions.