TY - JOUR
T1 - Anatomy and histology of the Göttingen minipig adenohypophysis with special emphasis on the polypeptide hormones
T2 - GH, PRL, and ACTH
AU - Tvilling, Laura
AU - West, Mark J.
AU - Glud, Andreas
AU - Zaer, Hamed
AU - Sørensen, Jens Christian Hedemann
AU - Bjarkam, Carsten Reidies
AU - Orlowski, Dariusz
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - The pituitary is involved in the regulation of endocrine homeostasis. Therefore, animal models of pituitary disease based on a thorough knowledge of pituitary anatomy are of great importance. Accordingly, we aimed to perform a qualitative and quantitative description of polypeptide hormone secreting cellular components of the Göttingen minipig adenohypophysis using immunohistochemistry and stereology. Estimates of the total number of cells immune-stained for adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) were obtained with the optical fractionator technique using Stereo Investigator software. Moreover, 3D reconstructions of cell distribution were made. We estimated that the normal minipig adenohypophysis contains, on average, 5.6 million GH, 3.5 million PRL, and 2.4 million ACTH producing cells. The ACTH producing cells were widely distributed, while the PRL and GH producing cells were located in clusters in the central and lateral regions of the adenohypophysis. The morphology of the hormone producing cells also differs. We visualized a clear difference in the numerical density of hormone producing cells throughout the adenohypophysis. The relative proportions of the cells analyzed in our experiment are comparable to those observed in humans, primates, and rodents; however, the distribution of cells differs among species. The distribution of GH cells in the minipig is similar to that in humans, while the PRL and ACTH cell distributions differ. The volume of the pituitary is slightly smaller than that of humans. These data provide a framework for future large animal experimentation on pituitary function in health and disease.
AB - The pituitary is involved in the regulation of endocrine homeostasis. Therefore, animal models of pituitary disease based on a thorough knowledge of pituitary anatomy are of great importance. Accordingly, we aimed to perform a qualitative and quantitative description of polypeptide hormone secreting cellular components of the Göttingen minipig adenohypophysis using immunohistochemistry and stereology. Estimates of the total number of cells immune-stained for adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) were obtained with the optical fractionator technique using Stereo Investigator software. Moreover, 3D reconstructions of cell distribution were made. We estimated that the normal minipig adenohypophysis contains, on average, 5.6 million GH, 3.5 million PRL, and 2.4 million ACTH producing cells. The ACTH producing cells were widely distributed, while the PRL and GH producing cells were located in clusters in the central and lateral regions of the adenohypophysis. The morphology of the hormone producing cells also differs. We visualized a clear difference in the numerical density of hormone producing cells throughout the adenohypophysis. The relative proportions of the cells analyzed in our experiment are comparable to those observed in humans, primates, and rodents; however, the distribution of cells differs among species. The distribution of GH cells in the minipig is similar to that in humans, while the PRL and ACTH cell distributions differ. The volume of the pituitary is slightly smaller than that of humans. These data provide a framework for future large animal experimentation on pituitary function in health and disease.
KW - Adenohypophysis
KW - Adrenocorticotropic hormone
KW - Growth hormone
KW - Göttingen minipig
KW - Prolactin
KW - Stereology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109694786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00429-021-02337-1
DO - 10.1007/s00429-021-02337-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34235563
SN - 1863-2653
VL - 226
SP - 2375
EP - 2386
JO - Brain Structure & Function
JF - Brain Structure & Function
IS - 7
ER -