Localization of ATPase activity to the glial-like cells of the pars intermedia

Nature and control of peptide release from the pars intermedia

Pro-opiocortin, the precursor of ACTH, LPH and gamma-MSH, is biosynthesized in both the cells of the pars intermedia and the corticotrophs of the pars distalis. In the pars distalis its processing does not vary significantly from species to species whereas in the pars intermedia large differences occur. The release of ACTH, beta-LPH and pro-gamma-MSH from the corticotrophs is under common positive control by hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and the nature of the peptides remains unchanged when they are secreted. The release of all five pars intermedia peptides that we have measured in vitro appears to be under tonic dopaminergic inhibition. The secreted peptides have also been identified chromatographically. The lack of unequivocal physiological function in the periphery, the diversity of the pars intermedia peptides and this common control mechanism tend to preclude a simple endocrine role for the pars intermedia. The neural effects of MSH and endorphin are well documented and specific neuronal uptake therefore cannot by dismissed. The absence of pars intermedia in the adult human pituitary suggests that such a site of synthesis of these peptides plays a minor role in learning and behaviour in a species (such as Homo sapiens) that has a highly evolved intelligence and may, instead, need to synthesize the peptides only in the brain.

Fine structure and cytochemistry of the mammalian pars intermedia

Various cytophysiological aspects of the pars intermedia of the pituitary are discussed. Cells containing melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) have been studied under normal and experimental conditions. They react to variations in ionic equilibrium, but without any clear correlation with natraemia and osmotic blood pressure. The MSH-cell stimulation in hypernatraemic mice, which is not inhibited by bromocriptine, seems more specific than the stimulation in hyponatraemic mice, which is blocked by bromocriptine. The existence of a corticotropic cell system has been clearly demonstrated in the mouse (where it is particularly obvious), in the rat and in the cat but its significance is not clear. Although very poorly vascularized, the pars intermedia is rapidly invaded by tracer protein (horseradish peroxidase) injected either intravenously or intracerebroventricularly. The hypophysial cleft rapidly stores the tracer which can be resorbed by macrophagic epithelial cells lying free in the colloid contained in the cleft. Horseradish peroxidase lingers in the pars intermedia but is rapidly eliminated from the other hypophysial lobes after intraventricular (third ventricle) injection. Diffuse innervation of the pars intermedia applies to both glandular (MSH and ACTH) and non-glandular (epithelial and stellate) cells. While aminergic innervation of the pars intermedia is obvious, cholinergic innervation has not been demonstrated ultrastructurally or histochemically. Peptidergic fibres only occasionally penetrate marginal areas of the pars intermedia and seldom establish synaptic contacts with glandular cells. A specific relationship might exist between the pars intermedia and oxytocin fibres in view of the marginal distribution of the latter in the neural lobe. Numerous stellate cells of the pars intermedia react intensely with antiserum to gliofibrillar acid protein, indicating their astrocyte nature, which reinforces the idea of an analogy between the folliculo-stellate system of the hypophysis and the glial cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta regulation of estradiol-induced prolactinomas

Prolactin-secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) are the most prevalent form of pituitary tumors in humans, and increased tumor growth under estrogenic influence in female patients is often of clinical concern. Extensive experimental work has uncovered the roles of estrogen receptors and various growth-regulatory peptides in estradiol action on lactotropes. However, it is only recently that we are beginning to gain insight into how these growth factors interact to regulate estradiol action on lactotrope cell proliferation. Recent studies have identified the regulatory role of TGF-beta-related peptides in estradiol action on lactotropes. Additionally, these studies determined that TGF-beta and FGF interact to facilitate the communication between lactotropes and folliculostellate cells that is necessary for the mitogenic action of estradiol. This review addresses the role of estradiol in prolactinoma formation and summarizes data that support a novel concept: Alterations in the expression and action of TGF-beta isoforms are crucial steps in estradiol-induced tumorigenesis.

Transforming growth factor-beta3 stimulates lactotrope cell growth by increasing basic fibroblast growth factor from folliculo-stellate cells

Recently, we have shown that transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGFbeta3) mediates estradiol's mitogenic action in primary cultures of mixed anterior pituitary cells. In some cell types, TGFbeta isoforms stimulate cell proliferation via a paracrine mechanism by increasing growth stimulatory peptide growth factors. Whether such a mechanism exists in pituitary cell culture was examined in the studies presented here. The data demonstrate that unlike the response of lactotropes in mixed pituitary cultures, cultures of enriched lactotropes, obtained by Percoll gradient separation, did not proliferate in response to TGFbeta3 treatment. The lactotropic cells of the RC-4B/C cell line, a cell line that contains all of the hormone-secreting cell types of the anterior pituitary but is devoid of folliculo-stellate (FS) cells, did not proliferate in response to TGFbeta3 unless RC-4B/C cells were cocultured with FS cells. Enriched lactotropes cocultured with FS cells also demonstrated a proliferative response to TGFbeta3. Media collected from FS cells treated with TGFbeta3 stimulated the proliferation of lactotropes in enriched cultures. TGFbeta3 increased the release of basic fibroblast growth factor from FS cells. Immunoneutralization of basic fibroblast growth factor in FS cell-conditioned medium inhibited the growth stimulatory action on lactotropes. These data provide evidence for a novel mechanism of TGFbeta3 action involving cell-to-cell interaction in the anterior pituitary between lactotropes and FS cells during estrogen-induced mitogenesis.

Regulation of GFAP expression in glial-like cells of the rat pituitary intermediate lobe by lactation, salt-loading, and adrenalectomy

Glial-like cells in rat pituitary intermediate lobe were localized and characterized by immunohistochemistry with antisera against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S-100. Individual GFAP immunoreactive (IR) cells possessed several processes that often branched into secondary and tertiary processes, terminating with end-feet. The GFAP-immunopositive cell population was distributed in specific rostrocaudal and dorsoventral patterns. The distribution and numbers of cells differed between male and female rats. Examination of altered physiological states, e.g., adrenalectomy, lactation, and salt-loading, revealed state-specific changes in the appearance and distribution of GFAP-IR cells. Adrenalectomy and lactation increased GFAP-IR glial-like cell numbers, whereas salt-loading decreased their numbers and the typical pattern of distribution. By contrast, S-100-expressing cells were evenly distributed in male and female rats, and its expression was not affected by the experimental conditions. Double-label immunocytochemistry indicated that GFAP-IR cells are a subpopulation of S-100-IR cells. These results suggest that cells normally expressing only S-100 may be induced to express GFAP under altered physiologic conditions.

Folliculostellate cells of the pituitary

In addition to the hormone-producing granulated cells, the so-called folliculostellate (FS) cells of the adenohypophysis represent a population of nongranulated cells extensively described in a large number of species. They show distinctive morphological features including a star shape with thin cytoplasmic projections extending between granulated cells and well-developed junctional complexes. FS cells are joined together surrounding irregular microcavities and project microvilli into the lumina. The immunocytochemical localization of S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin constitutes a reliable and easy method for investigating their presence and distribution in the normal pituitary gland and in pituitary adenomas. Although the expression of glial cell markers raised the hypothesis of a neuroectodermal origin of FS cells, most evidence supports that they derive from the epithelium of the Rathke's pouch, as do granulated adenohypophyseal cells. Morphological studies indicate that FS cells are involved in phagocytosis and possess sustentacular functions. Investigations using cell cultures show that FS cells play important roles in the paracrine regulation of adenohypophy-seal secretion by their ability to liberate several growth factors and regulate the ionic composition of the extracellular fluid. Further research using novel immunocytochemical markers and ceil culture techniques may clarify the origin and the role of this enigmatic cell type in the normal and pathological pituitary gland.

GABA and neuropeptide Y co-exist in axons innervating the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary of Xenopus laevis--an immunoelectron microscopic study

The neural innervation of the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary of the amphibian Xenopus laevis has been studied at the light and electron microscopic level. In the pars intermedia melanotropes and stellate cells are abutted by varicosities originating from GABA- and neuropeptide Y-producing neurons. The varicosities contain two types of vesicle: electron-lucent vesicles (mean diameter 50 nm) which are immunopositive for GABA and larger (80 nm) electron-dense vesicles which are immunopositive for neuropeptide Y. Double immunogold labeling established that GABA and neuropeptide Y co-exist within the varicosities. In the pars nervosa similar varicosities, though low in number, occur. They are associated with neurosecretory nerve terminals, pituicytes and blood vessels. The possible significance of GABA and neuropeptide Y for the neural regulation of melanophore stimulating hormone-release from the pars intermedia is discussed.

Immunocytochemical localization of vimentin in stellate cells (folliculo-stellate cells) of the rat, cat and rabbit pituitary pars distalis

The occurrence of vimentin, a specific intermediate filament protein, has been studied by an indirect immunoperoxidase method in the anterior pituitary gland of adult rats, cats and rabbits of both sexes. In the three species studied, the immunoreaction product was detected in the cytoplasm of stellate-shaped cells scattered throughout the pars distalis. These stellate cells showed long cytoplasmic processes which could be seen between the secretory cells, and occasionally, encircling them. These processes sometimes reach the vasculo-connective septa. The marginal cells lining the anterior layer of the hypophyseal cleft of the rat and the cat pituitary glands also showed a positive immunoreaction. Finally, cyst or follicle-like structures lined by immunostained cells with basal processes could be observed in the anterior lobe of the rat, but not in that of the rabbit or the cat. These findings support the previously held view that folliculo-stellate cells and marginal cells of the anterior pituitary gland have a common nature and suggest that these cell types might be derived from glial neuroectodermic cells.

Regulation of ion transport in hypophysial pars intermedia follicular cell monolayers

We have previously reported that cultured monolayers of folliculo-stellate cells (FC) of adenohypophysial pars tuberalis (PT) and pars distalis (PD) origin express morphological and electrical properties typical of ion and fluid transporting epithelia. The objective of the present study was to examine whether cells expressing similar transport properties exist also in the pars intermedia (PI), an area of the adenohypophysis very poorly vascularized, where a cell type expressing such functions would be expected to play an especially significant role in the local regulation of the interstitial fluid content and circulation. Enzymatically and mechanically dispersed bovine pars intermedia fragments yield monolayers of polygonal, contact inhibited cells which rapidly develop domes. Such cells exhibit morphological features and growth properties very similar or identical to those expressed by cells previously identified af FC cells in PD and PT cultures. Similarly to their counterparts in the PD and PT, the PI FC display a potential difference and a resistance when mounted in Ussing chambers. Isoproterenol, prostaglandin E2, bradykinin and lysine vasopressin are able to stimulate active ion transport across FC monolayers. These data indicate that the PI contains ion transporting FC and suggest important local regulatory functions for these cells.

Transport epithelial characteristics of cultured bovine pituitary follicular cells

Confluent monolayers of polygonal epithelioid cells were obtained from enzymatically and mechanically dispersed bovine anterior pituitaries (AP) and pars tuberali (PT). The ultrastructure of the cells composing the monolayer was consistent with the follicular or folliculostellate cells (FC) of the pituitary, i.e., lack of secretory granules; formation of follicles in culture; interdigitations with neighboring cells with numerous tight junctions; presence of extensive microfilaments; and sparse rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Culture media from monolayers of first passage cultures contained little if any of the AP hormones' luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and ACTH. Shortly after reaching confluency, regions of the monolayer bulge away from the surface of the culture dish to form domes. Dome formation has been described only with cultures of cells that function as transport epithelia in vivo. FC cultured on polycarbonate filters were placed in Ussing chambers. A transepithelial potential difference of approximately 1.1 mV and a resistance greater than 300 omega cm2 were detectable 4-5 days after plating. The short-circuit current (Isc) was decreased 70% by amiloride applied to the mucosal surface and further decreased by the addition of ouabain at the serosal surface. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol increased the Isc and this action was prevented by a beta-antagonist. These observations indicate that pituitary FC in culture behave as a transport epithelium. Considering the organization of FC in the AP and PT, they suggest a regulatory role for FC in the maintenance of the ionic composition of the interstitial fluid of the pituitary gland.

Histochemical and cytochemical demonstration of Ca++-ATPase activity in the stellate cells of the adenohypophysis of the guinea pig

The histo- and cytochemical localization of Ca++-ATPase activity in the adenohypophysis of the guinea pig was studied utilizing a newly developed method (Ando et al. 1981). An intense reaction was observed in the wall of the blood vessels and between non-secretory cells (stellate cells) and endocrine cells of the pars distalis. Under the electron microscope the Ca++-ATPase reaction product was located extracellularly in relation to the plasmalemma of the stellate cells. This reaction was dependent on Ca++ and the substrate, ATP, and reduced by the addition of 0,1 mM quercetin to the standard incubation medium. Preheating of the sections before incubation completely inhibited the enzyme activity. When Mg++ in different concentrations were substituted for Ca++ in the incubation medium the reaction was always reduced. Both Ca++ and Mg++ in the incubation medium also reduced the reaction. The plasmalemma of the endocrine cells contains no demonstrable amount of Ca++-ATPase activity. The function of the Ca++-ATPase activity is discussed in relation to the regulation of the extracellular Ca++ concentration which seems to be important with respect not only to the secretory process of the endocrine cells but also to the metabolism of the adenohypophysis.