Application of anterior pituitary cell culture in toxicological research.

High density plating procedure was used to evaluate the effect of atrazine on anterior pituitary cells of rats in monolayer culture. Collagenase-dispersed pituitary cells plated in suspension with medium-199 and 10% foetal calf serum attached quantitatively to plastic surfaces within 24 hours. Electron microscopy showed subpopulations of different cell types. After prolonged cultivation, most cells established small colonies with extensive contacts among them. Cell-to-cell formation of aggregates was significant and the colonies manifested morphological changes. The cells retained their enzymatic activity, converting testosterone into 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone by enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. Immunohistochemical techniques facilitated differentiation of gonadotrophs producing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). Atrazine in concentrations of 5 to 50 micrograms/ml of medium was associated with a significant reduction in the number of viable cells within 72 hours. The results suggest that the pituitary cell culture may prove useful in toxicological testing of various toxic compounds and reduce or replace in vivo animal experiments.