Quantitative autoradiographic assessment of 3H-estradiol uptake in immunocytochemically characterized pituitary cells.

Dry-mount autoradiography was combined with peroxidase immunocytochemistry to examine estrogen uptake in four pituitary cell types. Quantification by silver grain counts was used to compare 3H-estradiol uptake in nuclei of pituitary cells 60 min after i.v. injection into short-term (control) and long-term ovariectomized and in long-term thyroidectomized rats. Under all three hormonal states, the order of labeling intensity was: gonadotropes greater than somatotropes greater than lactotrops greater than thyrotropes. Long-term ovariectomy caused a significant increase in estrogen uptake of gonadotropes, somatotropes and lactotropes, while uptake in thyrotropes decreased. Long-term thyroidectomy decreased uptake in somatotropes, lactotropes and thyrotropes while gonadotropes remained unchanged.