Morphometric study of the LH-immunoreactive gonadotrophic cells of rats following treatment with methoclopramide.

The LH-immunoreactive cells of the adult rat hypophysis were studied morphometrically after chronic treatment with methoclopramide. The morphological features of these cells showed modifications in both male and female rats, after treatment. Additionally, morphometric changes revealed a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in both cytoplasmic area, which was more evident in the female rats, and nuclear area, with respect to the normal and control animals. These findings suggest that chronic inhibition of the dopaminergic system in rats atrophies LH-immunoreactive gonadotrophic cells of rats.