Identification of lactotropes (PRL cells), somatotropes (GH cells), corticotropes (ACTH cells) and thyrotropes (TSH cells) in the pituitary gland of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus L. (Insectivora), by immunohistochemistry.

By means of immunohistochemistry, lactotropes, somatotropes, corticotropes and thyrotropes in the pituitary of the male musk shrew, Suncus murinus L., were identified at the electron-microscopic level. Lactotropes were classified into three types: type I containing large (200-450 nm in diameter) round secretory granules, type II with medium-sized (150-250 nm in diameter) ones and type III with small (50-150 nm in diameter) ones. Somatotropes were also classified into type I somatotropes that contain large (450 nm in diameter) spherical secretory granules and type II somatotropes containing comparatively small (300 nm in diameter) round granules. Both type I and II somatotropes were small and sometimes contained rod-shaped granules. Corticotropes were round or oval cells with round secretory granules in various densities and sizes (150-500 nm in diameter) scattered all over the cytoplasm. Thyrotropes were angular or polyhedral cells containing electron-transparent round secretory granules (200-300 nm in diameter) and large irregularly shaped granules with a maximum diameter of about 1,500 nm. Each type of the cells may be distinguished by its respective ultrastructural characteristics alone without the aid of immunohistochemistry.