[Immunohistochemical characteristics of cells of the adenohypophysis producing adrenocorticotropic hormone].

By means of immune fluorescence and histochemical methods, adenohypophyseal corticotropocytes from intact rats and the rats subjected to immobilization stress were studied. The data obtained demonstrated that according to their tinctorial properties, corticotropocytes are chromophobic adenocytes and some of them contain small aldehyde-fuchsinophil and PAS-positives granules. After an acute stress, corticotropocytes secrete ACTH into the intracellular space, and the cytoplasmic processes secrete it into the pericapillar space. Under a prolonged stress, the latter phenomenon prevails.