[Development of ACTH-containing cells in the hypothalamus and hypophysis in their normal state and in protein deficiency].

In cryostate sections of the brain and hypophysis of newborn, 10- and 21-day-old rats, by means of the indirect method immunohistochemical reaction has been performed. As a primary serum rabbit antiserum against ACTH has been used. The ventromedial hypothalamus and adenohypophysis have been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. Relationship of ACTH-containing cells in the adenohypophysis in the process of the postnatal ontogenesis and protein insufficiency remains constant. Unlike the adenohypophysis, in the hypothalamus part of the ACTH-containing cells decreases with age. When the animals develop under conditions of protein insufficiency, changes in the part of the ACTH-positive cells, that are age-dependent, do not coincide with corresponding parameters in the control. In the adenohypophyseal cells the products of diaminobensidine reaction are distributed in cytoplasm of granules with a dense center 100-200 nm in the diameter. The ACTH-containing cells in the hypothalamus are presented as small neurons with an even distribution of the immunohistochemical reaction products in cytoplasm and in large granules 200-280 nm in the diameter. Since in the adenohypophysis and in the hypothalamus various dynamics on contents of ACTH-reactive cells in the postnatal ontogenesis and at protein insufficiency has been revealed, and various localization of the diaminobenzidine reaction products has been demonstrated, a conclusion is made on heterogenous nature of antigenic determinants against ACTH, situating in these structures.