An ultrastructural morphometric analysis of the adenohypophysis of lactating rats.

A morphometric analysis of the adenohypophysis (pars distalis) of lactating rats was carried out by a semi-automated method at the ultrastructural level. The cellular elements were identified by their ultrastructural morphology. The following values were considered for the morphometric study: numerical density of cells/mm3 of tissue and the percentage of parenchymal volume occupied by every cell type. Mammotropes (PRL cells) numbered 624 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 59.9% of the parenchymal volume (p.v.). Somatotropes (GH cells) numbered 206 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 15.0% of the p.v. Folliculo-stellate cells (FS cells) numbered 128 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 8.1% of the p.v. Gonadotropes (GN cells) numbered 47 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 6.0% of the p.v. Adrenocorticotropes (ACTH cells) numbered 45 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 3.8% of the p.v. Thyrotropes (TSH cells) numbered 36 X 10(3)/mm3 and occupied 3.4% of the p.v. PRL cells were characterized by aspects compatible with intense hormone production. GH cells did not show differences with those of nonlactating animals. Folliculo-stellate elements appeared hypertrophic with abundant cytoplasm, enlarged Golgi complex, and dilation of the follicular lumina. GN cells had abundant cytoplasm with a well-developed and dilated ergastoplasm, particularly in type II GN cells. ACTH cells did not show differences with those of nonlactating animals. TSH cells showed moderate nucleocytoplasmic activation. These fine structural morphometric findings are discussed in relation to other studies regarding nonlactating adenohypophysis and hormone changes during lactation.