Rechardt L, Hervonen H
Cell Tissue Res. 1982;226(1):51-62. doi: 10.1007/BF00217081.
The neurohypophyses (neural lobes of the pituitary) of young adult (3-6 months) and aged (12-30 months) male rats were studied by means of electron microscopy. Stereomorphometric analyses were performed to determine the size, number and relative volume of the hormone-containing vesicles. The principal observations included: 1) the conspicuous depletion in aged rats of the granular hormone-containing vesicles from the axon terminals and the Herring bodies, with a decrease in the relative volume fraction of the vesicles from 4.8 Vv% in the control animals to 1.1 Vv% in the aged rats; 2) a change in the size-distribution of the hormone vesicles; 3) an increase in the extracellular space around the nerve terminals, axons and capillaries; and 4) lipid accumulations and signs of activation in the pituicytes. The possible physiological significance of the findings is discussed in the light of several regulatory functions known to be altered during the process of ageing.
通过电子显微镜研究了成年雄性大鼠（3 - 6个月）和老年雄性大鼠（12 - 30个月）的神经垂体（垂体神经叶）。进行了立体形态计量分析以确定含激素囊泡的大小、数量和相对体积。主要观察结果包括：1）老年大鼠轴突终末和赫林体中含颗粒激素囊泡明显减少，囊泡的相对体积分数从对照动物的4.8 Vv%降至老年大鼠的1.1 Vv%；2）激素囊泡大小分布发生变化；3）神经终末、轴突和毛细血管周围的细胞外间隙增加；4）垂体细胞中有脂质蓄积和活化迹象。根据已知在衰老过程中会发生改变的几种调节功能，讨论了这些发现可能的生理意义。
