Quantitative evaluation of somatotrophic cells (SC) in the adenohypophysis of normal and diabetic male Chinese hamsters.

The pituitary of genetically diabetic Chinese hamsters contains significantly (p less than 0.001) greater numbers of somatotrophes than pituitary of non-diabetics. This may play a role in the aetiopathology of diabetes in this species or at least contribute to the maintenance of hyperglycaemia.