The gonadotropin-producing and other cell types in the distal lobe of the pituitary of the common frog, Rana temporaria

Abstract

Pituitaries of male Rana temporaria were fixed in Bouin-sublimate, sagittally sectioned at 4 μ, and stained with different trichrome methods, with PAS-orange G, Gabe's AF or Herlant's Alcian blue-PAS-orange G.

Four chromophilic cell types have been described in the distal lobe of the pituitary, i.e. α-cells or acidophils, β-cells or amphiphils type I, γ-cells or amphiphils type II, and δ-cells or cyanophils.

The same cell types were observed in sagittal sections of the pars distalis of Bufo bufo and Xenopus laevis.

β-Cells were absent from the pituitaries of juvenile Rana temporaria. One and three years after castration hyperactivity was observed in the β-cells. Secretory activity of these cells was reduced after the administration of testosterone, and was stimulated in frogs which were kept at high temperatures during the hibernation period. Moreover, in two out of four frogs the γ-cells had increased in number three years after gonadectomy, and a correlation was found between the atrophy of the secondary sex characters and the regression of the γ-cells in frogs which were kept at high temperatures. It is inferred that the β-cells produce a gonadotropic hormone, probably FSH, and that the γ-cells may secrete ICSH.