Evidence for axonal sprouting in the anterior pituitary following adrenalectomy in the rat

• Published in: Journal of endocrinology Vol. 147; no. 1; pp. 161 - 166
• Main Authors: LU, C. R, MENG, F. T, BENOWITZ, L. I, JU, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester BioScientifica 01.10.1995; Portland Press
• Subjects: Adrenalectomy; Animals; Axons - chemistry; Axons - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAP-43 Protein; Growth Substances - analysis; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - analysis; Morphology. Functional localizations; Nerve Tissue Proteins - analysis; Neurofilament Proteins - analysis; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - chemistry; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - innervation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Adenohypophysis; Adrenalectomy; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Growth associated protein 43; Rat; Innervation; Rodentia; Pituitary gland; Axon; Budding
• ISSN: 0022-0795; 1479-6805
• DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1470161

Abstract Our recent studies have demonstrated the presence of peptidergic nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary of the rat. They were found to increase in number following adrenalectomy and the present study was aimed at investigating whether axonal sprouting could account for this increase. Antibody against the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 was used as the probe. Four days following adrenalectomy GAP-43-like immunoreactivity was found to increase dramatically, mostly as varicosities surrounding the gland cells. The results suggest an active axonal sprouting following this hormone manipulation and strongly support our hypothesis of neural-humoral dual regulation of the mammalian anterior pituitary. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 147, 161–166