Identification of thyrotrophin-secreting cells in the pituitary of the Indian five-striped palm squirrel Funambulus pennanti (Wroughton)
Bhiwgade, D.A.; Gulhane, L.T.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 17(12): 1291-1295
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 540977 Document Number: 143874
The basophils which underwent hypertrophy in response to a thyroid deficient state in the squirrel are located in the antero-median region in the pars anterior. Administration of thiourea solution in drinking water resulted in the hypertrophy of the cells followed by a slight degranulation of the cells after 40 days treatment followed by total degranulation of the cells after prolonged treatment, extending over a period of 90 days, thereby permitting the conclusion that they are TSH-secreting in nature. No significant change was observed in the thyrotroph cells after administration of thyroxine for 5 days. Seven days onwards, the cells showed increased nuclear activity and became intensely granular by 15 days. Thirty days onwards, the cells showed reduced nuclear activity and became devoid of granularity thus indicating their TSH-secreting nature.