The metabolic basis for the lens growth inhibiting effect of hypophysectomy. II. The liver
Rothstein, H.; Essner, E.; Frank, K.; Weinsieder, A.
Metabolic and Pediatric Ophthalmology 5(2): 133-143
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0191-2771 PMID: 6169965 Document Number: 181013
In the lens of hypophysectomized (H) frogs mitotic and DNA synthetic activity subside entirely, 4-8 wk postsurgery. The livers of H frogs also undergo marked changes. After formaldehyde fixation and H and E staining reveals large clumps of positively reacting material that is removed by diastase. Toluidine blue staining of semithin sections demonstrated increased steatosis. Growth hormone seems to prevent the liver alteration in H frogs. This hormone binds to hepatocytes of normal and H animals. Fine structural work showed that the cytoplasm of H animals is comparatively vacuous and contains glycogen that is arrayed exclusively in the .beta. configuration, whereas that in tissue from intact specimens is in the .alpha. state. Human somatomedin C, which restores growth of lens epithelium, when supplied to H organisms, does not correct the liver pathology described. This organ may generate insulin-like growth factors-important for lenticular proliferation-under the influence of adenohypophyseal hormones.