Studies of secretory cysts in the pituitary gland of the Indian palm squirrel Funambulus pennanti and their origin and significance
Singh, M.; Mehrotra, P.N.
Folia Morphologica 36(4): 408-413
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5640 PMID: 3229691 Document Number: 325789
The authors report the presence of active secretory Rathke's cysts in the pars distalis of Funambulus pennanti. The single-or multi-layer lining of the lumen suggests that they may be derived from the pituitary cleft. The PAS-positive material in their cavity and the presence of tinctorially similar droplets in the luminal zone of the bordering cells indicates where such coagulum-like luminal material may come from. It is suggested that cyst formation could perhaps be part of an anti-inflammatory mechanism for immobilizing some unknown causative agent and an attempt to isolate and shut off the damaged area from the rest of the pituitary cells.