Histofunctional changes in the pituitary gland of rats treated with benzedrine
Breda, M.; Ricciardi, G.; Continenza, M.A.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 51(18): 1158-1162
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 1220731 Document Number: 90573
Two groups of rats received i.m. benzedrine for 15 and 30 days respectively, and a 3rd group served as untreated controls. The histological effects of treatment on tissues of the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) were studied and compared with the corresponding changes in thyroid and adrenocortical morphology, the latter 2 glands being subject to pituitary stimulation. In the anterior pituitary of rats treated with benzedrine at the rate of 0.5 mg/kg body weight in 2 daily doses for 15 days a notable hypertrophy of basophil cells, presenting considerable vacuolization, was noted; the nucleus of these cells was hyperchromic, large and oval; the cytoplasm was hyperchromic and shrunk. The eosinophil cells had a granular cytoplasm. In rats treated for 30 days, the salient effect was vasodilatation and the cellular organization was tortuous, resembling a ball of thread. The morphological changes in eosinophils and basophils are described. Pituitary basophil cells possibly are deputized to the production of corticotropic and thyrotropic hormones (ACTH and TSH ). Pituitary basophil degranulation corresponds to a hypofunctional state of the thyroid. In the adrenal cortex a hypertrophy of the fasciculated cells is noted; this means that benzedrine stimulation of the anterior pituitary is followed by increased ACTH secretion, which is responsible for the adrenal changes. Basophil degradation of the pituitary therefore corresponds to hyperfunction of the adrenal and hypofunction of the thyroid.