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Quantitative analysis of ACTH-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary of young spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats

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Summary

ACTH-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary of 4-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied with immunocytochemical and morphometric techniques. The results were compared with data from age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). No significant differences were found in volume density and average size of ACTH-immunoreactive cells between these two strains. However, SHR showed a significantly larger anterior lobe (2 P < 0.01) than WKY, indicating that the total number of ACTH-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary is greater in SHR than in WKY. These data are in agreement with radioimmunological determinations showing a significantly elevated content (2 P < 0.01) but only a moderately higher concentration (0.05 < 2 P < 0.10) of ACTH in the anterior pituitary of SHR as compared to WKY. The present results suggest an enhanced availability of ACTH in the anterior pituitary of 4-week-old SHR, a fact which could explain the markedly enhanced stress-induced release of ACTH previously found in these animals. This study further supports the hypothesis that, among other factors, an instability of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis may contribute to the development of genetically programmed hypertension.

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Author notes

  1. A. Häusler, J. B. Baumann & J. Girard

    Present address: , Ciba-Geigy Ltd., CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Hospital, Department of Research, Kantonsspital, Basel, Switzerland

    A. Häusler, J. B. Baumann & J. Girard

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    M. Oberholzer & P. U. Heitz

Authors
  1. A. Häusler
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  2. M. Oberholzer
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  3. J. B. Baumann
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  4. J. Girard
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  5. P. U. Heitz
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Häusler, A., Oberholzer, M., Baumann, J.B. et al. Quantitative analysis of ACTH-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary of young spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats. Cell Tissue Res. 236, 229–235 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216535

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216535

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