Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructure of the nongranulated cells and morphology of the extracellular spaces in the pars distalis of adult and pouch-young tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii)

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Differentiated nongranulated (folliculo-stellate) cells were observed in the centre and periphery of the cords of cells in the pars distalis of the adult tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). The nongranulated cells formed follicles containing a small lumen; the cell apices were joined by junctional complexes including zonulae adhaerentes and maculae adhaerentes (desmosomes). Follicles of granulated cells were also occasionally found. Follicles were rarely observed in the adult, but were numerous and generally larger in pouch-young wallabies. Moreover, whereas the involvement of granulated cells in the follicles of the adult was infrequent, they were common components of follicular structures in the pouch-young. The marginal cells at the periphery of the pars distalis in contact with the hypophysial cleft had many of the cytological characteristics of the nongranulated cells in the central pars distalis. In both adult and pouch-young wallabies, nongranulated cells at the periphery of the cell cords were juxtaposed such that they formed “sinusoid-like” spaces or lacunae, presumably as part of the extravascular channel system. The observations are discussed in light of the proposed phagocytotic, metabolite and/or hormone transport and “stem cell” roles attributed to these cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham M, Kieselstein M, Begon-Lisson S (1975) The extravascular channel system in the rostral pituitary of Mugil cephalus (Teleostei) as revealed by use of horseradish peroxidase. Cell Tissue Res 167:289–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Alluchon-Gerard M-J (1978) Ultrastructure of the dogfish adenohypophysis. Cell Tissue Res 193:139–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Bäge G, Fernholm B (1975) Ultrastructure of the pro-adenohypophysis of the river lamprey, Lampetra fluvialitis, during gonad maturation. Acta Zool (Stockholm) 56:95–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M, Baker BI (1976) Ultrastructural studies on prolactin and growth hormone cells in Anguilla pituitaries in vitro. Cell Tissue Res 174:547–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M, Baker BI (1978) Ultrastructural studies on prolactin and growth hormone cells in Anguilla pituitaries in long-term cultures. Cell Tissue Res 191:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bold AJ, De Bold ML, Kraicer J (1980) Structural relationships between parenchymal and stromal elements in the pars intermedia of the rat adenohypophysis as demonstrated by extracellular space markers. Cell Tissue Res 207:347–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Dingemans KP, Feltkamp CA (1972) Nongranulated cells in the mouse adenohypophysis. Z Zellforsch 124:387–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois P, Girod C (1970) Les cellules ciliées de l'antéhypophyse. Etude au microscope électronique. Z Zellforsch 103:502–517

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzoni MF, Fasolo A (1975) Fine structural changes induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in the pars intermedia of the newt. J Submicros Cytol 7:107–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes MS (1972) Fine structure of the stellate cell in the pars distalis of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis. J Morphol 136:227–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Girod C, Lhéritier M (1981) Ultrastructure des cellules folliculo-stellaires de la pars distalis de l'hypophyse chez le spermophile (Cittelus variegatus Erxleben), le graphiure (Graphiurus murinus Desmaret), et le hérisson (Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 43:105–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Horvath E, Kovacs K, Penz G, Ezrin C (1974) Origin, possible function and fate of “follicular cells” in the anterior lobe of the human pituitary. Am J Pathol 77:199–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Rodríguez EM, Meurling P (1979) Control of the pars intermedia of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. III. Changes in the ultrastructure of the disconnected neurointermediate lobe. Cell Tissue Res 199:1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF (1970) Seasonal variations in the structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary in the marine form (trachurus) of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. I. Rostral pars distalis. Z Zellforsch 104:301–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF (1975) Structure and fine structure of the pars distalis in cyclostome, holostean, and teleostean representatives. Gen Comp Endocrinol 26:2–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF, Baker BI (1982) Penetration of horseradish peroxidase into the extravascular channel system of in vitro cultured European eel (Anguilla anguilla) pituitaries, with comments on the role of the nongranulated cells. Can J Zool 60:838–847

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF, Percy R (1976) Structure of the nongranulated cells in the hypophyseal rostral pars distalis of cyclostomes and actinopterygians. Cell Tissue Res 166:185–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF, Ball JN, Hyder M (1974) Structure and fine structure of the hypophyseal pars distalis in indigenous species of the genus Tilapia. Cell Tissue Res 149:245–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson AK, Licht P, Zambrano D (1973) Ultrastructure of the pars distalis of the lizard Anolis carolinensis with special reference to the identification of the gonadotropic cell. Z Zellforsch 137:293–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Percy R, Leatherland JF, Beamish FWH (1975) Structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary gland in the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, at different stages of its life cycle. Cell Tissue Res 157:141–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK (1975) Ultrastructure of the stellate cells in the pars intermedia of the frog, Rana pipiens. Cell Tissue Res 164:387–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK, DeVellis J, Bagnara JT (1980) Phagocytic activity of the stellate cells in the anuran pars distalis. Cell Tissue Res 208:85–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Renfree MB (1981) Marsupials: alternative mammals. Nature 293:100–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Saland LC (1980) Extracellular spaces of the rat pars intermedia as outlined by lanthanum tracer. Anat Rec 196:355–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Schechter J (1979) The ultrastructure of the stellate cell in the rabbit pars distalis. Am J Anat 126:477–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz HJ, Patzner RA, Adam H (1979) Fine structure of the agranular adenohypophysial cells in the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa (Cyclostomata). Cell Tissue Res 204:67–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiotani Y (1980) An electron microscopic study on stellate cells in the rabbit adenohypophysis under various endocrine conditions. Cell Tissue Res 213:237–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseng MT, Yntema CL (1976) Fine structure of the chromophobe in the pars distalis of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina. Cell Tissue Res 166:235–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Vila-Porcile E (1972) Le réseau des cellules folliculo-stellaires et les follicles de l'adénohypophyse du rat (pars distalis). Z Zellforsch 129:328–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Weis M (1965) The release of pituitary secretion in the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Guenther). Z Zellforsch 68:783–794

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamashito K (1972) Fine structure of the mouse anterior pituitary maintained in a short-term incubation system. Z Zellforsch 124:465–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura F, Soji T, Sato S, Yokoyama M (1977a) Development and differentiation of rat pituitary follicular cells under normal and some experimental conditions with special reference to an interpretation of renewal cell system. Endocrinol Jpn 24:435–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura F, Soji T, Kiguchi Y (1977 b) Relationship between the follicular cells and marginal layer cells of the anterior pituitary. Endocrinol Jpn 24:301–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Young BA (1976) Some observations on the ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis of the plains Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus). J Anat 122:641–651

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This work was supported by a travel grant and grant-in-aid of research from the N.S.E.R.C. (J.F.L.) and from the A.R.G.C. and the N.I.H. (M.B.R.)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leatherland, J.F., Renfree, M.B. Ultrastructure of the nongranulated cells and morphology of the extracellular spaces in the pars distalis of adult and pouch-young tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii). Cell Tissue Res. 227, 439–450 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210898

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210898

Key words

Navigation