ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE ADENOHYPOPHYSIS OF CASTRATED RABBITS

Abstract

SUMMARY The ultrastructure of the rabbit adenohypophysis is described at increasing time-intervals after castration. An early effect of castration was the appearance of large numbers of degranulated or partially degranulated cells in both the pars distalis proper and the zona tuberalis. These cells were similar in general shape and granule size to the type 3 and 3z cells of the normal rabbit adenohypophysis. Characteristically these cells show a dilatation of the cisternae of the ergastoplasm and a prominent Golgi zone. 284 days after castration the partially degranulated cells were very large and their dilated cisternae were up to 1·3 μ in diameter and more spherical in form. Since the cells most affected by castration were similar in all respects to the type 3 and 3z cells described in normal rabbits, they are considered to be the gonadotrophs.