Ultrastructure of STH cells of the pars distalis of hepatectomized mice

Abstract

An electron microscopic analysis was performed on the pars distalis of the hypophysis of hepatectomized mice. Intact and sham operated mice served as controls. The STH cells presented striking changes that were most intense and widespread in those animals sacrificed at midnight of the second day after hepatectomy. These changes can be summarized as follows: 1) Hypertrophy of the Golgi complex with increased number of immature granules within the Golgi zone. This change appeared also in otherwise unmodified STH cells. 2) Strong dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum whose cisternae contained much electron dense material. 3) Granules with partially diminished electron density, some of them in spatial relation with the plasma membrane and others swelling and bursting within the cytoplasm. All transitions between unchanged 350–400 mμ granules and extremely altered ones, were seen. 4) Release sites, characterized by dense zones in the plasmalemma, close to aggregates of electron lucent microvesicles, and almost empty granule membranes. 5) Increase in the density of the mitochondria which appeared grouped near the Golgi zone. 6) Increase in the number of large lysosomes of the autophagic vacuole type. 7) Irregular nuclear outlines. These data suggest increased synthesis and release of growth hormone in STH cells stimulated by hepatectomy.