Relationship between GAPª²43ª²like immunoreactive nerve fibers and gland cells in anterior pituitary of rat

    MENG Fanª²Dong , JU Gong

    PLA Institute of Neuroscience, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the relationship between growth associated proteinª²43ª²like immunoreactive (GAPª²43ª²LI) nerve fibers and gland cells in the anterior pituitary of rat undergoing adrenalectomy. METHODS: Fifteen SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=3), and adrenalectomy was performed and anterior pituitary specimens were obtained after a week. Antiª²GAPª²43 antibody and antiª²adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) antibodies were used in the double immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The expression of GAPª²43ª²LI nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary of rat increased dramatically seven days after adrenalectomy and was closely related to somatotrophs, corticotrophs and lactotrophs. CONCLUSION: The sprouting nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary of rat undergoing adrenalectomy are closely related to the gland cells, offering further evidence for the hypothesis of neuralª²humoral dual regulation of mammalian anterior pituitary. ......