Further Cytophysiologic Evidence for the Identity of the Cells That Produce Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone1

TLDR: To provide further evidence for the identification of the cell type responsible for the production of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), the effects of acute and chronic administration of cortisol on the cells of the pituitaries of intact and adrenalectomized rats were studied by electron microscopy.

Abstract: To provide further evidence for the identification of the cell type responsible for the production of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), the effects of acute and chronic administration of cortisol on the cells of the pituitaries of intact and adrenalectomized rats were studied by electron microscopy. Hypertrophied ACTH-cells, previously described as adrenalectomy-cells, were scarce in controls and became more numerous after adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy-cells are characterized by their secretory granules, which are dense, sparse, and measure 200 μn or more in maximal diameter, and by the irregularity of their cell outlines, determined by their interior position in the cell cords and their tendency to send processes of cytoplasm around neighboring cells toward the capillaries. Normal ACTH-cells are identified by similar criteria, although they are less voluminous and their cell outlines tend to be less complex and varied. Acute administration of cortisol caused a striking accumulation of secretory granules in bot...