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ABSTRACT

Both native and recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) exerted a marked effect on the morphology of a pituitary clonal somatotroph-like cell line (MtT/S) in vitro. Addition of 10 pg–20 ng bovine basic FGF/ml caused the cells to flatten and spread out over the culture dish, the cells showing strong surface contact. Those in contact with the culture dish were epithelial in appearance, being polygonal, closely apposed and forming a pavement-like monolayer. Basic FGF inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at the higher concentrations tested (0·5–20 ng/ml). This cell-adhesive effect of basic FGF was also observed in normal dispersed pituitary cells. The observed stimulation of pituitary cell adhesion is the first report of a morphological effect of basic FGF on pituitary cells and could explain the physiological significance of basic FGF and its high concentration in the pituitary gland.

Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 130, 381–386

Regulation of mammary prolactin receptors by steroid hormones was investigated in ovariectomized mid-pregnant mice. Ovariectomy increased the number of mammary prolactin receptors per cell with no effect or a slight decrease in dissociation constant (K _d). The simultaneous removal of adrenals prevented this increase in numbers. A single injection of glucocorticoid (corticosterone or cortisol) in ovariectomized–adrenalectomized mice restored the number of prolactin receptors in mammary glands to the same level as that in ovariectomized controls without changing the K _d. Aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone and oestradiol did not affect the number of mammary prolactin receptors after ovariectomy–adrenalectomy. Serum concentration of prolactin was not influenced by the hormone manipulation except with injections of oestradiol or cortisol and apparently did not correlate with the number of prolactin receptors. These results indicated that glucocorticoids are required for the increase in the number of mammary prolactin receptors induced by ovariectomy in mid-pregnant mice.

ABSTRACT

The effect of testosterone on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), its protein level and immunocytochemical distribution were examined in the mouse kidney. Male BALB C mice at 8 weeks of age were used throughout. Fourteen hours before death, they received a subcutaneous injection of testosterone (1 mg/animal) or solvent to measure renal ODC activity or to detect the distribution of ODC immunoreactivity in the kidney. Renal ODC activity and the content of the enzyme were markedly increased after testosterone treatment. Histologically, few cells that were obviously immunoreactive to ODC were observed in the control animals and in the testosterone-treated animals a marked increase in ODC immunoreactivity was observed only in the cortex. ODC immunoreactive cells were located diffusely in the proximal tubule. In the pars recta, cells were stained weakly and homogeneously, while in the pars convoluta, the luminal surface of the cells showed stronger immunoreactivity. Moreover, many granule-like particles that were strongly ODC immunoreactive were observed inside the lumen of the pars convoluta. These results show that testosterone treatment induces an increase in ODC content in certain cells located in the proximal tubule of the cortex.

Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 85–89