Morphological and biochemical changes of pituitary gonadotropes in male golden hamsters submitted to short and long photoperiods.

Golden hamsters are seasonal breeders, and a pattern of regression-recrudescence in their hypothalamic-pituitary axis is observed when adult animals are exposed to less than 12.5 h daylight for a prolonged period of time. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the possible morphological and biochemical changes of gonadotrope cell population in male golden hamsters submitted to both short (SP) and long photoperiods (LP). Thus, adult male golden hamsters were exposed to SP (6 h light, 18 h darkness) for 8, 16, 22 and 28 weeks or maintained under LP (14 h light, 10 h darkness). Pituitaries were processed using both light and electron microscopy, and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were assessed by heterologous radioimmunoassay. Volume density [VD = Sigma cell area/reference area (RA)] and cell density (CD = number of cells/RA) of gonadotropes were measured with an image analysis system (Imaging Technology, Software Optimas 5.2). When analyzing the gonadotrope population from animals submitted either to SP or LP, no significant differences were found. At the ultrastructural level, we found a decrease (p < 0.05) in the exocytotic profiles and the individual mean area of secretory granules of both gonadotropes in hamsters maintained under SP for 16 and 22 weeks. Exposure to short days resulted in a decline in serum levels showing a nadir after 16 weeks (p < 0.05). Gonadotropin levels of the hamsters under prolonged exposure to short cycles spontaneously returned to normal values after 22 weeks. In summary, we found a decrease in the ultrastructural and biochemical parameters suggesting an altered release of FSH and LH in male golden hamsters submitted to SP, with a spontaneous recrudescence phase appearing at the end of the study.

Influence of photoinhibition on the morphology and function of pituitary lactotropes in male golden hamsters.

Inhibition of prolactin (PRL) secretion has been previously shown in pituitaries from male and female hamsters exposed to short photoperiods. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the possible quantitative immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes of PRL cells in male golden hamsters undergoing regression and spontaneous recrudescence, correlating the morphological findings with circulating PRL levels. Thus, adult male golden hamsters were exposed for 8, 16, 22 and 28 weeks to either short photoperiods (SP: 6 h light, 18 h darkness) or long photoperiods (LP: 14 h light, 10 h darkness). Pituitaries were processed for both light and electron microscopy, and serum levels of PRL were assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Volume density (VD = cell area/reference area) and cell density (CD = number of cells/reference area) of lactotropes were measured with an image analysis system (Imaging Technology, Software Optimas 5.2). One hundred lactotropes were recorded for measuring several ultrastructural parameters. When analyzing the lactrotrope cell population from animals submitted to SP, the VD and CD were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) diminished with respect to those of the groups submitted to LP at weeks 8, 16 and 22. However, at week 28 a spontaneous recrudescence appeared. The lactotropes from animals submitted to LP for 8, 16, 22 and 28 weeks exhibited numerous large electrondense secretory granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) presented some flat cisternae and numerous free ribosomes. Animals submitted to SP for 8 weeks showed a number of medium and large secretory granules, and the RER exhibited mainly numerous free ribosomes. In those animals submitted to SP for 16 and 22 weeks, lactotropes were found smaller and showed small and medium-sized secretory granules decreased in number. The Golgi complex exhibited some immature granules and dilated cisternae, while the RER did not present differences with respect to the 8-week SP group. The hamsters submitted to SP for 28 weeks presented medium and large secretory granules, and the RER exhibited dilated irregular cisternae. The ultrastructural morphometric parameters showed a decrease (p < 0.05) in the number of secretory granules and exocytotic profiles, as well as a diminution (p < 0.05) in the areas of Golgi complex, RER, secretory granules, and individual mean area of secretory granule during the 16 and 22 weeks of SP. Serum PRL levels were severely reduced under SP. This decrease was greater at 16 weeks than at 8 weeks of exposure. When hamsters were kept for 22 weeks under SP, PRL levels started their recovery. Thus, at the end of the experiment, the PRL values returned to near those of LP group. In summary, we found quantitative immunohistochemical and ultrastructural, as well as biochemical changes that suggest an inhibition of synthesis, storage and release of PRL in male golden hamsters submitted to SP, with a spontaneous recrudescence appearing at the end of the study.

Islet cell population changes induced by short term ovariectomy

En este trabajo se han estudiado los cambios ocurridos en el páncreas endocrino de ratas 14 días después de su ovariectomía. Se emplearon para ello ratas ovariectomizadas (O) y controles normales (C) de la misma edad. Los páncreas de estos animales se tiñeron empleando técnicas de p-aldehído-fucsina y peroxidasa (con suero antiinsulina) y el método de Weibel para las determinaciones morfométricas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la ovariectomía produce una disminución del volumen total del páncreas endocrino, acompañado de un aumento del volumen individual de los islotes. Este último sería debido a un incremento de su población celular a expensas de sus células B sin cambio en el tamaño de ellas, indicando una probable hiperplasia sin hipertrofia celular. Estos cambios explicarían la aparente discordancia del efecto de la castración sobre la secreción de insulina cuando ésta se estudia en modelos de páncreas entero o islotes aislados

Islet cell population changes induced by short term ovariectomy

En este trabajo se han estudiado los cambios ocurridos en el páncreas endocrino de ratas 14 días después de su ovariectomía. Se emplearon para ello ratas ovariectomizadas (O) y controles normales (C) de la misma edad. Los páncreas de estos animales se tiñeron empleando técnicas de p-aldehído-fucsina y peroxidasa (con suero antiinsulina) y el método de Weibel para las determinaciones morfométricas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la ovariectomía produce una disminución del volumen total del páncreas endocrino, acompañado de un aumento del volumen individual de los islotes. Este último sería debido a un incremento de su población celular a expensas de sus células B sin cambio en el tamaño de ellas, indicando una probable hiperplasia sin hipertrofia celular. Estos cambios explicarían la aparente discordancia del efecto de la castración sobre la secreción de insulina cuando ésta se estudia en modelos de páncreas entero o islotes aislados (AU)