Cellular localization of 3H-oestradiol in the hypophysis

Summary The pituitaries of male and female rats given 0.3 g of 6.7-³H-oestradiol-17 per 100 g body weight were examined by autoradiography in order to 1) identify the cells responsible for the uptake of the hormone, 2) determine the intracellular distribution of the hormone and quantify the proportions localized within the cytoplasm and nucleus by silver grain counting, and 3) see if sex differences existed in the cellular and intracellular distribution of the hormone. The animals were killed at intervals varying from 1 minute to 8 hours following intravenous or intramuscular injection.A large proportion of pituitary cells having the morphologic characteristics of acidophils, basophils and chromophobes contained radioactive material. Castration cells and acidophils of gonadectomized and lactating rats showed marked labelling. In male and female rats killed 10 minutes after intravenous injection, 84.4 and 83.6 per cent of the cells were labelled. One hour after intramuscular injection, 86.6 and 76.1 per cent of the cells were labelled in males and females, respectively. Thus, a small proportion of the cells remained unlabelled.Labelled cells showed silver grains both in the cytoplasm and over the cell nuclei, but the major proportion of the radioactive material was invariably associated with the cell nuclei in all cell types and at all time intervals. About 65 per cent of the radioactive material was associated with the cell nuclei in animals killed five minutes or one hour after intravenous or intramuscular injection of the hormone. The silver grains appeared to be randomly distributed in both the cytoplasm and over the cell nuclei.In the intermediate lobe and the neurohypophysis, only sparse labelling with random distribution was observed. At the border between the intermediate lobe and the neurohypophysis, labelling of single cells or clusters of cells similar to those in the adenohypophysis was found.The results, which were essentially the same in male and female rats, appear to indicate a direct effect of oestradiol at the pituitary level.This work was supported by grants from the Norwegian Cancer Society and by Nordisk Insulinfond. The skilful assistance of Miss Helga Friedl and Mrs. Jane Larsen is gratefully acknowledged.