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Histology - Endocrine Glands

Pituitary Gland

Muhammad Ressam Nazir

PITUITARY GLAND (The Hypophysis Cerebri)

Pituitary gland
It lies in the base of the skull in a portion of sphenoid bone called Sella Turcica Weight= 500-900 mg Size is like that of pea. It may double in size during pregnancy.

Gross Anatomy
Because of its dual origin, the pituitary actually consists of two glands
the anterior adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) the posterior neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

Both are united anatomically but with different functions. The adenohypophysis, derived from the oral ectoderm, has three parts: a large pars distalis (or the anterior lobe); the pars tuberalis, which wraps around the infundibulum; and the thin pars intermedia. The neurohypophysis retains features of CNS tissue from which it developed (floor of diencephalon (forebrain)) and consists of a large part, the pars nervosa, and the smaller infundibulum with its stalk attached to the hypothalamus at the median eminence.

The Hypothalamic-Hypophyseal Portal System

Histology of the Pituitary Gland

Histology of the Pituitary Gland

ADENOHYPOPHYSIS
(Anterior Pituitary)

Pars Distalis
75 % of the hypophysis. Main components are cords of epithelial cells interspersed with fenestrated capillaries. Gland is surrounded by a C.T. capsule. Cells of parenchyma = chromophobes, chromophils. Stroma = composed of reticular fibers and fibroblasts.

Pars Distalis

Cell Types
Chromphobes:
No affinity for stains 50 % cells in the pars disatalis. Rounded or polygonal cells No secretory granules Actually these are degranulated chromophils.

Chromphils:
Remaining 50 % of the cells. Rounded or polygonal cells Have affinity for stains due to presence of cytoplasmic granules. 2 types: acidophils (70%) and basophils.

Acidophils:
Larger than chromophobes but smaller than basophils Cytoplasm has granules which stain with aciidc dyes (e.g. eosin, orange G, azocarmine etc) Alpha acidophils (somatotropes): commoner of the two types, stain well with orange G. Secrete GH. Epsilon acidophils (lactotropes or mammotropes): Granules stain with azocarmine. Secrete prolactin.

Basophils:
Larger in size than acidophils Dont stain with hematoxylin but stain intensely with methylene blue. Beta basophils (thyrotropes): stain intensely with aldehyde fuchsin. secrete TSH. Delta cells (gonadotropes): secrete FSH and LH. Corticotropes: these cells also dont stain with aldehyde fuchsin. They secrete ACTH.

Pars Tuberalis
The pars tuberalis is a funnel-shaped region surrounding the infundibulum of the neurohypophysis. Most of the cells of the pars tuberalis are basophilic gonadotropic cells that secrete follice-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

Pars Intermedia
The pars intermedia is a thin zone of basophilic cells between the pars distalis and the pars nervosa of the neurohypophysis. MSH increases melanocyte activity and cells of the pars intermedia are often referred to as melanotropic cells, but the overall physiological significance of this region remains uncertain, especially in adults.

The diagram summarizes the major hormones of the anterior pituitary and indicates their most important targets.

NEUROHYPOPHYSIS
(Posterior Pituitary)

NEUROHYPOPHYSIS
The neurohypophysis consists of the pars nervosa and the infundibular stalk. The pars nervosa, unlike the adenohypophysis, does not contain secretory cells. It is composed of neural tissue, containing some 100,000 unmyelinated axons of secretory neurons situated in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Also present are highly branched glial cells called pituicytes that resemble astrocytes and are the most abundant cell type in the posterior pituitary.
Their main role is to assist in the storage and release of neurohypophysial hormones.

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