Skip to main content
Log in

Phagocytic activity of the stellate cells in the anuran pars intermedia

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In an attempt to study further the stellate cell and its functions, the ultrastructure of this cell type in the neurointermediate lobe of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was examined in both organ and dissociated-cell culture. The cytoplasmic activity of stellate cells from neurointermediate lobes incubated 3 1/2 or 5 1/2 h was greater than that of those in vivo. Mitochondria and bundles of cytoplasmic filaments were numerous, in addition to prominent, well-developed Golgi complexes with associated vesicles. The most striking ultrastructural feature was the presence of phagocytic vacuoles that contain cellular debris. The stellate cells were seen to form cytoplasmic processes that phagocytosed this extracellular debris identifiable as belonging to the secretory cells of the pars intermedia. The stellate cells from the dissociated-cell preparations were also seen to contain debris within phagocytic vacuoles. In those neurointermediate lobes transplanted for 3 1/2 to 4 days into the anterior chamber of the eye, the stellate cells demonstrated similar phagocytic ability, but the phagocytic vacuoles contained material that seemed to be at a later stage of degradation. In all three of these conditions, the stellate cells were not seen to release this cellular debris nor were they seen to undergo cell division. These glial-like stellate cells of the pars intermedia acted as macrophages in all three of these experiments. There is now, therefore, a need to determine under what conditions, if any, these stellate cells function in vivo as macrophages.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Båge G, Fernholm B (1975) Ultrastructure of the pro-adenohypophysis of the river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, during gonad maturation. Acta Zool (Stockh) 56:95–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkley BR, Murphy P, Richardson LC (1967) Procedure for embedding in situ selected cells cultured in vitro. J Cell Biol 35:279–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron E, Foster CL (1971) Some light- and electron-microscopical observations on the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland of the rabbit. J Endocrinol 49:479–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Castel M (1972) Ultrastructure of the anuran pars intermedia following severence of hypothalamic connection. Z Zellforsch 131:545–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellmann HD, Owsley PA (1969) Investigations on the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial neurosecretory system of the grass-frog (Rana pipiens) after transection of the proximal neurohypophysis. II. Light- and electron-microscopic findings in the disconnected distal neurohypophysis with special emphasis on the pituicytes. Z Zellforsch 94:325–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellmann HD, Stoeckel ME, Porte A, Stutinsky F, Chang N, Adldinger HK (1974) Herring bodies reexamined: an ultrastructural investigation of the rat neural lobe. Anat Histol Embryol 3:101–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar MG (1971) Processing of secretory products by cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Mem Soc Endocrinol 19:79–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar MG, Skutelsky EH, Hopkins CR (1975) Structure and function of the anterior pituitary and dispersed pituitary cells. In vitro studies. In: Tixier-Vidal A, Farquhar MG (eds) The Anterior Pituitary. Academic Press, New York, pp 83–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes MS (1972) Observations on the fine structure of the pars intermedia in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 18:146–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzoni MF, Fasolo A (1975) Fine structural changes induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in the pars intermedia of the newt. J Submicrosc Cytol 7:107–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins CR (1971) Localization of adrenergic fibers in the amphibian pars intermedia by electron microscope autoradiography and their selected removal by 6-hydroxydopamine. Gen Comp Endocrinol 16:112–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe A, Maxwell DS (1968) Electron microscopy of the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland in the rat. Gen Comp Endocrinol 11:169–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Rodriguez EM, Meurling P (1979) Control of the pars intermedia of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis. III. Changes in the ultrastructure of the disconnected neuro-intermediate lobe. Cell Tissue Res 199:1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF (1970) Seasonal variation in the structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary of the marine form (Trachurus) of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. I. Rostral pars distalis. Z Zellforsch 104:301–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemkey-Johnston N, Bulter V, Reynolds WA (1976) Glial changes in the progress of a chemical lesion. An electron microscopic study. J Comp Neurol 167:481–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson AK, Licht P (1974) Embryology and cytodifferentiation of the pituitary gland in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. J Morphol 144:85–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Pehlemann FW (1967) Ultrastructure and innervation of the pars intermedia of the pituitary of Xenopus laevis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 9:481

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK (1974) Fine structure of the secretory activity of the pars intermedia of Rana pipiens. Gen Comp Endocrinol 23:94–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK (1975) Ultrastructure of the stellate cell in the pars intermedia in the frog, Rana pipiens. Cell Tissue Res 164:387–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK (1976) Permeability of the amphibian pars intermedia to peroxidase injected intravascularly. Cell Tissue Res 173:401–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Perryman EK, Bagnara JT (1978) Extravascular transfer within the anuran pars intermedia. Cell Tissue Res 193:297–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawdon BB (1978) Ultrastructure of the nongranulated hypophysial cells in the teleost Pseudocrenilabrus philander (Hemihaplochromis philander), with particular reference to cytological changes in culture. Acta Zool (Stockh) 59:25–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Saland LC (1968) Ultrastructure of the frog pars intermedia in relation to hypothalamic control of hormone release. Neuroendocrinology 3:72–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Semoff S, Hadley ME (1978) Localization of ATPase activity in the glial-like cells of the pars intermedia. Gen Comp Endocrinol 35:329–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Varon SS, Somjen GG (1979) Neuron-glia interactions. Neurosci Res Progr Bull 17:33–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Weatherhead B (1971) Cytology of the neuro-intermediate lobe of the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus, Gray. Z Zellforsch 119:21–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss M (1965) The release of pituitary secretion in the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Guenther). Z Zellforsch 68:783–794

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita K (1969) Electron microscopic observations on the postnatal development of the anterior pituitary of the mouse. Gunma Symp Endocrinol 6:177–196

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by NSF Program for Small College Faculty Engaged in Research at Larger Institutions and Department of Energy — Associated Western Universities Faculty Participation Program. The authors thank Dr. W. Ferris and Dr. J. Berliner for the use of the electron microscopy facilities at the University of Arizona and Nuclear Medicine Laboratory, UCLA, respectively. Warm thanks are due to Ms. Ruth Cole for technical assistance

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Perryman, E.K., de Vellis, J. & Bagnara, J.T. Phagocytic activity of the stellate cells in the anuran pars intermedia. Cell Tissue Res. 208, 85–98 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234175

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234175

Key words

Navigation