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Effect of TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) on the fine structure and replication of TSH and prolactin cells in the rat

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Summary

In intact male rats after TRH administration for 7 and 14 days, TSH cells showed similar morphological changes to those observed after thyroidectomy. These changes were paralleled by small numerical increases in TSH cell counts. After 34 days of TRH treatment, however, most of the TSH cells had a normal appearance and the number of TSH cells also had returned to normal. TRH treatment for 7, 14 and 34 days caused morphological changes in Prolactin cells similar to those obtained after a suckling stimulus. In the three groups these changes were also paralleled by small numerical increases in Prolactin cell counts. The cell replication after TRH for 7 and 14 days, as measured by incorporation of tritiated thymidine to obtain a labeling index, was slightly but significantly increased.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Irmgard E. Stratmann, Calvin Ezrin, Kalman Kovacs & Edward A. Sellers

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  1. Irmgard E. Stratmann
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  2. Calvin Ezrin
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  3. Kalman Kovacs
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  4. Edward A. Sellers
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Additional information

This work was supported by grants MA-552 and MT-2701 from the Medical Research Council of Canada. The authors wish to thank Dr. D.A.J. Ives, Connaught Medical Research Laboratories, Toronto, for providing the TRH, and Mr. G. Penz for technical assistance.

Fellow of the Medical Research Council of Canada.

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Stratmann, I.E., Ezrin, C., Kovacs, K. et al. Effect of TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) on the fine structure and replication of TSH and prolactin cells in the rat. Z.Zellforsch 145, 23–37 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307187

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