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The anterior pituitary of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

The cytological effects of photoperiodic stimulation

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Summary

The cytology of the adenohypophysis of the male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) has been studied under a variety of experimental conditions: (1) treatment with long daily photoperiods for variable lengths of time; (2) the change from a long to a short daily photoperiod which induces gonadal regression; (3) castration followed by exposure to either short or long daily photoperiods, and (4) treatment with thyroxine, thiourea and metapirone. In parallel with the Cytological investigations, information on the level of hypophysial gonadotropins has been obtained by bioassay.

The cytological investigations permit the recognition of seven types of cells in the adenohypophysis and the identification of gonadotropic cells, thyrotropic cells, and corticotropic cells. The significance of the orangeophilic alpha (STH ?) cells, and the erythrosinophilic eta (prolactin ?) cells remains hypothetical. A seventh cell type “kappa” is hypercyanophilic and positive with lead hematoxylin; it has been identified in other species of birds and may be a melanophorotropic cell.

In castrates, an increase in pituitary gonadotropin appears only with photostimulation. It appears that photostimulation increases thyrotropic activity, an effect that is enhanced by castration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie moléculaire, Collège de France, France

    A. Tixier-Vidal, B. K. Follett & D. S. Farner

  2. Department of Zoology, The University, Leeds

    A. Tixier-Vidal, B. K. Follett & D. S. Farner

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Washington, USA

    A. Tixier-Vidal, B. K. Follett & D. S. Farner

Authors
  1. A. Tixier-Vidal
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  2. B. K. Follett
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  3. D. S. Farner
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by Grant No. 5 ROI NB 06,187 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness and by an allocation from the Graduate School Research Fund to Professor Farner.

Part of the study was aided by an A. R. C. grant (AG. 24/36) to Dr. B. K. Follett.

We are grateful to Doctor August Epple for his histologie analysis of some of the target glands.

We wish to thank Miss Maryvonne Lefalchier, biologiste-adjointe du C. N. R. S. for excellent technical assistance in the cytological preparation of the pituitaries.

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Tixier-Vidal, A., Follett, B.K. & Farner, D.S. The anterior pituitary of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica . Z. Zellforsch. 92, 610–635 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336670

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