Gonadotrope plasticity at cellular and population levels.
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Gonadotrope plasticity at cellular and population levels. / Alim, Zahara; Hartshorn, Cheryl; Mai, Oliver; Stitt, Ian; Clay, Colin; Tobet, Stuart; Boehm, Ulrich.
In: ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol. 153, No. 10, 10, 2012, p. 4729-4739.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Gonadotrope plasticity at cellular and population levels.
AU - Alim, Zahara
AU - Hartshorn, Cheryl
AU - Mai, Oliver
AU - Stitt, Ian
AU - Clay, Colin
AU - Tobet, Stuart
AU - Boehm, Ulrich
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Hormone-secreting cells within the anterior pituitary gland may form organized and interdigitated networks that adapt to changing endocrine conditions in different physiological contexts. For gonadotropes, this might reflect a strategy to cope with acute changes throughout different female reproductive stages. The current study examined gonadotropes in female mice at characteristically different hormonal stages: prepubertal, postpubertal, and lactating. Gonadotrope plasticity was examined at the level of the whole population and single cells at different stages by imaging both fixed and live pituitary slices. The use of a model animal providing for the identification of selectively fluorescent gonadotropes allowed the particular advantage of defining cellular plasticity specifically for gonadotropes. In vivo analyses of gonadotropes relative to vasculature showed significantly different gonadotrope distributions across physiological states. Video microscopy studies using live slices ex vivo demonstrated pituitary cell plasticity in the form of movements and protrusions in response to GnRH. As positive feedback from rising estradiol levels is important for priming the anterior pituitary gland for the LH surge, experiments provide evidence of estradiol effects on GnRH signaling in gonadotropes. The experiments presented herein provide new insight into potential plasticity of gonadotropes within the anterior pituitary glands of female mice.
AB - Hormone-secreting cells within the anterior pituitary gland may form organized and interdigitated networks that adapt to changing endocrine conditions in different physiological contexts. For gonadotropes, this might reflect a strategy to cope with acute changes throughout different female reproductive stages. The current study examined gonadotropes in female mice at characteristically different hormonal stages: prepubertal, postpubertal, and lactating. Gonadotrope plasticity was examined at the level of the whole population and single cells at different stages by imaging both fixed and live pituitary slices. The use of a model animal providing for the identification of selectively fluorescent gonadotropes allowed the particular advantage of defining cellular plasticity specifically for gonadotropes. In vivo analyses of gonadotropes relative to vasculature showed significantly different gonadotrope distributions across physiological states. Video microscopy studies using live slices ex vivo demonstrated pituitary cell plasticity in the form of movements and protrusions in response to GnRH. As positive feedback from rising estradiol levels is important for priming the anterior pituitary gland for the LH surge, experiments provide evidence of estradiol effects on GnRH signaling in gonadotropes. The experiments presented herein provide new insight into potential plasticity of gonadotropes within the anterior pituitary glands of female mice.
KW - Animals
KW - Female
KW - Mice
KW - Aging/physiology
KW - Gonadotrophs/metabolism/physiology
KW - Pituitary Gland, Anterior/cytology/metabolism
KW - Animals
KW - Female
KW - Mice
KW - Aging/physiology
KW - Gonadotrophs/metabolism/physiology
KW - Pituitary Gland, Anterior/cytology/metabolism
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 153
SP - 4729
EP - 4739
JO - ENDOCRINOLOGY
JF - ENDOCRINOLOGY
SN - 0013-7227
IS - 10
M1 - 10
ER -
