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Endocrinology, doi:10.1210/endo-92-4-965
Endocrinology Vol. 92, No. 4 965-972
Copyright © 1973 by the Endocrine Society.
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Direct Action of Synthetic Progestins on the Hypophysis11

BURTON L. BAKER, THOMAS A. ESKIN2 and LAWRENCE N. AUGUST2

Department of Anatomy, The University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Abstract

The objective was to assess the capacity of synthetic progestins to influence the hypophysis by direct action. For this purpose norethynodrel, norethindrone, and medroxyprogesterone were individually mixed with cholesterol; pellets of these mixtures or of cholesterol only were implanted in the hypophyseal pars distalis of ovariectomized rats and the subsequent cytological response was observed in the surrounding tissue with the aid of immunochemical staining. Minimal changes were observed in all cell types around cholesterol pellets. Both norethynodrel and norethindrone caused hypertrophy of prolactin cells in a region that spread laterally, ventrally and caudally from the pellet; in a similar area LH—cells were reduced in size. These effects were attributed to the intrinsic estrogenicity of these compounds. The amount of glandular tissue affected by implanted hormone was related to the intraglandular position of the pellet. Medroxyprogesterone, which is a potent progestational compound but lacks estrogenic activity, failed to alter the structure of either cell type. These results indicate that for those actions of progestins on the hypophysis that depend on estrogenicity, mediation by the hypothalamus is not required. (Endocrinology92:965, 1973)

Footnotes

1 Supported in part by a Grant from the National Institutes of Health, HD 03159–05.

2 Supported by Student Research Fellowships of the University of Michigan Medical School.

Received August 14, 1972.






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Copyright © 1973 by The Endocrine Society