COLOCALIZATION OF NGF AND TSH-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN CULTURES OF ADULT-RAT ANTERIOR-PITUITARY-CELLS

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been well-characterized with respect to its role as a trophic agent for various peripheral nervous system (PNS ) and central nervous system (CNS) neuronal populations, Recent eviden ce indicates that NGF may also play a functional role in endocrine sys tems, although investigations in this field are only beginning to defi ne sites of action and molecular mechanisms involved in NGF-endocrine interactions, A potential site for such an interaction to occur is wit hin the pituitary. Previous investigations have demonstrated the prese nce of NGF and NGF receptors in the pituitary and our group has recent ly reported the presence of NGF-like immunoreactivity exclusively with in the thyrotrophic cells of the anterior pituitary of the adult rat, Since many questions regarding how NGF interacts in the anterior pitui tary will be more efficiently addressed using an in vitro system, it w as necessary to first determine if cultured adult anterior pituitary c ells retain the NGF-like staining and unique association of NGF with t hyroid-stimulating hormone-producing cells seen in vivo. Results of th e present investigation confirm that cultured anterior pituitary cells retain the characteristics previously observed in vivo and further de monstrate the stability of these cells and their specific NGF and pitu itary hormone contents in culture for as long as 6 days. (C) 1995 Wile y Liss, Inc.