IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE POSTNATAL-DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOLLICULO-STELLATE CELLS IN THE RAT ANTERIOR-PITUITARY GLAND

We investigated the post-natal development of cell-to-cell communicati on within the rat anterior pituitary gland cells using immunohistochem istry of the S-100 protein. Tissues of animals from 10 to 60 days of a ge were analyzed. At 10 days of age, S-100 protein-containing cells we re rarely observed. With age, the population of S-100 immunostained ce lls increased until day 40 when they were found to be quite numerous. No further changes were noted from day 30 through day 60. From our pre vious studies, we conclude that the cells which reacted with the S-100 antiserum were folliculo-stellate cells and their developmental patte rn parallels that of the hypophyseal-gonadal axis.