Study of the function and differentiation of folliculo-stellate cell in anterior pituitary gland.

为揭示大鼠垂体前叶滤泡星状细胞的功能和分化，对滤泡星状细胞进行了形态学研究。本研究的主要发现是在肾包膜下移植的垂体移植物中观察到横纹肌纤维。这些异位分化的横纹肌纤维与滤泡-星状细胞密切相关，包括滤泡-星状细胞有向横纹肌纤维分化的可能性，组织化学研究显示滤泡-星状细胞具有极长的细胞突起，包裹在相邻的腺细胞周围。Ca-dependent ATPase定位于这些细胞突起和滤泡腔周围，提示滤泡星状细胞可能通过调节钙转运来控制邻近腺细胞的分泌功能。免疫组化结果显示，滤泡星状细胞中含有纤维连接蛋白，但纤维连接蛋白在滤泡星状细胞中的生物学意义尚不清楚，因此认为滤泡星状细胞是一种多功能细胞，它控制着垂体前叶邻近的腺细胞。

In order to reveal the function and differentiation of folliculo-stellate cell in the rat anterior pituitary gland, the morphological studies were performed. The main finding of this study was the observation of striated muscle fibers in the pituitary gland grafts transplanted beneath the kidney capsule. These ectopic differentiated striated muscle fibers were closely associated with folliculo-stellate cells, including the possibility of folliculo-stellate cell have a potential of differentiation to striated muscle fibers.The histochemical studies revealed that follicul/-stellate cell have extremely elongated cell processes which wrap around the neighboring glandular cells. Ca-depend ATPase localized around these cell processes and follicle lumen, suggesting folliculo-stellate cell may control the secretory function of neighboring glandular cells through the regulation of calcium transport. the immunohistochemical studies revealed that folliculo-stellate cell contain fibronectin however, the biological significance of fibronectin in folliculo-stellate cell is unknown.In conclusion, it is considered that folliculo-stellate cell is a multi-functional cell which control the neighboring glandular cell in anterior pituitary gland.