<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Light regulates numerous physiological functions including secretion of different hormones. Our aim was to determine morphological and functional changes of the pituitary growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) producing cells in female rats exposed to constant light regime from the peripubertal to adult period of life. Starting from the thirtieth postnatal day, female Wistar rats were exposed to constant light (600 lx) for the following 95 days. Controls were maintained under the regular laboratory lighting conditions. The GH and PRL cells were immunohistochemically visualized. Changes in cell volumes and volume densities were evaluated by stereology. Concentrations of PRL and GH in circulation were also determined. We detected significant decrease of the GH cell volume and volume density, followed by reduced the GH blood concentration in comparison to the controls. In contrast, PRL cells were larger in size and their volume density was significantly increased when compared to the controls. Accordingly, PRL concentration was elevated. It can be concluded that exposure of female rats to constant light regime, from peripubertal to adult period of life, causes inhibition of the pituitary GH and stimulation of PRL cells.</p>
</abstract>

Light regulates numerous physiological functions including secretion of different hormones. Our aim was to determine morphological and functional changes of the pituitary growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) producing cells in female rats exposed to constant light regime from the peripubertal to adult period of life. Starting from the thirtieth postnatal day, female Wistar rats were exposed to constant light (600 lx) for the following 95 days. Controls were maintained under the regular laboratory lighting conditions. The GH and PRL cells were immunohistochemically visualized. Changes in cell volumes and volume densities were evaluated by stereology. Concentrations of PRL and GH in circulation were also determined. We detected significant decrease of the GH cell volume and volume density, followed by reduced the GH blood concentration in comparison to the controls. In contrast, PRL cells were larger in size and their volume density was significantly increased when compared to the controls. Accordingly, PRL concentration was elevated. It can be concluded that exposure of female rats to constant light regime, from peripubertal to adult period of life, causes inhibition of the pituitary GH and stimulation of PRL cells.

Morphological and Functional Changes of Pituitary GH and PRL Cells Following Prolonged Exposure of Female Rats to Constant Light

Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Light regulates numerous physiological functions including secretion of different hormones. Our aim was to determine morphological and functional changes of...

Morphological and Functional Changes of Pituitary GH and PRL Cells Following Prolonged Exposure of Female Rats to Constant Light

Published Online: Sep 29, 2023

Page range: 219 - 225

Received: Oct 29, 2019

Accepted: Oct 30, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjecr-2019-0063

Keywords
Female rat, pituitary, GH cells, PRL cells, immohistochemistry, stereology, constant light

© 2023 Natasa Nestorovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Morphological and Functional Changes of Pituitary GH and PRL Cells Following Prolonged Exposure of Female Rats to Constant Light

Published Online: Sep 29, 2023

Page range: 219 - 225

Received: Oct 29, 2019

Accepted: Oct 30, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjecr-2019-0063

KeywordsFemale rat, pituitary, GH cells, PRL cells, immohistochemistry, stereology, constant light

© 2023 Natasa Nestorovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Female rat, pituitary, GH cells, PRL cells, immohistochemistry, stereology, constant light