大鼠垂体前叶腺细胞增龄变化及其与滤泡星形细胞的关系

目的:研究不同月龄大鼠垂体前叶腺细胞的形态学变化及其与滤泡星形细胞(folliculo-stellate cells,FSCs)之间的形态学关系。方法:透射电镜观察2～3月(青年组)、10～12月(中年组)、18～20月(老年组)3组大鼠垂体前叶的超微结构。结果:3组大鼠的FSCs和腺细胞之间均存在连接复合体样结构;在增龄过程中,FSCs的形态变化不明显,而腺细胞及其细胞间质变化明显:细胞排列散乱、细胞间隙增宽、纤维结缔组织增生,以中年组较为显著;脂褐素、髓样体、凋亡细胞增多,老年组比较明显。结论:FSCs可能通过与腺细胞的直接接触对腺细胞发挥作用;垂体前叶腺细胞及其细胞间隙的变化直接反映其增龄变化。

Morphological changes of glandular cells and its relations with the folliculo-stellate cells in anterior pituitary gland in different aged rats

Objective:To study the morphological changes of glandular cells and relations with folliculo-stellate cells (FS cells)in anterior pituitary in rats.Methods:These rats were divided into 3 groups:yound group,aged 2-3 months; middle-aged group,aged 10-12 months;old group,18-20 months.The ultrastructural changes of glandular cells and folliculo-stellate cells were observed with TEM in anterior pituitaries.Results:The junctional complex was found be- tween FS cells and glandular cells in anterior pituitaries of these three groups.In the course of aging,the morphologi- cal changes of glandular cells were significant,while those of their intercellular space were significant,such as scat- tered and disorder cells in arrangment,enlarged intercellular spaces,hyperplastic fibrous connective tissue in middle- aged groups and more lipofuscin granules,myelin bodies,apoptotic cells in old-aged groups.Seldom morphological changes of FS cells were found.Conclusion:It may be one of these adjustments that FS cells affect glandular cells by their direct contacts.The age-related morphological changes of glandular cells and their intercellular spaces were the reflections of endocrine changes.