Electron microscopic observations on the development of the median eminence in perinatal rats

Summary This paper reports details of the development of the external layer of the median eminence with special reference to the appearance of the nerve terminals, containing electron dense core and electron lucent vesicles, in the outermost layer of a palisade structure (2–3 thick). Observations were made on perinatal rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain (16, 18, 20 day fetuses and rats 5 hours, one 4, and 8 days after birth). The palisade structure of the outermost layer of the median eminence was first clearly detectable 5 hours after birth. Concomitantly, there was a marked increase in the number of nerve terminals in this layer. The nerve terminals containing electron dense core and electron lucent vesicles were seen in 18 day fetuses in the outermost layer of the median eminence. These nerve terminals increased in number during development, especially from the 20th day of fetal life to the 4th day after birth. The size range of the majority of the electron lucent vesicles did not change during development, but that of the core vesicles increased from 600–800 Å from the 18th to 20th day of fetal life. The initiation of neurohemal control of the adenohypophysial function by the hypothalamus is discussed.