Androgen Receptors Expression in Pituitary of Male Viscacha in relation to Growth and Reproductive Cycle

Figure 3

AR immunohistochemical staining of viscacha pituitaries. ((A), (B)) Sections of a fetal pituitary from midpregnancy showing the different zones of PD (A). In the medial region ARn-ir and ARc-ir cells were present (B). Inset: ARc-ir cells (c) with a negative nucleus. ((C), (D)) Images of a fetal pituitary from late pregnancy. Isolated ARc-ir cells around blood vessel (D). ((E), (F), (G), and (H)) AR-ir cells in a pituitary gland of immature viscacha. There are cells throughout the PD (E). The ARn-ir cells are increased in the medial region (F). Magnification of ARn-ir cells (G) and a pituitary cell with heterogeneous cytoplasmic staining (H). ((I), (J), and (K)) Pituitary of a prepubertal viscacha. ARc-ir cells in groups in contact with blood vessel (J) and others with a cytoplasmic prolongation (K). ARn-ir cells (arrows), ARc-ir cells (arrowheads). PD, pars distalis; PI, pars intermedia; PN, pars nervosa; R, Rathke’s pouch; ce, caudal end; re, rostral end; vr, ventral region; mr, medial region; dr, dorsal region; blood vessels, v. ((A), (C), and (I)) Scale bar 500 μm. (E) Scale bar 250 μm. ((B), (D), (F), and (J)) Scale bar 25 μm. Inset of (B), (G), (H), and (K) scale bar 10 μm. Images counterstaining with hematoxylin.