Involvement of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors in the early development of the human pituitary gland

Histology and Histopathology
Mirna Saraga-BabicVedran Stefanović

Abstract

The spatial and temporal pattern of appearance of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and p53 proteins, and anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein was investigated in the developing pituitary gland of 6 human embryos 5-8-weeks old, using morphological and immunohistochemical techniques. Their dynamic appearance was analyzed in the Rathke's pouch (future adenohypophysis), mesenchyme, and in the developing neurohypophysis. In the 5th and 6th week, caspase-3 positive cells appeared in the Rathke's pouch (5%) and stalk (11%), in the mesenchyme, but not in the neurohypophysis. In the 6th and 7th week, apoptotic cells were more numerous in the caudal part of the Rathke's pouch due to its separation from the oral epithelium. Pro-apoptotic p53 protein was detected in all parts of the pituitary gland throughout the investigated period. Nuclear condensations characterized cells positive to caspase-3 and p53 proteins. Apoptotic cells displayed condensations of nuclear chromatin on an ultrastructural level as well. While caspase-3 dependent pathway of cell death participated in morphogenesis of the adenohypophysis and associated connective tissue, p53-mediated apoptosis most likely participates in morphogenesis of all parts of the gland, including neurohypophys...Continue Reading

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Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis