The effects of adrenalectomy and cortisol treatment on cell types, other than corticotrophs, in the anterior pituitary of the mouse.

This investigation was designed to characterize changes due to adrenalectomy and cortisol treatment in cell types, other than corticotrophs, in the anterior pituitary of the mouse. Cortisol injections resulted in a reduced number of mammotrophs and an increased number of somatotrophs. By 5 days post-adrenalectomy an increase in the number of mammotrophs and a decrease in the number of somatotrophs was observed. No changes were noted in the number of gonadotrophs or thyrotrophs due to either adrenalectomy or cortisol treatment.