Notes by: GENOVE, Eri

HISTOLOGY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

-closely associated with the brain- HYPOTHALAMUS

Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis (endocrine regulations: feedback system)

-master organs of the endocrine system

Pituitary gland
-situated at the base of the brain, with a direct connection with the hypothalamus through the pituitary
infundibulum
-lies at the sella turcica which is part of the skull bone known as the sphenoid bone

PICTURE

-the gland is a bilobed organ, one anterior lobe and one posterior lobe
-the gland is attached with the hypothalamus through the pituitary stalk called the Infundibulum

FACT: The pituitary stalk (also known as the infundibular stalk, Fenderson's funnel, or simply the infundibulum)
is the connection between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary.

PICTURE

2 FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

1. Anterior lobe- which is known as the Adenohypophysis that is constituted clearly by a glandular
epithelial tissue.
2. Posterior lobe- known as the Neurohypophysis, composed of neural secretory tissue.

PICTURE

AL and PL have different embryologic origin which explains the different cellular composition of their
parenchyma.

One lobe is derived from the floor of the Diencephalon which eventually becomes the thalamus of the brain
Other one is derived on the roof of the primitive oral cavity

FACT: Forebrain, also called prosencephalon, region of the developing vertebrate brain; it includes the
telencephalon, which contains the cerebral hemispheres, and, under these, the diencephalon, which contains
the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and subthalamus.

PICTURE

During the 3rd week age of gestation

-you see a downgrowth from the floor of diencephalon named as the Neurohypophyseal bud
-Upward pouch from the roof of the pharynx named as the hypophyseal pouch or the Rathke’s pouch

PICTURE

Late in the 2nd month

-The hypophyseal bud continues to grow caudally
-The Rathke’s pouch continues to grow crainially
Significant event: Physical detachment of the hypophyseal pouch from the roof of the pharynx

PICTURE
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
Fetal period
-movements completed and a functional pituitary gland is seen

Embryologic derivation of the pituitary gland

PICTURE
-Anterior lobe is derived from the invagination of the ectoderm of the oropharynx that is called the Rathke’s
pouch and it migrates towards the brain
-Posterior lobe is derived from a downward growth of the neuroectoderm of the floor of the third ventricle that
is just the diencephalon of the developing brain
- The neurohypophyseal bud and eventually becomes the posterior lobe of the gland

The development proceeds until the gland is functionally completed

PIC 7
-Each lobe of the pituitary gland has certain regions and subdivisions
-The anterior gland has pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars tubelaris: these subdivisions of the lobes are
attributed to specific parts of their respective parts of embryologic derivations.

PIC 8
Two embryologic derivations
-The Rathke’s pouch for the anterior lobe, the neurohypophyseal bud for the posterior lobe

Pic 9
-(upper red arrow)The pars distalis that comprises the bulk of the anterior lobe arises from the thickened
anterior wall of the Rathke’s pouch
-(lower red arrow) The pars intermedia, which is a thin remnant of the posterior wall is from the same posterior
wall of the pouch and it’s ***** to pars distalis, it serves actually as the boundary between the pars tubelaris or
pars distalis and that of the pars nervosa
-The pars tubelaris developed from the thickened lateral walls of the pouch or these are the side walls of the
pouch and forms a collar sheath around the infundibulum.

PIC 10
-In the anterior lobe, it is a highly cellular area while in the posterior lobe is clearly a neurologic tissue with an
abundant cellular matrix with very few cellular elements

SUMMARY OF THE ANATOMY AND EMBRYOLOGY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

• Identify the location of the pituitary gland in reference to the brain
• Its location in reference to the cranium or the skull
• Name the embryologic derivation of the lobes and identify the specific subdivisions of each lobes.

BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

-The pituitary blood supply is derived from 2 sets of blood vessels
Superior Hypophyseal arteries
- that supplies the pars tubelaris, median eminence, and the infundibulum.
-Have 2 origins: Internal carotid artery, circle of Willis- found at the base of the brain and serves to supply
blood to the whole brain itself

Inferior Hypophyseal arteries

-supplies the pars nervosa, these vessels technically arise solely from the internal carotid arteries.
-Have 1 origin: Internal Carotid artery
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
Functional Observation:
-Most of the anterior pituitary lobe of the anterior gland has no direct arterial supply
-Vascular support are technically from venous plexuses
Note:
-The blood supply of the anterior lobe is basically derived from the arteries that supply the pars tubelaris, the
median eminence, and the infundibulum and as these arteries gives rise to fenestrated capillaries known as
the primary capillary plexus: This capillary strains into the portal vein called the hypophyseal portal vein
system which run alongs the pars tubelaris and gives rise to secondary fenestrated sinusoidal capillary
network.
-This system of vessels carries the neuroendocrine secretion of the hypothalamic neurons from their sites of
release in the median eminence and infundibulum directly towards the cell of the pars distalis.
-Most of the blood from the pituitary gland eventually drains into the cavernous sinus at the base of the brain
and into the systemic circulation.
-Some evidence suggests that blood can technically flow via short portal veins from the pars distalis to the
pars nervosa, and that blood from the pars nervosa may flow towards the hypothalamus: this short pathway
provides a route by which the hormones of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland could provide a feedback
directly to the brain without making the full circuit of the systemic circulation

Aside from the vascular connection between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland another connection is
conspicuous between the two and that is the neural connection
-the nerves that enters the infundibulum and the pars nervosa are from the hypothalamic nuclei they have
relatively long axons and the axons terminating the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
-The nerves that enters the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland are purely post synaptic fibers of the
autonomic nervous system and have vasomotor functions rather than secretory, and this vasomotor function
do exerts its effect to the vascular supply of the area
*Neurons that eventually innervates the cells of the anterior lobe are not secretory but they are purely on the
vascular effect while those axons do terminate into the posterior lobe they are the ones that are specialized
neurosecretory cells.

ANTERIOR LOBE OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

-Has the typical organization of an endocrine tissue:
1. Cells are organized in clumps and short cords and are separated by fenestrated sinusoidal capillaries
2. These cells respond to signals from the hypothalamus and synthesize and eventually secrete a number of
pituitary hormones.

-Clumps of endocrine cells, some are in concrete clumps creating short cords and are separated by fenestrated
capillary sinusoids

Hormones of the Anterior Lobe

1. ACTH
2. TSH: aka- thyrotropic hormone/ TSH/ Thyrotropin
3. FSH
4. LH
-These are called tropic hormones, primarily because they regulate the activity of cells in other endocrine
glands throughout the body.
-These hormones have target cells that are endocrine in nature

5. GH
6. PRL
-not considered a tropic hormone because they act directly on a target organ that are not endocrine in nature.
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
PARS DISTALIS
-The cells within the pars distalis are arranged in chords and nests with interweaving capillaries a feature
consistent with an endocrine tissue
-Using stains the cells of the pars distalis can be characterized as basophils:10%; acidophils:40%;
Chromophobes:50%

Five functional cell types

-are identified in the pars distalis on the basis of immunocytochemical reactions and it is based on the
hormones that they secrete
-all known hormones of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland are small proteins or modified glycoproteins

1. Somatotropes/ GH cells
- most commonly found at the pars distalis and constitute approximately 50% of the parenchymal cells of the
anterior lobe
- medium-sized, oval shaped exhibiting a round, centrally located nuclei and produce growth hormone or
somatotropin
- The presence of eosinophilic vesicles in their cytoplasm classifies them as acidophils
-2 hormones regulate the release of GH from the somatotrophes and these hormones are opposing
hypothalamic releasing hormones: 1) GHRH- Stimulates growth hormone release; 2) Somatostatin- inhibits
growth hormone release
-Hormonally active tumors than originates from the somatotropes are associated with hypersecretion of GH
and causes gigantism if it starts in childhood and acromegaly if it starts in adulthood

2. Lactotropes
-Also known as the PRL cells or mammotropes
-15-20% of parenchymal cells of anterior lobe
-large polygonal cells with oval nuclei
-produce prolactin
-Storage Phase: They exhibit numerous acidophilic vesicles hence they are effectively classified as acidophil.
Note: When the vesicles are stored, but when the content of these vesicles are released the cytoplasm of the
lactotropes does not stain anymore hence the histologic feature becomes a chromophobe.
-Secretion of the prolactin is under the inhibitory control of Dopamine, a cathecolamine produced by the
hypothalamus

3. Corticotropes/ ACTH cells

-15-20% of parenchymal cells of anterior lobe
-cells are polygonal, medium-sized with round and centric nuclei
-They stain as basophils in routine h&e stain they produce a precursor molecule known as the
Proopiomelanocortin further cleave by proteolytic enzymes into several fragments namely: ACTH, Lipotropic
hormones, Melanocyte stimulating hormone, endorphin and enkephalin
-ACTH release is regulated by corticotropin releasing hormone or CRH, produced by the hypothalamus.

4. Gonadotopes
-FSH/ LH cells
-10%
-small, oval-shaped, round centric nuclei
-produce LH and FSH
-scattered throughout the pars distalis, stain intensely with basic stains; basophil cell type
-many gonadotropes are capable of producing both FSH and LH, some produce only one hormone
-The release of FSH or LH is under strict regulation by the gonadotropin releasing hormone prod by
hypothalamus
-FSH and LH play an important role in F and M reproduction
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
5. Thyrotropes/ TSH cells
-5%
-Large, polygonal in shape, round centric nuclei
-cytoplasmic basophilia
-Produce thyrotropic hormone called TSH which acts of the follicular cells of the thyroid gland to stimulate the
production of thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones
-Release of thyroid hormones is under the hypothalamic control of the thyrotropin releasing hormone
-Somatostatin has an inhibitory effect in the thyrotropes and eventually decreases the secretion of the TSH.

REVIEW:
Parenchyma of the Pars Distalis
-The cells of the adenohypophysis may be acidophils if they retain eosin stain, basophils if they retain basic
haematoxylin stain, or a chromophobe where the cells neither stains with h&e
-In a histologic slide the acidophils would assume faint pinkish coloration of the cytoplasm
-While the basophils are distinc due to high degree of basophilia
-Chromophobes because of their characteristic appearance

Capillary sinusoids- where the hormones are drained and eventually delivered
Acidophils: Somatotrope and Lactotrope- assumes a chromophobe appearance once secretion is completed
Basophils: Corticotrope, Thyrotrope, Gonadotrope

-The cells compare to normal one are all acidophils

-section taken from a pituitary tumor that hypersecretes growth hormone

PARS INTERMEDIA
-Bordering the pars nervosa of the posterior lobe and the pars distalis of the anterior lobe

In between PD and PN is the PI

-Distinct histologic feature: colloid filled cyst
-The parenchymal cells of the pars intermedia surrounds the colloid filled cyst,
-The cells lining the follicles appears to be derived from various hormone secreting cells
-Cells of PI are predominantly basophilic, that synthesize and secrete a large prohormone known as the
Proopiomelanocortin, this further cleave into smaller functional hormones such as MSH others are endorphins

PARS TUBELARIS
-highly vascularized region containing veins of the hypothalamohypophyseal syststem
-The parenchymal cells are arranged in small clusters or cords in association with blood vessels and nests of
squamous and small follicles lined with cuboidal cells are somewhat scattered in this region, these cells often
shows immunoreactivity for ACTH, FSH, AND LH.

PARS NERVOSA
-Considered the neural lobe of the pituitary gland primarily because it contains non myelinated axons and
their nerve endings of neurosecretory neurons. The cell body of the neurosecretory neurons lie in the
supraoptic nuclei and the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus.
The axons from the hypothalamohypophyseal tract are unique in two respects
1. They do not terminate on neurons or target cells but end in close proximity to the fenestrated capillary
networks of the pars nervosa
2. They contain secretory vesicles in all parts of the cells including the cell body, axon, ad axon terminal.
Because of their intense secretory activity the neurons have a well developed nissl bodies

*The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland is not an endocrine gland rather it is a storage site of
neurosecretions of the neurons of supraoptic in the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
EC reveals 3 morphologically distinct neurosecretory vesicles in the nerve endings of the pars nervosa base` on
the sizes of these vesicles particularly seen in the dilated part of the axon name as the herring bodies.
PICTURE

PICTURE
Neurosecretory vesicles with diameter ranging between 10 and 20 nm
Nerve terminals containing 30nm vesicles that contains Acetylcholine, these vesicles may play a specific role in
the release of neighboring neurosecretory cells
Larger 50-80 nm neurosecretory vesicles contains either oxytocin or ADH. Oxytocin and ADH are synthesixed
as a part of a large molecule that is proteolytically cleaved into the hormone this process happens as the
hormones travels from the nerve cell body or the perikaryon towards the axon terminal

In addition to the numerous axons and terminals of the hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons the posterior
lobe of the pituitary gland contains fibroblast some mast cells, and specialized glial cells called the pituicytes.

PITUICYTES
- the cells are closely associated with the fenestrated capillaries
-irregular in shape, with many branches and they resemble as nucleal cells
-Nuclei are round and oval, and the pigment vesicle are present in the cytoplasm of the cells
-often have processes that terminates into the perivascular space.
-because of their many processes and relationships to the blood the pituicytes serves as a supporting role
similar to the astrocytes in the rest of the central nervous system

PICTURE
Histology of the pars nervosa
-typical nervous like distribution of the cellular elements in the expansive cellular matrix
-endocrine nature of this gland: capillary networks the axon terminal is uniquely seen in here as a
neurosecretory cell bodies called the herring bodies, these are terminals of the unmyelinated axons of the
tract.
-The neurosecretory bodies are well supported by the pituicytes

PICTURE
-two hormones associated with the pars nervosa, these hormones are synthesized in the hypothalamus and
stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
ANATOMY OF THE THYROID GLAND
-Bilobed gland connected by a thin band of connective tissue known as the thyroid isthmus
-anatomically situated in the anterior neck, is lying on either sides of the trachea and pharynx

PICTURE
-asymmetry volume of the two lobes of the gland. The left is almost always larger than the right

Picture
-situated posteriorly in the upper and lower poles of each thyroid lobe are smaller glands known as the
parathyroid gland

Picture
-The development of the thyroid gland is first noted during the four week old embryo where the thyroid starts
as diverticulum seen arising at the level of the 1st and 2nd pharyngeal pouches

PICTURE
- by six weeks age of gestation parathyroid developed bilaterally at the endoderm of the 3 rd and 4th pharyngeal
pouches

Picture-
-histology of the thyroid g in LPM
-the TG is invested externally by a fibrous capsule. The capsule is seen invaginating towards the deeper part of
the parenchyma creating an incomplete globule.

Picture-
-higher magnification
-we see the thyroid follicle: the functional unit of the thyroid gland, it is roughly a cyst-like compartment with
a wall formed by a simple cuboidal or low columnar epithelium. These epithelial cells are known as the
follicular epithelium
-The follicles contain a gel-like mass called the Colloid

Picture
-Electron microscopy
-The apical aspect of the follicular cells are seen in contact with the colloid, likewise seen are microvilli that
increases the surface area of the apical aspect signifying a highly absorptive cell
-Basal aspect of the follicular cell: lies on top of the basal lamina, closely associated with the basal aspect of
the FC is a capillary lumen, an evidence that the TG is an endocrine type

Picture
-The thyroid follicle in High M

2 types of the thyroid follicular epithelium

1. Follicular cells also known as Principal cells
2. Parafollicular cells also known as C cells
-Location of these cells: seen in the periphery of the thyroid follicles hence they are called parafollicular cells.

*Principal cells maybe cuboidal, low columnar epithelium or sometimes squamous epithelium. The lining
epithelium is dependent on the activity of the gland. The more active the thyroid gland is the taller the
epithelial lining would be.
*A thyroid follicle line by squamous epithelium: inactive follicle
*Cuboidal or a low columnar or columnar: active follicle

Picture
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri
-Organelles of a follicular cell
- Consistent of the morphology of the RER and Golgi complexes, this signifies that the FC is a highly secretory
cell
-Presence of apical microvilli to increase the surface area: usually seen among highly absorptive epithelium,
that signifies that FC are also an absorptive cell.
- Cell with organelles consistent with a secretory cell, cytoplasm without any storage vacuoles, and a surface
microvilli: cell that would rather secretes a substance to its apical space and when these substances are
needed by the cell they just reabsorb it and release it towards the basal aspect to the blood.

*Only the thyroid FC secretes the hormones and store them outside of the cell in the form of a colloid and
when these hormones are needed the thyroid follicles will just reabsorb the colloid then release in basal
aspect of the cell towards the capillary lumen and eventually distributed all throughout the body.

picture
ABSORPTIVE ABILITY OF THE THYROID VESICLES
-As the thyroid follicles endocytosed a part of the colloid, what we see is a result of colloidal scalloping
-The more active the gland the more CS we see in the thyroid colloid

-These FC are the ones that synthesize and secrete the thyroid hormones T4 and T3.
C cells or the Parafollicular cells
-seen in the periphery of the thyroid follicles
-appear to be pale staining compared to FC, some occur in small clusters, others occur solitarily. If PFC is
solitary it is seen within the basal lamina of the thyroid follicle

Picture
- fully developed Golgi Complex and RER
-With multiple cytoplasmic secretory vesicles, all are evidences that C cells are a highly secretory cell

-They produce the hormone Calcitonin

THYROID HORMONES
-TG secretes 3 thyroid hormones:
1. T4
2. T3
3. Calcitonin
- T4 and T3, regulates cell and tissue basal metabolic rate
-In biochem, one of the products of metabolism is heat, thus TG also induce heat production indirectly by
increasing the metabolic rate of the cells
-Hyperfunctioning of the TG is the higher the metabolic rate the higher the body heat. Thus, patients with
hyperthyroid disorders cannot tolerate a very high room temperature: a symptom called heat intolerance
-Calcitonin, primarily affects calcium level, in fact an antagonist to the parathyroid hormone. End result:
lowering of calcium level in the blood

PICTURE
FOLLICULAR THYROGLOBULIN
-homogenous colloidal mass seen in each center of the thyroid follicles
-an iodinated thyroglobulin, the protein component is rich with tyrosine residues
-produced only by the thyroid follicular cell. If a patient would undergo a total thyroid removal, and the
physician would want to assess if all the thyroid tissues where successfully removed the physician will always
request for Blood thyroglobulin level. If the thyroid tissue is completely removed from the patient, then
thyroglobulin should not be detectable in the blood. But if a thyroid remains in the neck even if it is a small
tissue, lab can detect a thyroglobulin in the blood of the patient.
-Serves as the storage form of thyroid hormones, but it is not inherently an active hormone.
Notes by: GENOVE, Eri