Correlative transmission electron microscopy and high resolution scanning electron microscopy studies on the fine...

The present study employs transmission (TEM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) to examine the inter- and intra-cellular organization of the pars distalis of the chicken anterior pituitary gland. The overall view of the cryofractured surface of the par distalis illustrates the arrangement of different pituitary cells and tissues in the follicles. Fine structural examination by HR-SEM shows that the membrane of the mitochondria has a similar configuration to that of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Granule-like structures, on the surface of the mitochondrial membrane, are similar in size to ribosomes. Standard imaging and three-dimensional imaging demonstrated the formation of developing granules inside the Golgi sacs and the release of mature granules from the end of Golgi stacks. The occurrence of granule-granule connections suggests that granules may be released by exocytosis in groups or individually.