A short method for the isolation of somatotrophs from the rat pituitary gland

Application of a density gradient centrifugation procedure for the isolation of somatotrophs from dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells is described. Two sequential discontinuous gradients of bovine serum albumin are used to enrich the somatotroph population from a frequency of 38% in the initial cell suspension to a final purity of 85%. The isolated somatotrophs retain both histochemical and ultrastructural integrity throughout the isolation procedure. The isolated somatotrophs also release immunoassayable growth hormone when incubated with 6 mM dibutyryl 3',5'-cyclic AMP. The method offers the advantages of being both simple and short.