[Differentiation of pituitary cells in culture]

Gonadotrophs were first detected at 18 days of gestation in normal rat fetus. Encephalectomy performed at 16 days of gestation did not modify the normal aspect of cells at term. In adenohypophysial primordia explanted from 13 days of gestation differentiated gonadotrophs were detected after culture (8 days) in medium containing insulin (minimal dose required: 0.5 microgram/ml) and transferrin (5 micrograms/ml). In contrast, in primordia explanted at 11 and 12 days of gestation, GnRH 10(-9) to 10(-12) M was required for the first 24 hours of culture to induce differentiation of cells which was obtained in synergy with insulin and transferrin. On the other hand, fetal hypothalamic GnRH and pituitary GnRH receptors were observed from 12 days of gestation which can explain the observations made on primordia explanted at 13 days. Lactotrophs first appeared at term in normal rat fetus. In vitro, differentiation of lactotrophs was not observed in primordia explanted from 13 days in the presence of insulin and transferrin alone, but it was induced by GnRH (10(-9) M) for the 24 hours of culture in the same medium. The action of GnRH was mediated through glycoproteins and specifically isolated alpha subunit. Indeed, purified LH alpha-subunit added in medium instead of GnRH induced differentiation of lactotrophs from 10(-9) M with an increase in the number of cells related to the dose of hormone. Differentiation of the two cell types is very linked in these culture conditions. Gonadotroph differentiation is regulated by an hypothalamic endocrine secretion whereas lactotroph differentiation is more dependent on a paracrine secretion.