Folliculostellate cells of the pituitary

In addition to the hormone-producing granulated cells, the so-called folliculostellate (FS) cells of the adenohypophysis represent a population of nongranulated cells extensively described in a large number of species. They show distinctive morphological features including a star shape with thin cytoplasmic projections extending between granulated cells and well-developed junctional complexes. FS cells are joined together surrounding irregular microcavities and project microvilli into the lumina. The immunocytochemical localization of S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin constitutes a reliable and easy method for investigating their presence and distribution in the normal pituitary gland and in pituitary adenomas. Although the expression of glial cell markers raised the hypothesis of a neuroectodermal origin of FS cells, most evidence supports that they derive from the epithelium of the Rathke's pouch, as do granulated adenohypophyseal cells. Morphological studies indicate that FS cells are involved in phagocytosis and possess sustentacular functions. Investigations using cell cultures show that FS cells play important roles in the paracrine regulation of adenohypophy-seal secretion by their ability to liberate several growth factors and regulate the ionic composition of the extracellular fluid. Further research using novel immunocytochemical markers and ceil culture techniques may clarify the origin and the role of this enigmatic cell type in the normal and pathological pituitary gland.