Differentiation of adipose tissue and muscle in hypophysectomized pig fetuses

In the present study, fetuses were hypophysectomized (hypox) in utero on d 72 to 74 of gestation with an electrical cauterizing needle. One to six successfully hypox fetuses were removed on d 110 of gestation from each of five gilts. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples and semitendinosus muscles were obtained from the hypox fetuses and an equal number of control fetuses. Body weights of control fetuses (n = 15; mean +/- SE, 1,195 +/- 33 g) were similar to weights of hypox fetuses (n = 15; 1,179 +/- 67 g). Fat cell size in the middle subcutaneous layer of adipose tissue was increased in hypox fetuses (P less than .01) compared with control fetuses. The number of obvious fat cell clusters (outer layer) in lipid stained sections was reduced (P less than .01) by 50% in hypox fetuses. Histochemical reactions for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, esterase and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities in middle layer cell clusters were considerably enhanced in sections from hypox fetuses compared with sections from controls. Quantitative analysis of percent light transmittance (Zeiss photometer) through LPL-stained cell clusters indicated an increase (P less than .001) in LPL staining in sections from hypox fetuses when compared with sections from control fetuses. Transverse muscle sections (cryostat) from hypox fetuses failed to show normal patterns (as seen in control muscles) of reactions for acid ATPase, malate dehydrogenase (NAD-dependent), NADH-TR and alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (without NAD). The number of muscle fibers that were stained for these enzymes was greatly reduced in hypox fetuses compared with control fetuses. The number of lipid positive fibers was also reduced in hypox fetuses compared with control fetuses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)