Isolation, culture and cell-type identification of adult human pituitary cells

Pituitary cells were isolated from adult human pituitary glands obtained at autopsy 4-12 h postmortem by enzyme treatment (collagenase and dispase) and by Percoll density gradients. Cells thus isolated were maintained in culture for more than 6 months. By immunoperoxidase staining methods using rabbit sera monospecific against various pituitary hormones, a large number of cultured cells reacted positively. The hormones identified in these cells were growth hormone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and thyrotropin. Electron-microscopic examination of cultured cells revealed the presence of secretory granules in cytoplasm characteristic of in vivo human pituitary cells.