Immunohistochemical detection of changes in growth hormone cells in rat pituitaries in protein deficiency

1. An immunohistochemical method was used to study the effect of a low-protein diet on growth hormone (GH) cells in the pituitaries of developing rats. The deficient diet (80 g protein/kg) was administered during gestation and lactation, or during the time after weaning until 90 d of age, or during both periods. 2. GH-cell changes were much more striking in males than in females. 3. In males, GH-producing cells were usually reduced in size and number in all treatments. The effect was most intense when protein deprivation occurred throughout gestation and sucking, and continued until 90 d of age, but it was also evident in animals given the low-protein diet only after weaning. Recuperation appeared to be almost complete when offspring of deprived dams were fed on a normal diet after weaning. 4. It is concluded that a low-protein diet reduces the amount of GH in the rat pituitary in a way similar to that with a protein-free diet.