IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF CATECHOL ESTROGEN IN THE RAT PITUITARY GLAND

I. POSTERIOR LOBE

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Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical observation of catechol estrogen localization in the posterior lobe of the rat pituitary gland was undertaken with a specific antibody to 2-hydroxyestrone coupled to bovine serum albumin and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Immunoreactive deposits were found in the pituicytes mainly in the peripheral part. The extended catechol estrogen-positive processes of the pituicytes enclosed or made contact with adjacent axon terminals and free extended catechol estrogen-positive processes were often found in the perivascular space. These results suggest that catechol estrogen may be involved in the regulation of neuroendocrine functions in the posterior lobe.