Synaptic relationship of substance P-like-immunoreactive nerve fibers with gland cells of the anterior pituitary in the rat

Our previous studies have proved the presence of substantial amounts of peptidergic nerve fibers in the anterior pituitary of human, monkey, dog, and rat, and synaptic contacts have been demonstrated on corticotrophs and somatotrophs in the dog. The present study is aimed at investigating the synaptic relationship between axons and gland cells in the rat. The substance P-like-immunoreactive nerve fibers were studied immuno-electron-microscopically. They were nonmyelinated and varicose. Typical synaptic contacts between the fibers and every type of the hormone-secreting gland cell could be identified, most frequently on lactotrophs. No synaptic contacts were found on the folliculo-stellate cell. The synaptic contacts were of asymmetrical type with clusters of small round clear vesicles at the presynaptic site and scattered large dense-cored vesicles. This pattern of synaptic relationships was markedly different from that in the dog. The presence of synapses in the anterior pituitary of the rat implies a direct neural regulation of certain cells and strongly supports our hypothesis of neural-humoral dual regulation of this gland.