Histologic Basis of Mouse Endocrine System Development: A Comparative Analysis Book

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

The Authors xv

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Background 3

General Approach Taken in This Volume 4

References 4

Chapter 2 The Adrenal (Suprarenal) Gland 7

Introduction 7

Development of the Adrenal Gland in the Human Embryo and Fetus 7

Formation of the Adrenal Cortex 7

Formation of the Adrenal Medulla 9

Gross Anatomy of the Postnatal and Adult Adrenal Gland in the Human 9

Adrenal Cortex 10

Zona Glomerulosa 10

Zona Fasciculata 10

Zona Reticularis 10

General Observations on the Zonation of the Adrenal Cortex 11

Adrenal Medulla 12

Blood Supply to the Adrenal Glands in the Human 13

Some of the Factors that Influence Human Adrenal Growth during the Prenatal Period 13

Steroid Production by the Adrenals and Gonads Sheds Light on Their Possible Role in the Onset of Puberty in Males and Females 14

Observations on the Adrenal Gland and Its Blood Supply in the Rat 14

Rat Adrenal Cortex 16

Rat Adrenal Medulla 17

Development of the Adrenal Gland in the Mouse 19

Anatomical Features of the Adrenal Gland in the Mouse 25

Histological Morphology of the Adrenal Gland in the Mouse 26

Zona Glomerulosa 26

Zona Fasciculata 26

The X Zone of the Cortex 26

Morphology and Functional Activity of the Adrenal Medulla in the Mouse 27

Functional Activity of the Different Regions of the Adrenal Cortex in the Mouse 28

References 29

Chapter 3 The Pituitary Gland 33

Introduction 33

General Observations 33

Terminology 34

Information on the Early Development of the Pituitary Gland in the Human Embryo and Fetus 35

Pituitary Gland in Genetically Abnormal Human Conceptuses 37

Gross Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland in the HumanAdult 37

The Blood Supply and Innervation of the Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus in the Human 38

Histological Appearance of the Various Parts of the Pituitary Gland in the Human 39

The Pituitary Gland in the Adult Rat 39

Prenatal Development of the Pituitary Gland in the Mouse 40

Histological Landmarks Associated with the Appearance of the Pituitary Gland at Sequential Stages of Development in the Prenatal Mouse 40

Gross Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland in the Adult Mouse 43

Histological Features of the Various Parts of the Pituitary Gland in the Mouse 44

Pars Distalis 44

Pars Intermedia 44

Pars Nervosa (Neurohypophysis) 45

The Control of Secretion of the Pituitary Hormones 45

The Molecular Factors Believed to Play a Role in the Establishment of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis 45

References 56

Chapter 4 The Thyroid Gland 59

Introduction 59

Evolution of the Mammalian Thyroid Gland 60

Development of the Thyroid Gland in the Human Embryo 60

Development of the Thyroid Gland in the Human Fetus and during the Pre- and Early Postnatal Period 61

Histological and Ultrastructural Morphology of the Thyroid Gland in the Human 62

Sites of Ectopic Thyroid Tissue 63

Development of the Thyroid Gland in the Mouse 63

Histological Features of Thyroid Gland Development in the Adult Mouse 70

The Thyroid Gland in the Adult Rat 71

Control of Thyroid Development in Mice 71

The Physiological Functions of the Thyroid Gland 75

References 76

Chapter 5 The Parathyroid Gland 81

Introduction 81

Origin of the Structures Derived from the Human Third Pharyngeal Pouches 81

Origin of Structures Derived from the Fourth Pharyngeal Pouches in the Human 83

Origin of the Single Pair of Parathyroid Glands Present in the Mouse 84

Parathyroid Glands Present in Other Rodents 89

Role of Neural Crest in Parathyroid Development 89

Observations on the Molecular Genetic Control of Mammalian Parathyroid Development 90

Histological and Ultrastructural Features of Parathyroid Glands 91

Cellular Morphology of the Prenatal Parathyroid Gland in the Human 91

Ultrastructural Morphology of the Parathyroid Gland in the Human 92

Ultrastructural Morphology of the Rat Parathyroid Gland 93

Ultrastructural Morphology of the Mouse Parathyroid Gland 94

Function of the Parathyroid Glands 94

References 95

Chapter 6 The Pancreas 99

Introduction 99

Development of the Exocrine Pancreas in the Human 101

Gross Anatomy of the Pancreas in the Adult Human 102

The Head and Uncinate Process 102

The Neck 103

The Body 103

The Tail 103

The Main Pancreatic Duct 103

Histological Structure and Physiological Role of the Exocrine Pancreas 104

Comparative Observations on the Development of the Endocrine Pancreas 104

Islet Formation in the Endocrine Pancreas in the Human 105

Islet Tissue in the Human Adult 108

Endocrine Secretion of the Islets of Langerhans 108

Development of the Pancreas in the Rat 110

Morphological Features of the Pancreas in the Adult Rat 112

General Observations on the Pancreas in the Mouse 113

Gross Morphology of the Pancreas in the Mouse 127

Development of the Islets during the Pre- and Early Postnatal Period 127

Studies Exclusively Involving the Endocrine Component of the Pancreas 128

References 129

Chapter 7 The Pineal Gland 135

Introduction 135

Embryological Features in Mammals 136

Prenatal Development of the Pineal Gland in Rodents 137

Ultrastructural Morphology of Cell Types in the Postnatal Rat Pineal Gland 138

Other Studies Undertaken on the Pineal Gland in the Rat 141

Exposure of Pre- and Early Postimplantation Stages of Mouse Development to Pineal Indoles 142

Development of the Pineal Gland in Staged Mouse Embryos 142

Studies That Have Been Carried Out with Postnatal Mice 151

Molecular Studies That Have Been Undertaken with Mice to Investigate Pineal Development and Morphology 152

Features of the Prenatal Pineal Gland of the Sheep 153

Development of the Pineal Gland in the Human 154

Histological Features of the Human Pineal Gland 155

Pineal Studies in Other Mammalian Species 155

Possible Clinical Applicability of Melatonin Based on Some of the Experimental Animal Findings 157

Biochemical Studies on Fetal and Neonatal Animals 157

Cellular Components That Correlate with the Hormonal Functions of the Pineal Gland 158

The Endocrine Functions of the Pineal Gland 158

References 159

Chapter 8 Development of the Mammalian Gonads and Reproductive Ducts during the So-Called "Indifferent" Stage as Well as during the Fetal and Neonatal Period 165

Introduction 165

Development of the Urogenital Ridges and Gonadal Differentiation 171

Primoridal Germ Cells 172

X Chromosome Inactivation in the Primordial Germ Cells and Their Derivatives 174

Fate of the Primordial Germ Cells in the Male and Female 175

Gonadal Differentiation 176

Features Associated with Early Ovarian Differentiation 176

Features of Early Testicular Differentiation 176

Origin of the Sertoli and Leydig Cells 177

Sertoli Cells 177

Leydig Cells 177

Factors That Influence Gonadal Differentiation 178

Steroid Hormones Produced in the Developing Ovaries and Testes 179

Ovary Steroid Production by the Ovary 179

Testis Steroid Production by the Testis 179

Formation and Differentiation of the Genital Ducts 180

The Presence of Embryonic Vestiges in Both Sexes 182

References 182

Chapter 9 The Ovary 189

Introduction 189

Location of the Mammalian Ovaries 189

The Ovarian Bursa 190

Blood Supply to the Ovaries 191

Lymphatic Drainage 191

Nerve Supply 391

Gross and Microscopic Appearance of the Mammalian Ovary 192

The Cortex 200

Granulosa Cell Compartment 200

The Interstitial Compartment 200

The Ovarian Follicles 201

Ovulation: Preliminary Observations 201

More Recent Observations 202

Role of Luteinizing Hormone in Inducing Ovarian Function 203

Ovarian Steroidogenesis 203

Corpus Luteal (CL) Formation and Functioning 204

References 204

Chapter 10 The Testis 207

Introduction 207

Gross Variations in the Morphological Features of the Testes and Possible Causes of Reduced Fertility in the Human Male 214

Gonadal Size in Rodents 215

Descent of the Testes 215

Germ Cell Differentiation within the Testis 217

Testicular Function during the Postnatal Period 217

Testicular Morphology and Function during the Postnatal Period in the Human 217

Testicular Morphology and Function during the Postnatal Period in Rodents 218

The Coagulating Gland in the Mouse 219

The Sertoli Cells 219

The Leydig Cells 220

References 221

Index 225