CHANGES IN THE PITUITARY GLAND OF THE FERRET FOLLOWING STALK SECTION

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. The pituitary stalk was divided transpalatally in a series of female ferrets. 2. The lesion was followed by infarction of a variable amount of tissue in the antero-superior region of the pars distalis, up to a maximum of 30% of its volume. Later fibrosis and incomplete regeneration of glandular tissue occurred. 3. There was no significant hypertrophy of the pars intermedia, but its cells showed an increase in cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid after division of the stalk. 4. The neural process appeared normal for several days after operation, but after the 4th day atrophied rapidly.