Early changes in the ultrastructure of the pars intermedia of the pituitary of Xenopus laevis after change of background color.

Stereological analysis of the secretory cells of the pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis over a period of 3 days following the transfer of animals from a white to a black background has revealed that significant alterations in the ultrastructural appearance of these cells can be detected 8 h after the transfer. In particular, changes in the secretory granules and the rough endoplasmic reticulum were found to correlate well with previous reports concerning the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) content and the capacity for protein synthesis of the pars intermedia.