Expression of P2Y receptors in the rat anterior pituitary.

In this study, the distribution patterns of P2Y(1), P2Y(2) P2Y(4), P2Y(6), P2Y(12), and P2Y(13) receptors in the anterior pituitary cells of rat were studied with double-labeling immunofluorescence and Western blot. The results showed that P2Y receptors were widely expressed in the anterior pituitary. P2Y(1) and P2Y(4) receptors were found to be expressed in the majority of gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs, P2Y(2) receptors were expressed in a small subpopulation of lactotrophs and almost all the folliculo-stellate cells, that were also stained with S100 protein immunoreactivity. P2Y(6) receptors were expressed in macrophages. P2Y(13) receptors were expressed in a small subpopulation of cells in the rat anterior pituitary, the identity of which needs to be clarified. P2Y(1) and P2Y(4) receptors are co-expressed in some gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs. Corticotrophs and somatotrophs were found not to express P2Y receptors in this study. FSH and TSH were shown to coexist in the same endocrine cells in rat anterior pituitary. The present data suggests that purines and/or pyrimidines could be involved in regulating the functions of gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs via P2Y(1) and P2Y(4) receptors, some lactotrophs via P2Y(2) receptors, and folliculo-stellate cells via P2Y(2) receptors in the rat anterior pituitary.