Increased acidophils of the hypophysis in liver cirrhosis.

The percentage of cell number of 3 types of male anterior pituitary cells was counted in autopsy cases with liver cirrhosis and cases that died of other conditions. These cases were then compared. In liver cirrhosis, acidophils (somatotrophs and mammotrophs) showed a tendency to increase in cell percentages. Immunocytochemistry also revealed the increase in the number of somatotrophs and mammotrophs in liver cirrhosis. Comparison of protein synthesis in cirrhotic liver and in healthy liver, in vitro, revealed that in the cirrhotic liver tissue protein synthesis was markedly depressed and GH for protein synthesis became more necessary than in a non-cirrhotic state. The disturbed protein synthesis and hypoproteinemia were suggested as causative factors of increased acidophils of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis.