Induction by progesterone of a sexual dimorphism of estrogen uptake by anterior pituitary cells in situ.

The effects of progesterone pretreatment on in vivo 3H-estrogen uptake by five anterior pituitary cell types was analyzed by means of a quantitative autoradiographic-immunocytochemical technique. Male and female rats castrated for 14 days show nuclear concentration of label in all five cell types one h after injection of 3H-estradiol, whether progesterone treated or not. The order of labeling intensity is gonadotropes greater than or equal to lactotropes = somatotropes greater than thyrotropes = corticotropes. Progesterone treatment induces a dramatic sexual dimorphism in estrogen uptake; it significantly increases 3H-estrogen uptake in all female cell types. In males, progesterone decreases uptake in gonadotropes while not altering uptake in other cell types.