Fifteen sparsely granulated prolactin-producing adenomas and 10 nontumourous adenohypophyses, removed by surgical hypophysectomy, have been studied using morphometry at the electron microscopic level. Compared to non-tumourous prolactin cells, sparsely granulated adenomatous prolactin cells showed a significant decrease in diameter and volume density of secretory granules and an increased volume density of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The volume density of mitochondria remained unchanged. These results indicate that the cells of the adenoma are in a highly active functional state. It appears that the equilibrium between hormone synthesis, storage and release is altered in adenomatous prolactin cells.
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McComb et al. (1978) studied this question.