Angiotensin-like immunoreactivity is localized specifically to gonadotrops and lactotrops in the rat anterior pituitary gland.
Utilizing an immunocytochemical technique wherein two different antigens can be visualized on the same tissue section, angiotensin-like immunoreactivity was found in rat adenohypophyseal cells that showed staining with antisera to hLH, hFSH or human prolactin. Angiotensin-like immunoreactivity was not found in cells that showed staining with antisera to hTSH, C-terminal ACTH or hGH. The nature and possible physiologic significance of the angiotensin-like immunoreactivity is discussed.
Steele et al. (2008) studied this question.