Fetal Pituitary Transplantation Viability and Functionality of Human

Fetal Pituitary Transplantation Viability and Functionality of Human Fetal Pituitary Cells Transplanted into Hypophysectomized Rats Reza Jarrahy, M. D. Hrayr K. Shahinian, M. D. Department of Surgery, Division of Skull Base Surgery Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, California

Abstract l Human fetal pituitary cells were transplanted into twenty three hypophysectomized rats via a transauricular approach. Baseline serum human growth hormone levels (h. GH) were measured prior to intervention and then at one week intervals following transplantation. Rats receiving pituitary cell transplants demonstrated h. GH levels that were maximal one week following transplantation and that gradually tapered off in the subsequent weeks. These results offer preliminary evidence that human fetal pituitary cells are able to survive and retain functionality after transplantation into rats.

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Early work: design • species: rodent (isograft/homograft/allograft) • substrate: neonatal and adult rodent pituitary tissue • site: renal, ocular, intracerebral (“immunologic privilege”: thalamus; ventricles; corpus callosum; temporal lobe; ) • endpoints: end organ weights & histology

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Early work: outcomes • pituitary function could be restored to hypophysectomized rats following transplantation of rat pituitary gland tissue • most complete restitution seen in transplants to the median eminence (“hypophysiotropic area”)

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Later work: design • species: rodent xenografts (mouse pituitary to rat); (human striatum to rat) • substrate: fetal tissue; cell cultures • site: median eminence • endpoints: serum hormone levels; immunohistochemistry; electron microscopy

Background l On substrate: fetal tissues – less immunogenic – durable grafts: • “There is no question that fetal tissue is superior to adult tissue as a source of graft material both because of its resistance to trauma and anoxia and because of its ability to proliferate. Fetal tissue may also elaborate a variety of trophic factors that may be beneficial to the host. ” – Tulipan N: Brain transplants. Neur Clin 1988; 6: 405 -420.

Background l On substrate: cell culture – less immunogenic – durable grafts • “Theoretical consideration regarding diffusion of nutrients to the center of grafts and development of a new blood supply [render] a theoretical advantage to using suspensions of tissue in which most cells are bathed in nutrient medium prior to transplantation… In addition, it is known that cultured cells often lose their histocompatibility antigenicity and might therefore not be prone to rejection. ” transplants. Neur Clin 1988; 6: 405 -420. --Tulipan N: Brain

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Later work: outcomes • “Research into CNS transplantation has documented the ability of transplanted CNS tissues to survive, develop processes, elongate, organize into anatomically correct configurations, and establish electrophysiologically and secretorily functional synaptic connections with host tissue. ” --Wilberger JE: Transplantation of Central Nervous Tissue. Neurosurgery 1983; 13: 90 -94.

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Later work: outcomes • “The pituitary gland itself may be transplanted to the median eminence of hypophysectomized rats with survival of pituitary tissue and resultant correction of hormonal abnormalities. ” – Tulipan N: Brain transplants. Neur Clin 1988; 6: 405 -420.

Background l Pituitary transplant models: historical perspectives – Later work: outcomes • reaffirmation of earlier studies with more conclusive evidence • documentation of successful inter-species human to rat CNS transplants (Parkinsonian models) • successful use of fetal tissue

Central question: l Can pituitary function be reconstituted in hypophysectomized rats after transplantation of human fetal pituitary cells?

Method Species (recipient): – Harlan/Sprague Dawley male hypophysectomized rats – age 20 weeks; weight 170 -240 g l Substrate: – human fetal pituitary cell culture – derived from fetuses of 20 week gestation l Site: – transauricular approach to medial basal hypothalamus l Endpoints: – serum levels of human hormone (human GH, ACTH) – endocrine organ histology l

Method human pituitary cell suspension hypophysectomized rat serum h. GH serum h. ACTH

Results: hormone levels • serum h. GH (ng/ml) specimen

Results: hormone levels • serum h. ACTH (pg/ml) * rodent ACTH

Results: hormone levels • serum h. ACTH (pg/ml) specimen

Results: histology l In animals 1, 2, 3, and 5 (recent data), the endocrine glands were normal and did not exhibit histological signs of involution, indicating that they were exposed to the necessary quantities of adenohypophyseal hormones.

Results: histology l In animals 4 and Control the abnormal histology of the testes, adrenals, and thyroids indicated that the endocrine glands were not under the influence of adenohypophyseal hormones.

Conclusions l Human fetal pituitary cells transplanted into the hypophysiotropic area of the hypophysectomized rat can remain viable and retain secretory function

Conclusions l Human fetal pituitary cells transplanted into the hypophysiotropic area of the hypophysectomized rat may, at least partially, reconstitute a normal hypothalamic-pituitary-end organ axis and regulate normal maturation and function of endocrine organs (thyroid, adrenals, gonads)

Future directives l Series with larger numbers of animals (greater statistical power) and both hypox and normal controls (underway) l Immunosuppressive therapy trials (underway) l Refined transplantation method l Histology of skull base/sella/cerebral tissue

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