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We reported previously the direct inhibitory action of ergocornine and 2-Br--ergocryptine on prolactin secretion by rat and human hypophyses cultured in vitro. References to earlier literature can be found in the same paper (Pasteels, Danguy, Frérotte & Ectors, 1971). An ultrastructural study of the explanted hypophyses was then undertaken to investigate the mechanism of action of ergot drugs on pituitary cells.

The electron microscope was used to examine eight hypophyses of 4-month-old female rats. Explants of one half of each hypophysis were used for a control culture and explants from the other half were incubated in medium containing ergocornine (10 µg/ml) following the procedure already described (Pasteels et al. 1971). After 18 h incubation the cultures were fixed with glutaraldehyde—osmium tetroxide as described by Grégoire (1963), and embedded in Epon. Sections were cut with diamond knives on an L.K.B. ultramicrotome and stained with uranyl acetate followed by lead citrate (Reynolds,