RÉSUMÉ
Objective To investigate the distribution and expression of trefoil factor 3(TFF3) in the eosinophilic cells and basophilic cells in the pars distalis of the rat pituitary .Methods The immunohistochemiscal staining technique was used to show the coexpression of TFF3/growth hormone (GH),TFF3/prolactin (PRL),TFF3/thyrotroph (TSH), TFF3/adrenocorticotropin (ACTH),TFF3/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),TFF3/luteinizing hormone (LH) in two contiguous slices .Results The immunoreactive products of TFF 3 and chromophil cells were brown granules , mainly expressed in cytoplasm .ACTH positive signals were expressed in the cell membrane and mainly located in the pars distalis hypophyseos.TFF3 existed in parts of GH,PRL,TSH,ACTH,FSH and LH cells in contiguous slices, accounting for 19.4%, 22.4%, 9.2%, 6.5%, 35.7%, 8.3%, respectively , in which FSH was the most , PRL and GH were less . Conclusion TFF3 expresses in GH, PRL, TSH, ACTH, FSH, and LH cells in the pars distalis , which enriches the morphological data for the location of TFF 3 in gland cells of pars distalis hypophyseos .