Pituicytes (Pituitary Helper Cells)

Star-shaped helpers

Your pituitary gland has a front part and a back part. Pituicytes (say pih-TOO-ih-sites) live in the back part.

The back part is really a piece of your brain. Long nerve fibers grow down into it from a brain area above, called the hypothalamus (say hy-po-THAL-uh-mus).

Pituicytes are a kind of glial cell, a helper cell of the nervous system. They have a star shape with arms that wrap around the nerve fiber endings.

Looking after the hormone storeroom

The nerve endings in the back of the pituitary store two hormones:

• Vasopressin helps your kidneys hold on to water, so you don't dry out.
• Oxytocin helps when a baby is born and when a mother feeds her baby. Scientists think it also plays a part in feeling close to people.

Pituicytes support these nerve endings. Scientists think their arms can move to help control when the hormones get out into the blood.

Pituicyte quiz