Effects of fatal organophosphorus poisoning on pituitary gland as detected by histopathology

Pituitary gland, regarded by the biologists as “the master gland” of human body, is a pea sized gland with average weight of 0.5gram, controlling almost all the endocrine glands of the human body. In a country like India, having agriculture based economy, Organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) are widely used for pest control which leads to increased risk of human exposure and as such, poisoning; mainly accidental or suicidal and rarely homicidal. In a number of cases, it has been shown that organophosphorus compounds significantly derange the endocrinal homeostasis of human body, which in conjunction with the cholinergic surge, results in typical signs and symptoms of OPC poisoning. In this present case, we have tried to find out the impact (structural/microscopic) on the pituitary gland, of an otherwise healthy person, who has succumbed to acute OPC poisoning.