Objective To explore an ideal form of graft for pituitary transplantation, which could restore normal pituitary function and avoid hyperprolactinmia providing it is implanted outside the hypophysiotrophic area.Methods Pituitary cells, hypothalamic cells and nigral cells were obtained from human embryos (4-6 months gestation) during therapeutic abortion, and three different cultures were conducted: group P (n=38), half amount of pituitary cells per embryo; group PH (n=18), half amount of pituitary cells mixed with double amount of hypothalamic cells obtained from each embryo; and group PHN (n=20), half amount of pituitary cells mixed with double amount of hypothalamic and nigral cells acquired from each embryo. The histological changes of the cultured cells were observed and the secretive levels of growth hormone and prolactin indifferent medium were measured.Results All the monolayer cultured cells grew well throughout the 30-day culture period. Ultrastructurally, the cells in group P degenerated significantly at the 21st day of culture. However, in the PH and PHN groups, the cells kept well viability. The secretive level of growth hormone in culture medium declined steadily in group P, but kept at 20 ng/ml in both PH and PHN groups. Prolactin concentration decreased rapidly following an initial increase in group P, but kept at a high level in PH group. In PHN group, the prolactin level was valuable, remaining at about 15 ng/ml.Conclusions In the mixed culture of fetal pituitary-hypothalamic-nigral cells, the pituitary cells kept high viability in a long period and its hormone secretion remained at ideal levels. These indicate that the mixed fetal pituitary-hypothalamic-nigral cells are a good graft, which can be implanted outside the cranium while maintaining normal pituitary function with no increase in blood prolactin concentration.