Etude au microscope électronique de la neurohypophyse de Rana esculenta L.

Résumé L'éminence médiane et la pars nervosa de Rana esculenta diffèrent du point de vue de leur structure.L'éminence médiane se compose de 2 zones différentes: la zone externe placée près du lobe distal et la zone interne située sous l'épendyme. Dans la zone externe, on distingue, d'après la taille et la forme des grains de sécrétion, 5 types de terminaisons.1. des terminaisons avec de fins granules sphériques denses de 800 à 1000 Å de diamètre; 2. des terminaisons avec des granules de 1000 à 1200 Å de diamètre; 3. des terminaisons avec des grains de forme irrégulière de diamètre supérieur aux précédents (1200 à 1600 Å); 4. des terminaisons avec de volumineux grains denses sphériques d'environ 1200 à 1800 Å de diamètre; 5. un petit nombre de terminaisons ne contenant que des vésicules. Les terminaisons des catégories 3 et 4 sont probablement du type neurosécrétoire.La zone interne contient de nombreuses fibres neurosécrétrices. Elles sont de 2 types, l'une avec de gros granules (1600–2400 Å), l'autre avec des granules moins volumineux (1300–2000 Å). Des fibres non neurosécrétrices ont également été observées.Dans la pars nervosa, on rencontre deux types principaux de fibres neurosécrétrices, l'une avec des grains denses de 1600 à 2400 Å de diamètre, l'autre avec des grains moins denses d'environ 1300 à 2000 Å de diamètre. Dans la zone externe bordant la pars intermedia des fibres aminergiques avec de fines granulations ont été observées.

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Electron microscopic study of the neurohypophysis of Rana esculenta L.

Summary The median eminence and the pars nervosa of Rana esculenta have a different structure.The median eminence has 2 different zones: the outer zone situated near the pars distalis and the inner zone under the ependyme. In the outer zone there are, according to the size and the shape of the granules, 5 types of nerve terminals.1. Endings containing spherical fine dense granules of 800 to 1000 Å in diameter; 2. Endings with spherical granules from 1000 to 1200 Å in diameter; 3. Endings with granules of irregular shape which are bigger than the former (1200 to 1600 Å); 4. Endings with spherical dense granules of about 1200 to 1800 Å in diameter; 5. A few endings containing only clear vesicles. Type 3 and type 4 endings are probably neurosecretory.The inner zone contains numerous neurosecretory fibres. They are of two types: one with big granules (1600–2400 Å), the second with smaller granules (1300–2000 Å). Non-neurosecretory fibres have also been observed.The pars nervosa contains two principal types of neurosecretory fibres: one with dense granules of 1600 to 2400 Å in diameter, the other with lighter granules of about 1300 to 2000 Å. In the external zone lining the pars intermedia, aminergic fibres with fine granules have been observed.

Je tiens à exprimer mes vifs remerciements, à Monsieur le Professeur E. Follenius pour l'intérêt constant qu'il prend à ce travail. Je remercie également Madame R. O. Clauss, collaboratrice technique et Madame Schwoerer, photographe, pour leur aide précieuse.     

A Modified Exact Test for 2 × 2 Contingency Tables

A modified exact test is proposed for 2×2 contingency tables. This test, which is based on a less conservative definition of the concept of significance (STONE, 1969) is compared with a modified form of Pearson's X² test and with Tocher's randomized exact (UMPU) test. The sizes of the new test lie near the nominal 0.05 levels while those of the X² test usually exceed the nominal level, sometimes by a factor of 2 or more. The power of the modified test is usually close to that of the UMPU test.     

Ultrastructure of the rat median eminence after superfusion

Summary Isolated medio-basal hypothalami of adult rats were continuously superfused in a chamber with controllable inputs and outputs, for periods from 30 to 240 min. The median eminence was prepared for transmission electron microscopy under carefully controlled conditions by immersion fixation with osmium tetroxide. The ultrastructure of superfused median eminence was compared with that of directly fixed, non-superfused median eminence. Even after 4h of superfusion, the median eminence displays remarkably well preserved histological and cytological patterns; cytomembranes, cell organelles, intercellular relationships, and extracellular spaces were remarkably similar in superfused and non-superfused tissues. As a consequence of osmium tetroxide fixation, microtubules were not observable. The ultrastructural information obtained from unstimulated rat median eminence superfused in vitro provides a basis for future morphofunctional correlations in the study of neurosecretion.     

The hypothalamo-hypophysial system of hypophysectomized rats

Summary The median eminence (ME) of hypophysectomized rats was studied by means of light and electron microscopy. Paraldehyde-fuchsin (PAF)-positive material is seen in the external zone (EZ) of the ME 2–5 days after the operation. Its amount gradually increases especially in the caudal part of the ME during the following few days. Some PAF-positive fibers make contact with the subependymally located blood capillaries. In the most caudal region of the recessus infundibuli they penetrate into the third ventricle. PAF-positive material decreases markedly from the ME of rats two months after hypophysectomy and exposure to a 1% salt load. Fibers of types A₁, A₂ and B containing granules of 120–220 nm, 100–150 nm and 80–100 nm in diameter, respectively, are seen in the EZ of the ME in hypophysectomized rats, although almost exclusively A₂- and B-type structures make contact with the primary portal capillaries in intact animals. All types of neurosecretory fibers establish contact with the subependymal nonfenestrated blood capillaries and penetrate the recessus infundibuli. Some neurosecretory terminals of different types make direct contact with the glandular cells of the pars tuberalis or are separated from them by a thin basal lamina. It is assumed that mainly neurosecretory fibers of types A₂ and B are permanently connected with the primary portal capillaries in the EZ of the ME in intact mammals, while the overwhelming majority of fibers of A₁-type shows ingrowth during the course of postoperative reparation. The possible physiological significance of the described changes is discussed.     

Quantitative radioautographic light and electron microscopic analysis of the localization of monoamines in the median eminence of the rat

Summary Serotonin containing structures in the median eminence of the rat have been studied by quantitative light and electron microscopic radioautography following intraventricular infusion of tritiated 5-hydroxytryptophan. One hour after injection of the tracer the highest density of silver grains was recorded in the ependymal and external zones, especially in the lateral palisade zone. The proportion of labelled neurosecretory terminals was also larger in the lateral palisade zone (29%) as compared with the medial palisade zone (13%), although the mean number of developed silver grains per one terminal was higher in the latter. On the average, 16% of neurosecretory terminals sequestered radiolabelled 5-hydroxytryptophan in the external zone of the rat median eminence. It is suggested that serotonin, like catecholamines, is discharged from neurosecretory terminals localized in the external zone and via the portal circulation affects the function of the anterior pituitary. The sites of origin of serotoninergic structures of the median eminence as well as the possible role of monoamine (catecholamine and indolamine) neurohormones in a dual peptidergic and monoaminergic control of anterior pituitary functions are discussed.This work was presented at the joint session of the Society of Anatomists, Histologists and Embryologists, the Society of Physiologists, and the Society of Neuroendocrinologists dedicated to the memory of Professor Wolfgang Bargmann, held in Leningrad, January 17, 1979