Perifusion system: its use in the study of the neuroendocrine control of human pituitary tumoral cells

Conclusion Taken together, these results show the usefulness of the perifusion technique both in the studyof hormone regulation and in the physiopathology of the human pituitary. It allows the studyof dynamic changes in hormone release, relationships between in vivo and in vitro responses, relationships between hormone response and receptor status. Furthermore, we could use this approach to demonstrate release of pituitary neuropeptides and the relation between secretoryprofiles of neuropeptides and those of pituitary hormones. It is another approach to all thesedifferent points than long term culture that needs enzymatic dispersion, and several days ofrecovery before any experiment can be performed on the cells.     

Gonadotropes in a novel rat pituitary tumor cell line,RC-4B/C. Establishment and partial characterization of the cell line

Summary An epithelial cell line (RC-4B/C) was established from a pituitary adenoma obtained from a 3-yr-old (ACI/fMai × F344/fMai)F1 male rat. Before Year 5 in vitro, RC-4B/C cells could not be viably recovered from cryogenic storage. Recovery of viable cells from cryogenic storage in Year 5 was associated with a more transformed phenotype, including the appearance of endogenous C-type rat retroviral particles. The ultrastructural appearance of the cells was similar to that of differentiated anterior pituitary cell; the cultured cells contained numerous, electron dense, secretory granules, Golgi complexes, and extended arrays of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Immunocytochemical study showed that all cell types present in the rat anterior pituitary gland were present in the cell line. The percentage of luteinizing hormone beta (LHβ) cells in the cell line was higher (19.9%) and that of growth hormone cells was lower (12.2%) than in normal male rat pituitary, whereas the cell line contained a comparable percentage of follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSHβ), prolactin (PRL), ACTH, and thyrotropin beta cells. Radioimmunoassay data demonstrated the PRL content of the cells was comparable to that of normal male rat pituitary gland, whereas the content of LH and FSH was 70- and 800-fold lower, respectively. Assay of specific receptor sites for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) using Scatchard plots of the data established the RC-4B/C cells contained GnRH receptor sites of the same affinity as in the pituitary gland, but of twofold lower capacity. These data suggest the RC-4B/C cell line warrants further study as a model for the induction and maintenance of the gonadotropic function of the pituitary gland. An abstract of portions of these results was presented at the 8th International Congress of Endocrinology, Kyoto, Japan, 1988. This work was supported in part by grants DK-17631 (E.H.L.), CA-24145 (W.G.B.), CA-31102 (H.G.B.), AG-01753 (D.E.H.) and HD-1778 (M.T.D.) from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and by a grant from the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, France (M.J.). The NIH is not responsible for the contents of this publication nor do the contents necessarily represent the official views of that agency. Jolanta Polkowska was a recipient of a Foundation Simone et Cino del Duca grant.     

酪氨酸对表面灌流系统中大鼠离体大,小黄体细胞孕酮生成的影响

参照我室Ｗａｎｇ Ｘｉａｏ－Ｎｉｎｇ的黄体细胞制备方法,制成大鼠黄体细胞悬浮液,经蔗糖密度梯度离心分离大,小黄体细胞,经６０ｍｉｎ预培灌后,每１０ｍｉｎ收集一次培灌液,用ＲＩＡ测定其中孕酮含量,实验结果表明,在培灌系统中,大黄体细胞的基础孕酮分泌量明显高于小黄体细胞,但小黄体地ｈＣＧ的敏感性强于大黄体细胞,不同剂量的酪氨酸对ｈＣＧ致大,小黄体细胞孕酮生成有不同程度的抑制,对小黄体细胞的抑制作用较为     

Radioimmunoassay for fibroblast growth factor (FGF): release by the bovine anterior pituitary in vitro

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed to measure fibroblast growth factor (FGF) using antiserum generated against a synthetic replicate of [Tyr¹⁰]FGF(1–10). The antisera, previously shown to be capable of inhibiting the biological action of FGF on bovine aortic arch endothelial cells in vitro [1], are highly specific for the amino-terminus of FGF. In the RIA, the antisera recognize the decapeptide antigen [Tyr¹⁰]FGF(1–10) and the intact mitogen on an equimolar basis and show less than 0.01% cross-reactivity with N-acetyl-[Tyr¹⁰]FGF(1–10).

Bovine adenohypophysial cells maintained in primary monolayer culture release and ir-FGF which is indistinguishable from the intact mitogen in as much as it is retained on heparin-Sepharose affinity columns and shows a dose-dependent and parallel displacement in RIA. The release of ir-FGF by the bovine adenohypophysis can be increased with forskolin (10⁻⁵ M) or KCl (50 mM). Preincubation of pituitary cells with 17β-estradiol has no measurable effects on basal ir-FGF, but increases the release after KCl treatment 2–3-fold. These results show that ir-FGF can be released by the bovine adenohypophysis in vitro and lend credence to the hypothesis that FGF plays a physiological role in the homeostatic mechanisms regulating mesoderm-derived cell growth.     

Quantitative autoradiographic determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme binding in rat pituitary and adrenal glands with 125I-351A, a specific inhibitor

We describe a quantitative autoradiographic technique which allows measurement of angiotensin-I-converting enzyme [ACE] (kininase II, peptidyldipeptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) levels in discrete areas of pituitary and adrenal glands in individual animals. Tissue sections were incubated with 125I-351A, a specific ACE inhibitor, and results were obtained with computerized densitometry and comparison to 125I standards. There were high levels of ACE in both the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary, with no detectable binding in the intermediate lobe. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) was 920 +/- 62 fmol/mg protein for the anterior pituitary and 1162 +/- 67 fmol/mg protein for posterior pituitary. The binding affinity constant (Ka) was 0.95 +/- 0.11 X 10(9) M-1 and 1.20 +/- 0.19 X 10(9) M-1 for the anterior and posterior lobes, respectively. In the adrenal gland, there were two distinct areas of specific binding, the adrenal medulla and the adrenal capsule-zona glomerulosa area. The Bmax for the adrenal medulla was 652 +/- 80 fmol/mg protein and 294 +/- 53 fmol/mg protein for the adrenal capsule-zona glomerulosa. The Ka for 351A was 1.04 +/- 0.19 X 10(9) M-1 and 1.74 +/- 0.40 X 10(9) M-1 for medulla and adrenal capsule-zona glomerulosa respectively. The results support the existence of local ANG systems active in both the pituitary and adrenal glands.     

Multiple conductance levels of the dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel in GH3 cells

Summary Calcium channels in GH₃ cells exhibit at least five conductance levels when examined in cell-attached or outside-out patches. These channels resemble the high threshold Ca²⁺ current in their range of activation and inactivation, and in their sensitivity to dihydropyridines (DHP). Mean open times for the five levels were brief (<1 msec) in control solutions but increased in the presence of BAY K 8644. In 100mm Ba²⁺ and BAY K 8644, the five predominant slope conductances were 8–9, 12–13, 16–18, 23–24, and 28 pS. The present study is the first report of multiple levels of the DHP-sensitive Ca²⁺ channel occurring with high frequency in native membranes. The range of conductance levels that we observed encompasses the range of conductances found for two other different types of Ca²⁺ channels and indicates that unit conductance should be used with caution as a distinguishing characteristic for identification of different channel types.     

Stimulation par l'Œstradiol de la synthèse des ribosomes dans les cellules adénohypophysaires

A single dose of 10 μg oestradiol injected to a male rat stimulates in the anterior pituitary the synthesis of ribosomal RNA and of the associated proteins. This stimulation is shown using in vitro double-labeling of RNA with adenine or guanine and of proteins with valine. The analysis of polysomes reveals the incorporation of the neo-synthesized molecules into the 40 S and 60 S subunits. Therefore, the stimulation of ribosomal RNA and protein biosynthesis by oestradiol is a coordinated process. No change in the whole polysome distribution is observed in these conditions though such a modification may occur in a specific cell population without being detected by using sucrose gradient analysis.     

A comparison of the locomotor effects induced by centrally injected TRH and TRH analogues

Thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its stable analogues CG3509 and RX77368 were injected directly into the nucleus accumbens, septum and striatum of the rat and locomotor activity was recorded. TRH (5-20 micrograms) caused a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity when injected into the nucleus accumbens. TRH (20 micrograms) also increased locomotor activity after administration into the septum but not when put into the striatum. Both the TRH analogues (0.1 and 1.0 microgram) produced closely related increases in activity when injected into either the nucleus accumbens or septum but CG3509 was more potent with a longer lasting effect. Also, in contrast with TRH (20 micrograms), both TRH analogues stimulated locomotor activity when injected into the striatum at a dose of 1 microgram but the effect was less marked and delayed in onset compared to the nucleus accumbens and septum response. Dopamine (100 micrograms) injected into the accumbens or septum also produced significant increases in locomotor activity. The locomotor effects of the peptides are discussed in relation to a possible dopamine-mediated mechanism which contrasts with the actions of TRH and the analogues on barbiturate anaesthesia.     

Effects of anandamide on gestation in pregnant rats

The present study was to test whether the recently described endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptor; arachidonyl-ethanolamide (anandamide, ANA), may produce similar effects on pregnancy as the main psychoactive component of marihuana: Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats. ANA, THC (0.02 mg/kg i.p./day, respectively) or vehicle were injected daily over the third week of pregnancy. The pregnant rats were either killed on day 21 of pregnancy or followed up to delivery. Results show a significant increase in the duration of pregnancy after both THC and ANA treatment. Both drugs caused an increase in the frequency of stillbirths. The mothers' hormone contents in tissues and sera were measured. Decreased LH content was observed in the serum of treated animals. No changes in FSH content were observed either in the pituitary or in the sera. Pituitary prolactin (PRL) levels was lower in ANA treated animals as compared both to controls or THC treated subjects. The serum PRL content decreased in all experimental groups. Decrease in serum progesterone was more prominent in treated rats. Serum levels of prostaglandins (PGF 1 and PGF 2) were significantly decreased after THC and ANA treatment. We conclude that ANA has the same tendency to change reproductory parameters in pregnant rats as THC, although in some cases the effects of ANA were slightly different from that of THC. Both endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids inhibit PG synthesis in pregnant rats and this maybe responsible for the delay constitute the mechanism in the onset of labour.     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核-下丘脑前区(PVH-AHA)神经元对电刺激丘脑束旁核(PF)的逆行反应和顺行反应

本工作以逆行鉴定的方法研究了丘脑束旁核(PF)和下丘脑室旁核-下丘脑前区(PVH-AHA)之间的神经连接。在 PVH-AHA 观察了150个神经元对 PF 刺激的反应。其中,7个单位发生逆行反应,42个单位发生顺行反应,101个单位没有反应。逆行反应的潜伏期为10—12ms,传导速度约0.4m/s.顺行刺激和逆行刺激的结果表明 PF 与 PVH-AHA 之间存在着交互连接。     

介绍一种LHRH调节LH分泌的离体模型—分散垂体细胞灌流技术

成年雄性 SD 大鼠断头后分离出垂体前叶(anterior pituitary,AP)。用胰蛋白酶消化和机械分散制备 AP 细胞(成活率大于95%)。分散的细胞悬液与生物凝胶混合后装上灌流柱,然后用 M199溶液连续灌流24h 以上。每间隔1~h 给予一次6min 的 LHRH 脉冲式刺激。细胞在此灌流过程中有一个稳定的基础 LH 分泌水平。LHRH 刺激能迅速引起 LH 分泌。对同一剂量 LHRH 的多次刺激可产生相同的 LH 脉冲。在一定的 LHRH 浓度范围内(1×10~(-10)_1×10~(-7)mol/L),LH 分泌与 LHRH 的剂量-效应曲线呈线性。实验结果表明,连续灌流分散的 AP 细胞的技术,优于单层细胞培养和组织块灌流等其他方法,是一种较为理想的研究LHRH 调节 LH 分泌机理的体外模型。     

低氧对CRF,AVP和NE刺激体外培养腺垂体细胞生成cAMP的影响

本文探讨了ＣＲＦ,ＡＶＰ及ＮＥ对体外培养大鼠腺垂体细胞生成ｃＡＭＰ的作用。ＣＲＦ刺激体外培养大鼠腺垂体细胞内ｃＡＭＰ的生成,且浓度与效应正相关。ＡＶＰ未引起细胞内ｃＡＭＰ差异性变化（Ｐ＞０．５）。ＮＥ使培养腺垂体细胞内ｃＡＭＰ水平降低。低氧使ＣＲＦ刺激ｃＡＭＰ生成的作用降低。而ＡＶＰ及ＮＥ可能是通过其它胞内信息通路。     

Sealing of the follicular lumen of the anterior pituitary gland of the male rat

It is commonly accepted that follicular lumina of the adult rat anterior pituitary gland are tightly sealed by junctional complexes, especially tight junctions. In this report, we describe the presence of follicular lumina that are unsealed. Peroxidase (HRP) was used to study such structures and when injected through the femoral vein, was observed in association with a few follicular lumina, on their microvilli and around the cilia of folliculo-stellate cells. The existence of peroxidase-positive follicles clearly shows that follicles of the hypophysis are not always firmly sealed by tight junctions. The folliculo-stellate cells which faced the peroxidase-positive follicles displayed HRP deposits which were membrane bound within their cytoplasm. These findings suggest an absorptive function for the folliculo-stellate cells.     

免疫化学染色和放射自显影双标记技术在培养的大鼠垂体前叶细胞中的应用

本实验将免疫细胞化学染色与放射自显影相结合,建立了双标记技术,并用于培养垂体前叶细胞检测。用此方法不仅可区别培养的垂体前叶细胞的类别,而且可以了解其功能状态。