Thyroid gland in dwarf mice

Stereological methods were used to compare thyroids of dwarf mice and of their heterozygote littermates. In the thyroid of dwarf mice unorganized cellular masses, adipous tissue and ultimobranchial cysts are abundant. Follicles are small and their distribution function is unimodal. The number of cells per follicle is considerably lowered if compared with the normal. In control mice the distribution function of thyroid follicles is bimodal. These data show that the origin of the thyroid anomaly in dwarf mice is due to a drastic diminution of cell divisions, probably resulting from the lack of growth hormone.     

Opioid peptides in adrenal gland

Enkephalin-like immunoreactive peptides have been observed in adrenal glands of all species studied with the highest contents found in dogs and cows, and the lowest in rats. These peptides are located both in gland cells and in afferent nerve terminals. Bovine adrenal glands contain opioid peptides in many molecular forms. The peptides include a group of low molecular weight forms (M.W. <1000) which are capable of binding to the opiate receptor, and a group of high molecular weight forms (M.W. >1000) which contain enkephalin within their peptide sequence, but are devoid of opioid activity unless treated with trypsin. The physiological role(s) of the adrenal enkephalin-like material is not clear at present. However, it has been observed that nicotine-stimulated release of catecholamine from isolated chromaffin cells can be reduced by opiate agonists, suggesting that enkephalin-like peptide in nerve terminals may act on chromaffin cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that enkephalin-like peptides in gland cells can be released into the bloodstream.     

Amylase in the thyroid gland

Summary Amylase activity detected in thyroid extracts was significantly higher than that of normal sera. A starch film technique revealed the existence of amylase activity in the follicular lumen and on the follicular epithelia. By electrophoretic analysis of thyroid extracts, 4 bands of amylase activity were observed, one being of the same mobility as parotid and the other 3 more anodic. Amylase extracted from the thyroid appeared in the same position as pancreatic or parotid amylase on Sephadex G75 gel filtration. The possibility is discussed that the thyroid may synthesize amylase of salivary type, which is secreted from the follicular epithelia into the follicular lumen, where it may be transformed into anionic forms.     

Amylase in the thyroid gland

Amylase activity detected in thyroid extracts was significantly higher than that of normal sera. A starch film technique revealed the existence of amylase activity in the follicular lumen and on the follicular epithelia. By electrophoretic analysis of thyroid extracts, 4 bands of amylase activity were observed, one being of the same mobility as parotid and the other 3 more anodic. Amylase extracted from the thyroid appeared in the same position as pancreatic or parotid amylase on Sephadex G75 gel filtration. The possibility is discussed that the thyroid may synthesize amylase of salivary type, which is secreted from the follicular epithelia into the follicular lumen, where it may be transformed into anionic forms.     

Coexistence of gland mucous cell-type mucin and lysozyme in gastric gland mucous cells

Class III mucin, identified by paradoxical concanavalin A staining, is confined to gastric gland mucous cells and is an essential component of the gastric surface mucous gel layer. The pretreatment required has hampered the application of this method to electron microscopic studies. Antibody HIK1083 reacts selectively with class III mucins. The present study was undertaken to explore, electron microscopically, the immunoreactivity of the human stomach to HIK1083. We examined normal mucosa from resected human stomachs (five cases; formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) and gastric biopsy specimens from patients with early gastric cancer [nine cases; glutaraldehyde- and osmium-fixed, epoxy-embedded (seven cases) and half-strength Karnovsky’s solution-fixed, Lowicryl K4M-embedded (two cases)]. Immunostaining with HIK1083 and anti-lysozyme antibody was examined under light and electron microscopes. Gland mucous cells were labeled with HIK1083, and lysozyme was detected in some gland mucous cells and surface mucous cells. Electron microscopically, the secretory granules of gland mucous cells contained a single electron-dense core. HIK1083-positive mucins and lysozyme coexisted in the secretory granules of gastric gland mucous cells. HIK1083-reactive mucins and lysozyme were distributed in the matrix and in the dense core of these secretory granules, respectively. HIK1083 can be used for electron immunohistochemistry. Accepted: 1 December 1999     

The accessory gland and metathoracic scent gland function in Oncopeltus fasciatus

The paper provides further clues as to the physiological function and biological significance of the ‘accessory gland’ in the metathoracic scent apparatus of the lygaeid Oncopeltus fasciatus. From various lines of evidence (gas chromatographic, cytochemical) it is concluded as probable that the accessory gland secretes small quantities of a mucopolysaccharide secretory product together with water. The difficulty of reconciling these data with other data indicating that the accessory gland is involved in the biosynthesis of the scent aldehydes is discussed. It is suggested that the water secreted into the median scent reservoir by the accessory gland provides O. fasciatus with a means of volumetric compensation for a diminished output of scent repellent.     

The interaction of the thyroid gland, pineal gland and immune system in chicken

The interaction of immunological system, thyroid and pineal gland was studied in 5-week old males of Gallus domesticus. Several morphometrical parameters in pineal and thyroid glands were measured after bird immunization with human red blood cells and/or treatment with melatonin or seduxen, melatonin receptor blocker. The peak of the thyroid activity was found on Day 7 after immunization. The immune system appears to directly activate the thyroid gland only in the presence of certain level of melatonin. We suggest that the melatonin mechanism of action includes the enhancement of thyroid gland sensitivity to immune factors. Seduxen prevented the stimulatory influence of the immune system on the thyroid gland.     

Whole mammary gland organ culture: Selection of appropriate gland

Summary This report presents the results of studies on differences in the responsiveness of the different mammary glands of virgin mice in whole mammary gland organ culture. The entire second and third thoracic and the fourth inguinal mammary fat pads containing the parenchyma were excised and incubated in Waymouth's medium (MB752/1) supplemented with the hormones estradiol, progesterone, aldosterone, insulin, growth hormone, and prolactin. The rate of DNA synthesis was determined by acid-insoluble [³H]-thymidine radioactivity. Morphological measures of the extent of lobulo-alveolar development in the parenchyma were used as criteria of induction of mammogenesis in organ culture. It was evident that, after 3 and 5 days incubation in vitro, the mammary parenchyma in the second thoracic fat pad is the most responsive to the hormone-supplemented medium. This research was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant CA-11058 and Contract E-72-3212 from the National Cancer Institute.     

Nestin expression in rat adrenal gland

The constituents of the intermediate filament network of adrenal gland cells have not been deeply investigated in vivo. Adrenocortical cells have been reported to express cytokeratins and vimentin, but the intermediate filament components of the adrenomedullary cells are still unknown. Nestin is an intermediate filament protein that is mainly expressed in the developing nervous and muscle systems. It has been reported to be unable to form filaments by itself and it co-assembles with vimentin. Using immunocytochemical and biochemical approaches, the present study demonstrates that nestin is expressed in situ either in the cortex or in the medulla of adult rat adrenal glands. Nestin-negative cells prevalently form the zona glomerulosa whereas the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis are mainly nestin-immunoreactive. Nestin-positive cells always express vimentin-like immunoreactivity but several cells apparently expressing only vimentin are detectable too. Nestin is also expressed by adrenomedullary cells that also display a faint vimentin-like immunoreactivity. We hypothesise that the inconstant detection of nestin in adrenocortical cells depends on their different functional moments. Moreover, even though our data do not allow to confirm vimentin in adrenomedullary cells, in situ detection of nestin in the adrenal medulla indirectly supports in vivo expression of vimentin in chromaffin cells.     

Thyroid gland function in heatstroke]

Development of thermal stroke in rats with the action of high external temperature (45 degrees C) was accompanied by a reduction of accumulation of I131 in the thyroid gland, a fall in the protein-bound-iodine--I131 and in the amount of thyroxin in the peripheral blood plasma, and also by a fall in the rate of disappearance from the blood of Nal131 injected intravenously. A relative decrease of the content of mono- and particularly of diiodthyrosines, and also, slightly, of iodthyronines occurred in the trypsine hydrolyzates of the thyroid gland at the moment of the thermal stroke development.     

鸟类哈氏腺的研究进展

本文对鸟类哈氏腺的解剖学、组织学及生理功能的研究进展进行了综述,对其未来的研究方向进行了展望,以期为此领域的研究提供参考。大多数鸟类哈氏腺的形态大体上无实质性差异,最常见的与家鸡相似：形状不规则,腺体被一层薄的结缔组织包膜隔成不同的小叶。根据小叶结构和排列在腺泡及小管的上皮细胞种类,鸟类哈氏腺可分为三类,即复管泡状腺,复管状腺和混合型腺,复管泡状腺中家鸡为代表,复管状腺中家鸭为代表,混合型中秃鼻乌鸦（Corvus frugilegus）为代表。腺体结构的类型可能与鸟类习性和行为有关。鸟类哈氏腺除最基本的润滑角膜和瞬膜功能外,还是B细胞活化和终末分化以及浆细胞增殖的场所,作为外周免疫器官,与脾脏、法氏囊和盲肠集合淋巴样组织一起构成决定鸟类全身和局部免疫反应的器官系统。     

Tumor immunity in the mammary gland

Summary Mouse mammary tumor 410, which was derived from a spontaneously arising BALB/cf C3H mammary tumor, grows better in syngeneic BALB/c mice after injection into mammary fatpads than after injection into subcutaneous sites. This finding is consistent with the notion that the fatpad is an imunologically privileged site. However, no evidence that the mammary fatpad was immunologically privileged with respect to tumor transplantation antigens was found. Tumor cells were injected into mammary fatpads or SC. When the tumors became palpable they were surgically removed. One to three weeks later, the mice were challenged on the opposite side by injection of tumor cells either SC or into the mammary fatpad. The mice were immune after temporary growth of tumors either in the fatpad or SC. Regardless of the growth site of the immunizing tumor, the mice rejected the challenge tumor cells whether they were injected SC or into the fatpad.