Seasonal changes of the ultrastructure of the pars tuberalis of the hypophysis of Rana temporaria

Summary In the pars tuberalis of the hypophysis of Rana temporaria, which shows the ultrastructural characteristics of a polypeptide hormone secreting endocrine gland, seasonal changes of the ultrastructure are described. In accordance with the literature, these seasonal changes of ultrastructure are interpreted as the morphological expression of seasonal changes of endocrine activity of the pars tuberalis.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of iron-containing dermal granules from Molpadia intermedia

Dermal granules containing hydrous ferric oxide cores from Molpadia intermedia were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy from 1.5 t0 300 K and in magnetic fields up to 80 kOersted at 4.2 K. A magnetic phase transition to an antiferromagnetically ordered state is observed at 10 K. The results are compared with the magnetic behavior of micellar cores of ferritin from eukaryotes and iron-storage materials from prokaryotes.     

小麦—天兰偃麦草—黑麦三属杂种花粉植株诱导条件的研究

研究表明,三属杂种处于单核中晚期阶段的花粉最适于诱导形成愈伤组织。低温预处理对促进三属杂种花粉愈伤组织的诱导有一定的作用。利用以马铃薯提取物为基础物质的马铃薯-Ⅱ培养基作诱导培养基,其愈伤组织诱导与分化的频率比目前两个较好的合成培养基要高。同一个三属杂种F_1春、秋播种植株之间在形成愈伤组织的能力上有较大的差异,秋播材料形成愈伤组织的能力明显高于春播材料。F_(?)杂种植株诱导愈伤组织和分化植株的频率均比F_1杂种明显提高。     

Coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in Rathke's cysts of the human pituitary gland

Summary Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies revealed the presence of cytokeratins in epithelial cells of Rathke's cysts in the pars intermedia of the human pituitary gland. With monoclonal antibodies specific for individual cytokeratins, the expression of CK 18, CK 8, CK 7, and CK 19 could be shown in these cells. Within the hypophysis, CK 19 and CK 7 were restricted to Rathke's cysts and a few epithelial cell clusters in the pars tuberalis, whereas other cytokeratins were also present in endocrine cells of the pars distalis. Furthermore, vimentin and, focally, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected in the cystic epithelia. By double labelling, coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin, GFAP and cytokeratin, and GFAP and vimentin could be demonstrated. Compiled data of all known cases of coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in normal cells reveal physiological correlations and suggest a functional significance of this rare type of coexpression of intermediate filament proteins.     

Immunocytochemical studies on the pituitary pars distalis of the Japanese long-fingered bat,Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Summary Immunocytochemical studies were performed to describe the characteristics of cell types and their distribution in the pars distalis of Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, collected at various stages of the reproductive cycle. Six distinct cell types have been identified in the pars distalis by the unlabeled immunoperoxidase technique and by the ABC method. Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) cells were immunostained with antisera against chicken GH and ovine PRL. The GH-immunoreactive cells were round or oval orangeophilic cells distributed throughout the pars distalis with prominent aggregation in the posterolateral region. The PRL cells were pleomorphic carminophilic cells that occurred in small groups within the central and dorsocaudal regions of the pars distalis. They were sparsely distributed in the central region of the pars distalis in the hibernating bats, but increased significantly in the pregnant and lactating bats. The adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) cells were large round or polygonal amphophilic cells in the rostroventral and ventrolateral regions of the pars distalis. The thyrotropic (TSH) cells were small rounded or polygonal and distributed mainly in the ventrolateral region of the pars distalis. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) cells were identified immunocytochemically with antisera against the specific beta subunits of ovine LH and rat FSH. There were two populations of LH and FSH cells, one aggregated in the zona tuberalis and the other scattered singly throughout the rest of the pars distalis. The aggregated cells were immunoreactive with both antisera directed to LH and FSH, while scattered cells were reactive solely with antiserum to either LH or FSH and exhibited seasonal variations. In females, the proportional volume of the pars distalis occupied by LH cells was significantly reduced during pregnancy and lactation. No evidence of involution was observed in pars distalis cells except for PRL cells in males or females during hibernation.     

Microfibrils are a major component of the mesangial matrix in the glomerulus of the rat kidney

Summary Certain secretory cells in the hypophysial pars tuberalis of the Djungarian hamster display marked circannual structural alterations. The present investigation deals with the immunohistochemical properties of this cell group. A distinct TSH-like immunoreactivity was found in secretory cells of this type in the pars tuberalis of animals exposed to long photoperiods, whereas under short photoperiods the TSH-like immunoreactivity was nearly absent. In the pars distalis, the number and distribution of TSH-positive cells did not differ significantly between animals maintained under long and under short photoperiods. LH-and FSH-positive cells could not be detected in the pars tuberalis, but they are clearly present in the pars distalis of both groups of hamsters. Our immunocytochemical results suggest that photoperiodic stimuli influence the secretory activity of TSH-like immunoreactive cells in the pars tuberalis. A connection with the neuroendrocrine-thyroid axis is discussed.The study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wi 558/3-1, Pe 134/2-4)     

诱导小麦-天兰偃麦草-黑麦三属杂种花粉植株的研究

以法国六倍体小黑麦为母本,分别与普通小麦(Triticum aestivum)和天兰偃麦草(Elytrigia intermedia of Agropyron glaucum)的杂交后代中的中间类型3号和5号杂交。由此获得的三属杂种F_1性状介于亲本之间,兼有三属亲本类型的特征,呈中间类型。用马铃薯-Ⅱ培养基培养三属杂种F_1的花药,诱导花粉愈伤组织。将所获得的愈伤组织转入190-2培养基进行分化,已成功地诱导出一批三属间杂种花粉植株,并用Giemsa显带技术鉴定花粉植株的染色体组组成。     

Demonstration of melatonin-binding sites in cyclohexylamine-formaldehyde-fixed brain tissues

This study shows for the first time that perfusion of rat or hamster brain with a cyclohexylamine-paraformaldehyde mixture makes possible the observation by autoradiography of melatonin binding sites in structurally well-preserved fixed tissues. This result is a first step in the identification of melatonin-receptor-containing cell types by cytoautoradiography.     

Photoperiod-dependent changes in exocytotic activity in the hypophyseal pars tuberalis of the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus

The pars tuberalis of the hypophysis of the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus, was investigated with regard to secretory activity by applying the tannic acid-Ringer perfusion technique. Two groups were maintained under long photoperiods (16 h light: 8 h dark) or short photoperiods (8 h light: 16 h dark), respectively. Perfusion with tannic acid showed that specific pars tuberalis cells release some of their secretory granules as indicated by typical exocytotic figures. The percentage of cells displaying exocytotic activity was significantly higher in the pars tuberalis of hamsters kept under long photoperiods. The number of exocytotic figures per single cell was not increased. These results provide further evidence for a secretory activity of the pars tuberalis and support the hypothesis of its involvement as a mediator between photoperiodic stimuli and the endocrine system.     

Changes in LHβ-gene and FSHβ-gene expression in the ram pars tuberalis according to season and castration

Luteinizing hormone beta (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSH) subunits and their mRNAs were studied in the ram pars tuberalis following different seasonal (winter vs summer) and experimental (intact vs castrated animals) conditions. Hormone-containing cells were identified by immunohistochemistry, and mRNAs for LH and FSH by in situ hybridization using homologous double-stranded ³⁵S-cDNAs. The labelling was quantified by image analysis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that cells containing LH and FSH were localized mainly in the ventral part of the pars tuberalis but that, in the summer, additional LH-containing cells were present in the dorsal part in intact rams. On the other hand, LH-mRNA labelling was found in the whole pars tuberalis in wethers but only in the ventral part in intact rams. The magnitude of LH-mRNA labelling was significantly greater in summer than in winter rams, and in castrated than in intact animals (P<0.001). However, the number of labelled cells was found to be the greatest in the winter (P<0.001) and was not affected by castration. FSH-mRNA expression was similar to that of LH-mRNA except that the level and extent were considerably lower. Thus, our results show an increase in the magnitude of gonadotropin subunit-mRNA in the summer and following castration; this increase appears to involve the entire pars tuberalis.