The effect of vitamin E on the neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus in white rats

For analysing the earlier detected hormone-depending effect of vitamin E (alpha-TPh) on functional systems of the organism, a study was made of the influence of this vitamin on the morphometric indexes of functional conditions of supraoptic (SON), suprachiasmatic (SCN), paraventricular (NPV) and arcuate (AN) hypothalamic centres. Experiments were performed on Wistar rats (males and females) either of which was given per os a 5 mg daily dose of 5% D, L, alpha-tocopherol-acetate oil solution for three weeks. In results, a repression of functional activity of the neurosecretion cells (decrease in nuclear dimensions) was shown. Such an influence was found in all the centres studied except the SON which, on the contrary, was seen stimulated. Besides, considerable changes in nuclear and nucleolar dimensions were seen on histograms estimated by criterion lambda according to Kholmogorov and Smirnov. The results obtained can be possibly explained by differences in the initial levels of endogenic alpha-TPh and of other antioxidants in the cell membrane matrix of the hypothalamic centres, and, correspondingly, by different modulation effects of alpha-TPh exerted on the functional condition of neurosecretion cells.