Coexistence of dopamine and neurotensin in hypothalamic arcuate and periventricular neurons.

The coexistence of dopamine and neurotensin in the same neuronal perikarya in the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus was examined by combined fluorescence histochemistry and immunohistochemistry on the same tissue sections and we obtained the evidence of the coexistence of two substances. The functional significance of those two substances for the prolactin release from the anterior pituitary was also briefly discussed.

Some cellular characteristics of somatostatin neurons and terminals in the periventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus and median eminence. Electron microscopic immunohistochemistry.

Somatostatin neuronal perikarya and their processes, presumably dendrites, in the periventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus and terminals in the median eminence were observed by electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Neuronal perikarya and processes contained immunoreactive dense granules (100-120 nm in diameter) and other cellular components such as polysomes, rER membranes occasionally showed high electron density. Few axo-somatic terminals were found on the somatostatin neurons, but we could detect a number of preterminal axons on immunoreactive processes, presumably dendrites. Therefore, we considered that somatostatin neurons receive mainly neuronal input through axo-dendritic synapses rather than through axo-somatic ones. In the somatostatin terminals in the external layer of the median eminence immunoreactivity was completely restricted on the granules.

An immunohistochemical investigation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the colon of patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the colon of patients with Hirschsprung's disease was investigated by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical method. Three colonic segments, ganglionic, oligoganglionic and aganglionic, were stained by the unlabeled antibody enzyme method. VIP immunoreactive nerve cell bodies, nerve fibers and nerve endings were distributed throughout the ganglionic and oligoganglionic segments. In contrast, the aganglionic segment contained no VIP nerve endings and the number of fibers was reduced. These differences are thought to be a cause of constriction of the colon in Hirschsprung's disease and VIP neurons are therefore believed to participate in the relaxation of smooth muscle.

Postnatal ontogeny of catecholamine and somatostatin neuron systems in the median eminence of the rat as revealed by a colocalization technique.

The ontogenetic development of catecholamine (CA) and somatostatin containing nerve terminals in the rostral, central and caudal median eminence (ME) of the rat was investigated by combining fluorescence histochemistry and immunohistochemistry in the same tissue section. Somatostatin terminals were detected earlier in development than CA terminals and had already appeared in the lateral part of the external layer of the central ME by the 1st postnatal day. CA nerve terminals were first observed in the same region of the ME on the 7th postnatal day. At about this stage both types of terminals seemed to show early signs of a correlation in their distribution which became progressively closer as maturation proceeded. Their distribution reached a stable condition in density and pattern on the 21st postnatal day when the majority were found in the lateral part of the external layer of the central ME, in the basal part of the brain just dorsal to the tuberoinfundibular sulcus and in the upper and lower labia of the tuberoinfundibular stalk. They subsequently matured to the adult pattern of stabilized distribution and anatomical relationship. It was also established that on the 28th postnatal day the somatostatin immunoreactive terminals reached a greater concentration than at any other stage of development including that of the adult.

The effect of small doses of kainic acid on the area CA3 of the hippocampal formation. An electron microscopic study.

The toxic effect on area CA3 of the hippocampus of the rat of small doses of kainic acid (KA) injected into the lateral ventricles was examined by electron microscopy. The most characteristic feature revealed was degeneration in the pyramidal cell somata and in their dendrites from as early as 3 hr after injection. We found four types of degenerating pyramidal cells probably corresponding to their susceptibility to KA intoxication. We also detected degenerating preterminal axons and terminals in addition to degenerating pyramidal cells and dendrites. Temporary structural alterations of the mossy fiber endings and intimate adhesional contacts the mossy fiber endings were also observed. The response of the glia to the damage area CA3 was an increase in the number of astroglia and macrophages in the early stage followed later by mobilization of microglia and astroglia for the formation of scar tissue.

VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide)-like immunoreactive amacrine cells in the retina of the rat.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the rat retina, using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) method. VIP-like immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of amacrine cells of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and their varicose processes ramifying in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). VIP-like immunoreactive amacrine cells were present in both central and peripheral retinal regions. In some sections fine ramifications of varicose processes in the IPL could be clearly traced. VIP-like immunoreactivity was detected in both 'stratified' and 'diffuse' amacrine cells. VIP-like immunoreactive amacrine cells were classified into four types.

Correlative ontogenetic development of catecholamine- and LHRH-containing nerve endings in the median eminence of the rat.

The ontogenetic development of catecholamine (CA)- and LHRH-containing nerve endings in the median eminence of the rat was investigated by combining fluorescence histochemistry and immunohistochemistry in the same tissue section. LHRH-terminals appeared earlier than CA-terminals and were already detectable in the lateral part of the external layer of the central ME on the first day after birth. CA-nerve endings were first seen in a corresponding region of the ME on the seventh postnatal day. At this stage both types of terminals showed the earliest manifestation of a correlative pattern of their distribution. Subsequently the development of both types of nerve endings proceeded rapidly, and at 14 days their distribution pattern corresponded to that in adult animals. The authors conclude that at this stage the CA-neurons play a constant and significant role in the release of LHRH into the portal capillaries. The correlation between both types of nerve endings and the ontogenetic development of the capillary plexuses of the hypophysial portal system is discussed.