Immunolocalization of high molecular weight kininogen (HKg) and T kininogen (TKg) in the rat hypothalamus.

Specific HKg immunostaining detected with antiserum against the light chain (LC) of HKg was restricted to SRIF neurons of the hypothalamic periventricular area projecting to median eminence (ME). Heavy chain (HC) immunoreactivity related to HKg and/or low molecular weight kininogen (LKg) was found in some other hypothalamic territories. Specific TKg was mainly associated with vasopressin in neurons of suprachiasmatic (SCN), supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei. By direct RIA, hypothalamus was found to contain the highest level of TKg (10ng/mg protein) and after trypsin hydrolysis and HPLC separation of kinins, 10.3 pg BK and 7.3 pg T-kinin/mg protein.

Neuronal systems immunologically related to the somatostatin system in the garden dormouse.

Cells and fibers containing somatostain (SRIF) or SRIF-like peptides were detected immunocytochemically in the brain of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus L.). The periventricular preoptic nucleus and the paraventricular nucleus encompass a component of the SRIF-immunoreactive hypothalamo-infundibular and hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal systems. The suprachiastmatic, ventromedial and arcuate nuclei contain a number of SRIF-positive cells and receive a rich SRIF innervation. The extrahypothalamic systems containing SRIF can be subdivided into the following groups: (1) Afferents, the cellular origin of which is not always clearly evident, i.e., fibers of the septum, the lateral preoptic area, the thalamus, the superior olivary nucleus, the mesencephalic gray matter, and the subfornical organ; (2) dispersed cells with short projections (neocortex, caudate nucleus, putamen); (3) scattered cells with short projections (nucleus accumbens) or innervating remote territories (nucleaus interpeduncularis); (4) vascular organ of the lamina terminalis, a neurohemal area comparable to the median eminence. These observations lead to a theory of a functional bipotentiality of the somatostatin molecule. Immunocytological results depend on the antisera employed, the type of fixation and the experimental conditions. Adrenalectomy is followed by an accumulation of immunoreactive material in all SRIF-containing systems of the brain. These results clearly indicate the SRIF participates in the function of the CRF-ACTH-adrenal axis. The endocrine disturbance induced by adrenalectomy appears to modify the activity of both the neurohormonal and neuromodulator components of the SRIF system.

[Study of the correlations between the volumes of the hypophysis, the epiphysis and the subfornical organ to the somatic weight and the volume of the hypothalamus in rodents]. / Etude des correlations liant les volumes de l'hypophyse, de l'épiphyse et de l'osf au poids somatique et au volume de l'hypothalamus chez les rongeurs

The correlations between volume of the hypophysis, of the epiphysis and of the subfornical organ to body weight and volume of the hypothalamus were studied on 193 rodents belonging to 41 species. Concerning the volume of the hypophyseal lobes the regression slopes of Rodentia occupy an intermediate position between those of Isectivora and Prosimians studied by BAUCHOT. The volume of the epiphysis increases more rapidly with the weight of the body than that of the hypophyseal lobes, the volume of the subfornical organ increases on the contrary more slowly.

[Morphometric data on pineal gland of loir (Glis glis) and lerot (Elioyms quercinus) during the annual cycle]. / Données morphométriques sur la glande pinéale du loir (Clis glis) et du lérot (Eliomys quercinus) au cours du cycle anuel

The important involution of the pineal gland of Glis glis and Eliomys quercinus during the months of july and august belongs to a polyglandular involution (anterior lobe of the hypophysis, male and female genital glands) characteristic of estivation.