Neuroendocrine cells are present in the domestic fowl ovary.

Neuroendocrine cells are present in virtually all organs of the vertebrate body; however, it is yet uncertain whether they exist in the ovaries. Previous reports of ovarian neurons and neuron-like cells in mammals and birds might have resulted from misidentification. The aim of the present work was to determine the identity of neuron-like cells in immature ovaries of the domestic fowl. Cells immunoreactive to neurofilaments, synaptophysin, and chromogranin-A, with small, dense-core secretory granules, were consistently observed throughout the sub-cortical ovarian medulla and cortical interfollicular stroma. These cells also displayed immunoreactivity for tyrosine, tryptophan and dopamine ß-hydroxylases, as well as to aromatic L-DOPA decarboxylase, implying their ability to synthesize both catecholamines and indolamines. Our results support the argument that the ovarian cells previously reported as neuron-like in birds, are neuroendocrine cells.

Inmunohistoquímica de la inervación del conducto deferente humano / Immunohistochemistry in the innervations of the human vas deferens

El conducto deferente humano presenta una pared muscular gruesa, donde el componente muscular liso ocupa la parte media y más prominente. Esta composición histológica le permite al órgano desarrollar las potentes contracciones durante el proceso de la eyaculación y emisión del semen. Objetivos: Analizar la presencia y distribución de la positividad inmunohistoquímica a Neurofilamentos (NF) en las paredes del conducto deferente humano. Pacientes, Materiales y Método: De tres pacientes sometidos a orquiectomía radical por diagnóstico de Seminoma, se obtuvieron los conductos deferentes fijados en formol tamponado (pH 7,2). Mediante procedimientos histológicos de rutina, se obtuvieron secciones de 5 um de espesor en portaobjetos silanizados. Se procedió al desarrollo del protocolo de inmunohistoquímica usando anticuerpos específicos contra Neurofilamentos (NF); las imágenes se obtuvieron con cámara fotográfica digital CCD Micrometrics, en microscopio óptico Olympus CX31. Resultados: En los subcompartimientos de las secciones transversales de la pared de los conductos deferentes humanos, se observa la reacción inmunohistoquímica positiva a NF. Sin embargo, los fascículos nerviosos se concentran en la adventicia, mientras que en la mucosa y pared muscular son en extremo escasos y finos. Conclusión: En el conducto deferente existe una inervación preferencial dispuesta en la adventicia del órgano, siendo posible que la potencia de la contracción de la pared en base a la actividad muscular, requiera factores adicionales de estimulación.

The human vas deferens has a thick muscular wall, where the smooth muscle component occupies the middle and most prominent. This composition allows the organ histologic develop powerful contractions during ejaculation process and the semen. Objectives. To analyze the presence and distribution of immunologically positlve for Neurofilament (NF) on the walls of human vas deferens. Patients, Materiall and Methods.' Three patients undergoing radical orchiectomy for seminoma diagnosis were obtained vas deferens fixed in buffered formain (pH 12). By routine histological procedures, sections were obtained 5 um thick on silylated slides. We proceeded to the development of immunohistochemical protocol using specific antibodies against Neurofilament (NF); the digitized images were obtained with CCO Micrometrics digital camera, in the light microscope Olympus CX31. Results: In the subcompartments of the cross sections of the wall of human vas deferens, there is a positive immunohistochemical reaction to NF However, nerve bundles are concentrated in the adventitia, whereas in the mucosa and muscle wall are extremely rare and fine. Conclusion: In the vas deferens there willing preferential innervation in the adventitia of the court, it being possible for the power of contraction of the wall of the body based on muscle activity, stimulation requires additional factors.

Basic fibroblast growth factor, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivities in the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus and colon.

The enteric nervous system consists of a number of interconnected networks of neuronal cell bodies and fibers as well as satellite cells, the enteric glia. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen for a variety of mesodermal and neuroectodermal-derived cells and its presence has been described in many tissues. The present work employs immunohistochemistry to analyze neurons and glial cells in the esophageal and colic enteric plexus of the Wistar rat for neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) immunoreactivity as well as bFGF immunoreactivity in these cells. Rats were processed for immunohistochemistry; the distal esophagus and colon were opened and their myenteric plexuses were processed as whole-mount preparations. The membranes were immunostained for visualization of NF, GFAP, and bFGF. NF immunoreactivity was seen in neuronal cell bodies of esophageal and colic enteric ganglia. GFAP-immunoreactive enteric glial cells and processes were present in the esophageal and colic enteric plexuses surrounding neuronal cell bodies and axons. A dense net of GFAP-immunoreactive processes was seen in the ganglia and connecting strands of the myenteric plexus. bFGF immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of the majority of the neurons in the enteric ganglia of esophagus and colon. The two-color immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods revealed bFGF immunoreactivity also in the nucleus of GFAP-positive enteric glial cells. The results suggest that immunohistochemical localization of NF and GFAP may be an important tool in the study of the plasticity in the enteric nervous system. The presence of bFGF in neurons and glia of the myenteric plexus of the esophagus and the colon indicates that this neurotrophic factor may exert autocrine and paracrine actions in the enteric nervous system.