中国水牛脑垂体的光镜与电镜观察

水牛脑垂体呈椭圆形,背侧平直,腹侧圆突。对30头湖南滨湖水牛脑垂体观察结果表明,垂体远侧部发达,约占正中矢状面面积的60%,用H-E及马氏三色染色法,可将细胞分为三种类型:嗜酸性细胞,约占细胞总数40%,主要分布在远侧部背侧和远端;嗜碱性细胞,约占细胞总数的10%,主要分布在远侧部的近端(啄侧部)和中央区;嫌色细胞,约占细胞总数的50%,分布于整个远侧部。水牛垂体中间部较发达,一种是中间部完全包围神经部,另一种是大部分包围神经部,中间部含有嗜碱性细胞和嫌色细胞。水牛垂体神经部相对较少,主要由神经纤维和胶质细胞构成,也分布有大小不一的胶体,即海令氏小体。     

Mass spectrometric detection of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-related peptides following molecular cloning of POMC cDNA in bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus

Several pituitary hormones, including adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), melanotropin (MSH) and β-endorphin, are generated from a common precursor protein, proopiomelanocortin (POMC). In fish, in addition to steroidogenesis of ACTH and melanogenesis of MSH, immunomodulating activity has been found in some POMC-related peptides. To investigate the functions of these peptides in the homologous system, it is necessary to establish a convenient detection method for the peptides. The present study aimed to establish a method for the detection of POMC-related peptides in bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus using a small amount of tissue sample, but not requiring peptide purification. We first determined the nucleotide sequence of tuna POMC cDNA. The cDNA was composed of 1084 base pairs (excluding the poly A tail) that encoded POMC consisting of 222 amino acids. We then fractionated an acid-acetone extract of one pituitary by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determined the molecular weight of each separated peptide by mass spectrometry. Consequently, we detected eight POMC-related peptides by comparing the values to the deduced amino acid sequence. Thus, the present study enabled the detection of POMC-related peptides from a small amount of tissue without the use of several purification steps.     

Hypothalamic control of prolactin release in the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri: in vitro studies

Hypothalamic control of prolactin (PRL) release in immature rainbow troutSalmo gairdneri was investigated using anin vitro perifusion system of the rostral pars distalis. Hypothalamic extract of trout induced a dose-dependent stimulation of PRL release. A similar effect was observed when infusing the medium from a 24h static incubation of the hypothalamus. Extracts from different control tissues (muscle, liver, gut) did not changein vitro release, thus confirming the specificity of this stimulatory effect. Hypothalamic extract from adult male rat, known to contain PRL release inhibiting factors, stimulatedin vitro PRL secretion in rainbow trout. This suggests that PRL cells are predominantly influenced by PRL releasing factors. Measurement of TRH and serotonin content in trout hypothalamus indicated consistent physiological levels of these two factors. HPLC studies of hypothalamic extract showed that immunoreactive — TRH eluted at the same place as labelled TRH standard. Moreover, pizotifen, a serotonin antagonist, partially inhibited the stimulation observed with trout hypothalamic extract. These results suggest that, in immature rainbow trout, PRL release is under stimulatory hypothalamic control and that serotonin and probably TRH play a major role in this control.     

Characterization of the receptor for gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the pituitary of the African catfish,Clarias gariepinus

Receptors for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were characterized using a radioligand prepared from a superactive analog of salmon GnRH (sGnRH), D-Arg⁶-Pro⁹-sGnRH-NEt (sGnRHa). Binding of¹²⁵I-sGnRHa to catfish pituitary membrane fractions reached equilibrium after 2 h incubation at 4°C. Displacement experiments with several GnRH analogs as well as other peptides, demonstrated the specificity of¹²⁵I-sGnRHa binding. Specific binding was enhanced in the presence of the cation chelator ethylene bis (oxyethylenenitrilo) tetra-acetic acid (EGTA), indicating an inhibitory effect of cations on GnRH-receptor binding. The binding of¹²⁵I-sGnRHa to pituitary membranes was found to be saturable at radioligand concentrations of 5 nM and above. A Scatchard analysis of the saturation data suggested the presence of a single class of high-affinity binding sites (Ka=0.901±0.06×10⁹M^–1, Bmax=1678±150 fmol/mg protein). A comparative study on¹²⁵I-sGnRHa binding to pituitary membrane fractions of male and female catfish, indicated that there were no differences in binding affinity and binding capacity between both sexes. The results demonstrate the presence of specific, saturable GnRH receptors in the African catfish pituitary.     

Involvement of protein kinase C in the modulation of gonadotropin and growth hormone secretion from dispersed goldfish pituitary cells

It has been established that secretion of gonadotropin (GtH) and growth hormone (GH) release in goldfish are both stimulated by GtH-releasing hormone (GnRH); in addition GtH secretion is inhibited by dopamine D₂ mechanisms. In the present study, depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) in goldfish pituitary cells reduced the GtH and GH responses to GnRH and an activator of PKC in static culture. In perifusion studies, GtH released in response to sGnRH analog was greatly attenuated in PKC-depleted cells, however, hormone responses to forskolin were enhanced. Stimulation of dopamine D₂ receptors reduced the GtH, but not the GH, responses elicited by PKC activators. These results indicate that PKC participates in the GtH and GH responses to natural neuroendocrine regulators in the goldfish.

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Résumé Il a été établi que chez le poisson rouge, les sécrétions de gonadotropine (GtH) et d'hormone de croissance (GH) sont toutes les deux stimulées par la gonadolibérine (GnRH); de plus, la sécrétion de GtH est inhibée par des mécanismes dopaminergiques de type D₂. Dans le présent travail, la déplétion de la teneur en protéine kinase C (PKC) dans des cellules hypophysaires de poisson rouge réduit les résponses en GtH et GH au GnRH et à un activateur de la PKC de cellules maintenues en incubation statique. Dans des cellules maintenues en périfusion et soumises à une déplétion en PKC, la GtH libérée en réponse à un analogue du sGnRH est fortement diminuée, cependent les réponses hormonales à la forskoline sont augmentées. La stimulation des récepteurs dopaminergiques D₂ réduit, dans le cas d'action d'activateur de la PKC, la réponse en GtH mais pas en GH. Ces résultats indiquent que la PKC est impliquée dans les mécanismes de régulation de GtH et GH par des facteurs neuroendocriniens naturels.

     

6种石斑鱼成鱼的性腺发育、脑垂体结构以及垂体中FSHβ和LHβ细胞的免疫识别

以日本海域捕获的宝石石斑鱼(Epinephelus areolatus)、黑边石斑鱼(E.fasciatus)、赤点石斑鱼(E.akaara)、尾纹九棘鲈(Cephalopholis urodeta)、蜂巢石斑鱼(E.merra)和纹波石斑鱼(E.ongus)成鱼为对象,比较其性腺发育和脑垂体结构以及垂体中FSHβ和LHβ免疫信号的分布。结果表明:宝石石斑鱼、黑边石斑鱼、赤点石斑鱼和尾纹九棘鲈性腺发育为未成熟阶段,蜂巢石斑鱼和纹波石斑鱼性腺发育为成熟阶段。6种石斑鱼的脑垂体位于间脑腹面,由神经垂体(NH)和腺垂体(AH)组成。腺垂体从左至右进一步细分为前外侧部(RPD)、中外侧部(PPD)和中间部(PI)。在宝石石斑鱼、赤点石斑鱼和纹波石斑鱼中NH结构被PPD隔开分为上下两部分,而在黑边石斑鱼、尾纹九棘鲈和蜂巢石斑鱼中NH为一个整体。6种石斑鱼脑垂体中FSHβ和LHβ细胞的免疫信号主要分布在PPD和PI区域,且FSHβ信号强度均较LHβ强,推断在石斑鱼性腺发育成熟前后,FSHβ较LHβ重要。为石斑鱼的资源保护及人工繁殖方面提供基础生物学资料和理论依据。     

瘦素在生殖调节方面的研究进展

瘦素是一种由Leptin(ob)基因编码并主要由脂肪组织合成分泌的蛋白质类激素，广泛存在于各组织、器官中。其在调节机体脂肪和保持体重方面具有重要作用。对它的最初的研究主要集中在肥胖的作用，但以后的研究结果发现其缺乏不是造成单纯肥胖的原因。有研究表明，瘦素亦可作为一种代谢信号对下丘脑－垂体－性腺轴发挥功能。     

Sequential preovulatory expression of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-inducible gene,Nr4a3, and its suppressor Anxa5 in the pituitary gland of female rats

Functional relationship between nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 3 (Nr4a3) and annexin A5 (Anxa5), which are two gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-inducible genes, has been established while evaluating pituitary gonadotropes in relation to follicle-stimulating hormone beta (Fshb) expression. However, the physiological variations that arise due to the differential expression of these genes in the pituitary gland during rat estrous cycle remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the Nr4a3 and Anxa5 mRNA expression during the estrous cycle in rats in comparison with the expression of the gonadotropin subunit genes, luteinizing hormone beta (Lhb) and Fshb. Nr4a3 mRNA expression showed a single peak at 1400 h of proestrus during the 4-d estrous cycle. Anxa5 mRNA level was elevated along with increased Fshb mRNA expression after the decline of Nr4a3 mRNA until 2300 h. Lhb mRNA expression levels were not significantly changed during the estrous cycle. Notably, addition of a GnRH antagonist at 1100 h completely eradicated luteinizing hormone secretion at 1400 h and 1700 h of proestrus, and significantly reduced the Nr4a3 mRNA expression level at both the time points. These results suggest that GnRH is, at least partly, responsible for the increase in pituitary Nr4a3, and that the interaction between NR4A3 and ANXA5 is required to regulate Fshb expression during the preovulatory gonadotropin surge.     

生长激素释放肽在动物科学中的研究进展

生长激素释放肽(GHRPs)是一类人工合成的促生长激素分泌素(GHS),在动物体内具有促进GH释放、刺激动物食欲、促进动物生长、提高动物生产性能和免疫水平等多方面的功能。其作用机制不同于生长激素释放激素(GHRH)。此外,GHRPs和GHRH还具有协同作用。