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B Mess

Publications and source records attributed to B Mess.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ontogenetic development of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of the mallard embryo.

Developmental changes of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of mallard embryos were studied by means of immunocytochemistry (PAP technique). The primary antibody was generated against synthetic TRH. Immunoreactive neurons were first detected in the hypothalamus of 14-day-old embryos. By day 20, increasing numbers of immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the paraventricular nucleus, anterior preoptic region and supraoptic region. Immunoreactive fiber projections were seen in the median eminence as early as embryonic day 20; they occurred also in some extrahypothalamic regions (lateral septum, accumbens nucleus). The number and staining intensity of the cell bodies increased up to hatching, and continued to increase during the first week after hatching.

Animals

Impaired thyroid function provoked by neonatal treatment with drugs affecting the maturation of monoaminergic and opioidergic neurons.

The aim of the present work was to study the basal secretion rate and the reactivity of the TSH-thyroid axis in adult rats neonatally exposed to drugs influencing monoaminergic and opioidergic neurons. The early postnatal administration of drugs antagonistic with the dopaminergic or serotoninergic neurons resulted in a persistent higher rate of basal secretion of TSH, while the administration of drugs synergistic with the monoaminergic neuron systems was weakly influential in this respect. The exposure to opioids in the perinatal period resulted in a permanent reduction of serum TSH levels which was even more pronounced when the exposure to morphine was advanced to the fetal period of life. These data raise the possibility that the permanent TSH depressing effect of perinatal administration of opioids is due to their effect exerted on the maturation of the monoaminergic neurons. From the other hand, our results lead to assume that there is a perinatal critical period in the maturation of monoaminergic neurons regulating TSH secretion in the adult age. In accordance with this assumption, the data obtained in rats bearing perinatal neurotoxic destruction of catecholaminergic neurons contribute to the concept that the disturbed maturation of monoaminergic neurons in the supposed critical period of development might lead to permanent deficiency also in the reactivity of the TSH-thyroid axis.

Animals

Circannual serum creatine kinase patterns after ganglionectomy and pinealectomy of the Wistar rat.

Previous investigations have shown that an inverse correlation exists between serum thyroxine levels (T4) and serum creatine kinase activity (CK) both in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states. In the present study, serum T4 levels and total serum CK activity were analysed after thyroidectomy (TX), ganglionectomy (extirpation of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion) (GX), or pinealectomy (PX) four times a year (March, June, September, and December). Blood samples were taken four times daily (at midlight, middark, and at 1 hour after the onset of the light and dark periods). Animals were kept under an artificial light schedule that simulated natural light-dark periods. The annual main values of serum T4 levels were significantly decreased after the operations, whereas serum CK activities were increased. Our circannual investigations demonstrated an inverse correlation between serum T4 levels and total serum CK activity (under hypothyroid circumstances). In addition, the circannual pattern of the serum CK activity demonstrated maxima under short-day (winter) conditions and minima under long-day (summer) conditions. GX and PX provoke an unimportant shift (a little longer than 2 months) in maxima and minima of the annual rhythm. Circannual curves exhibited differences in the degree of the increase of serum CK activity of GX and PX groups. These results indirectly confirm the assumption that experimental sympathetic denervation or removal of the pineal gland will induce a hypothyroid state over the long term.

Animals

Localization of different releasing hormone immunoreactive (LH-IR) neurons and their projections in central nervous system of birds. A mini-review.

The aim of the present review is to summarize the question of the co-existence of two or more releasing hormones within a neuron or nucleus of the avian central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, we attempt to differentiate between the character and functional significance of hypothalamic and of extrahypothalamic releasing hormone containing neurons. In order to approach these important questions, we have to summarize the localization and distribution of the different releasing hormone immunoreactive (RH-IR) structures in the avian brain, compared to the much more thoroughly investigated mammalian releasing hormone system. This mini-review comprises data obtained by immunohistochemical approach, exclusively. Other data, based on radioimmunoassay or other morphological methods, will be omitted here.

Animals

Studies and reevaluations of some aspects on thyroid function after superior cervical sympathetic gangliectomy in rats.

The results of 11 experiments in a total of 571 rats (initial body weight of 150-250 g) are reported and some findings differing from those by others are discussed. It was repeatedly found that the animals after bilateral or even unilateral superior cervical sympathetic gangliectomy (GX) did not gain body weight during the first week after surgery. Though they started to grow later, for several weeks their body weight remained significantly less than that of sham operated controls (SH). Though such phenomenon has not yet been described, it may well explain the increase of thyroid weight (as expressed per body weight) after gangliectomy alone or combined with antithyroid drug treatment or hypophysectomy as described by others. It was suggested that such changes may depend on general metabolic changes resulting in a striking inhibition of body weight gain rather than on some specific effect of GX on the thyroid. This view was supported by evaluating the data on absolute and relative thyroid weight from 4 experiments in a total of 265 animals. The level of thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropic hormone (TSG) was repeatedly found to be significantly decreased after GX for until about 72 h and 24 h after surgery, respectively, which was in agreement with the data reported by others. However, the onset of such decrease was repeatedly found to appear at 6 or 8 h after surgery (in one experiment even at 3 h after surgery) which is also contrasting to the onset of T4 decrease at 14 h after surgery as found by others who suggested a correlation of such thyroid depression with a depletion of noradrenaline from the thyroid and may be even from median eminence. In these experiments, however, a decrease of T4 level was found several hours before the depletion of noradrenaline from the thyroid which appeared at 12 h after surgery and remained at similar level until 40 days, while no remarkable changes of that were found in SH animals (with the excretion of slight increase after 24 h). Between about 4 and 40 days after surgery no significant changes in T4 and TSH levels after GX were found as compared with SH animals is in agreement with others.4+n one experiment the increase of T4 at 2 h after TRH injection, resulting apparently from the effect of endogenous TSH, was significantly inhibited in GX animals at 8 days after surgery, while in other experiments (at 8 and 40 days after surgery) no difference in T4 level increase was found in GX animals as compared with SH ones. In general, it may be suggested that superior cervical sympathetic gangliectomy may result in some temporary and perhaps transient changes in pituitary-thyroid function in rats.

Animals

New data on the immunocytochemical localization of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the rat central nervous system.

An antiserum raised against the synthetic tripeptide pyroglutamyl-histidyl-proline (free acid) was used to localize thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the rat central nervous system (CNS) by immunocytochemistry. The distribution of TRH-immunoreactive structures was similar to that reported earlier; i.e., most of the TRH-containing perikarya were located in the parvicellular part of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the suprachiasmatic portion of the preoptic nucleus, the dorsomedial nucleus, the lateral basal hypothalamus, and the raphe nuclei. Several new locations for TRH-immunoreactive neurons were also observed, including the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb, the anterior olfactory nuclei, the diagonal band of Broca, the septal nuclei, the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area, the reticular thalamic nucleus, the lateral reticular nucleus of the medulla oblongata, and the central gray matter of the mesencephalon. Immunoreactive fibers were seen in the median eminence, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, the lateral septal nucleus, the medial habenula, the dorsal and ventral parabrachial nuclei, the nucleus of the solitary tract, around the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves, the dorsal vagal complex, and in the reticular formation of the brainstem. In the spinal cord, no immunoreactive perikarya were observed. Immunoreactive processes were present in the lateral funiculus of the white matter and in laminae V-X in the gray matter. Dense terminal-like structures were seen around spinal motor neurons. The distribution of TRH-immunoreactive structures in the CNS suggests that TRH functions both as a neuroendocrine regulator in the hypothalamus and as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator throughout the CNS.

Animals

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of the domestic mallard.

The distribution of immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the central nervous system of the domestic mallard was studied by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. After colchicine pretreatment, the highest number of TRH-immunoreactive perikarya was found in the parvocellular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus and in the preoptic region; a smaller number of immunostained perikarya was observed in the lateral hypothalamic area and in the posterior medical hypothalamic nucleus. TRH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were detected throughout the hypothalamus, forming a dense network in the periventricular area, paraventricular nucleus, preoptic-suprachiasmatic region, and baso-lateral hypothalamic area. TRH-containing nerve fibers and terminals occurred in the organon vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and in the external zone of the median eminence in juxtaposition with hypophyseal protal vessels. Scattered fibers were also seen in the internal zone of the median eminence and in the rostral portion of the neural lobe. Numerous TRH-immunoreactive fibers were detected in extrahypothalamic brain regions: the highest number of immunoreactive nerve fibers was found in the lateral septum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and parolfactory lobe. Moderate numbers of fibers were located in the basal forebrain, dorsomedial thalamic nuclei, hippocampus, interpeduncular nucleus, and the central gray of the mesencephalon. The present findings suggest that TRH may be involved in hypophysiotropic regulatory mechanisms and, in addition, may also act as neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in other regions of the avian brain.

Animals

Changes in the daily rhythm of serum testosterone levels following superior cervical sympathetic ganglionectomy in the cold-exposed rat: the role of the pineal.

The effect superior cervical sympathetic ganglionectomy (Gx) exerted on the daily rhythm of serum testosterone levels was investigated in cold-exposed rats. Rhythmic changes in pineal and pituitary weights were also measured. 1. Exposure to cold (10 degrees C for 72 h) resulted in a significant decrease of serum testosterone level and in an increase of the pineal weight. 2. In neutral ambient temperature (24 degrees C) Gx, 30 d after operation, led to a moderate, statistically insignificant increase of serum testosterone levels and to decreased pineal weights (statistically significant). 3. The reactions provoked by cold exposure were counteracted by Gx. Testosterone levels, as well as the pineal weight, showed no remarkable change in the Gx, cold-exposed animals. 4. These results confirm our assumption that experimental manipulations of the pineal gland can provoke significant changes in the neuroendocrine system only under special loading circumstances, e.g., cold exposure. Sympathetic denervation of the pineal gland counteracts the cold-induced decrease of testosterone levels by counteracting the pineal antigonadotropic activity. 5. The empirical regression curves of the investigated parameters indicate that Gx or cold exposure provide a shift in the upper and lower limits of the daily rhythm. Partly inverted rhythms were also observed. 6. The presented results are discussed in relation to the parallel changes previously described in serum thyroxin, cholesterol, thyrotropin (TSH), and pituitary TSH levels. Thyroidal-gonadal interactions, as well as cold exposure as a stress-generating factor, have been considered in the possible explanation of the data herein reported.

Animals

Circannual oscillations of thyroxine and cholesterol levels after pinealectomy and ganglionectomy related to the weight changes of the pineal, pituitary, and thyroid glands.

Circannual rhythms of thyroxine (T4) and cholesterol blood levels, as well as of pineal, pituitary and thyroid weights were compared in intact, pinealectomized (Px), and ganglionectomized (Gx) rats. Special emphasis was put on the similarities and differences between the effect of Px and of Gx exerted on the neuroendocrine regulation of thyroid function. Animals were kept under changing lighting schedules simulating the natural seasonal conditions (December, L:D 8:16; June, L:D 16:8; March and September, L:D 12:12). Animals were killed 90 d after surgical interventions in the above-mentioned 4 months. In each season, animals were killed at four time points of the daily rhythm, and the means of the four data of a single day were used for further analysis evaluating circannual changes. All the investigated five parameters showed a monophasic circannual rhythm. The lowest T4 blood level was measured in summer; in contrast, cholesterol level and organ weights had a maximum in the same season of the year. The annual mean value of T4 level was diminished, while cholesterol level and pituitary and thyroid weights were increased in Px and Gx animals. Pineal weight showed a decrease in the Gx animals. Both Px and Gx failed to influence the circannual rhythms of the measured parameters. However, a significant T4-decreasing effect of Px and Gx was observed in the second half of the year, whereas a cholesterol-level-increasing effect, as well as thyroid hypertrophy, was registered in the first half of the year. These results suggest a prothyroid function of the pineal gland.

Animals

Ontogenetic development of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-containing neural elements in the brain of the chicken during incubation and after hatching.

In chicken embryos of different ages and in young chickens after hatching, neural elements reacting with antibodies generated against synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were studied by means of the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) technique at the light-microscopic level. CRF-immunoreactivity was first observed in perikarya located in the periventricular part of the hypothalamus on the 14th day of the incubation period. CRF-containing neural elements were detected on the same day of incubation in the external zone of the median eminence, but not in all investigated animals. In extrahypothalamic sites, immunoreactive perikarya were demonstrable in the central gray of the mesencephalon on the 15th day of incubation. Furthermore, immunoreactive cells appeared in other brain regions such as nucleus accumbens and dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus after hatching. The present observations provide information regarding the functional development of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis in the chick embryo.

Aging

[Thyroid reactions in Wistar rats during the circadian rhythm after ganglionectomy at normal temperature and under cold exposure with regard to the influence of the epiphysis cerebri].

Serum thyroxin (T4), serum TSH, and pituitary TSH were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and serum cholesterol by Liebermann-Burchard reaction in rats 4 times a day (light-dark cycle: 14 L: 10 D) after gangliectomy (bilateral extirpation of the Ganglia cervicalia superiora) at cold and normal temperature conditions. 80 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated group, 24 degrees C (297 K); sham-operated group, 10 degrees C (283 K); gangliectomy, 24 degrees C (297 K), and gangliectomy, 10 degrees C (283 K). We have sacrificed the rats 30 d after operations at the following day-times: middle light, middle darkness, 1 h after light "on" and 1 h after light "off" (they were exposed to cold 72 h before killing). It was found that gangliectomy significantly depressed blood level of thyroxin. On the other hand, it enhanced the serum cholesterol and TSH levels as well as the pituitary TSH content. Exposure to cold increased thyroxin, serum TSH and pituitary TSH. The cholesterol level, however, was significantly decreased. Gangliectomy causes a reduction of the cold-induced stimulation of thyroxin (significant), serum TSH, and pituitary TSH content (significant). The cholesterol (in relation to the cold-exposure alone) was significantly increased under these conditions. We have found similar results in another long-time experiment (90 d exposure) after gangliectomy as well as after pinealectomy. There also appears a lowered thyroxin and an increased cholesterol level (in dependency on the seasons). Gangliectomy induced a decrease of the pineal weight and a compensatory thyroid growth. Exposure to cold induced an increase of pituitary and pineal weights. Gangliectomy provokes a reduction of the cold-induced augmentation of the pineal weight. The results indicate that gangliectomy diminishes the total levels of circulating T4 in the presence of an intact pineal gland and reduces the cold-induced increase of T4 in long-time experiments (30 and 90 d post operationem). Both gangliectomy and cold condition led to an enhancement of serum TSH and pituitary TSH content. The exposure to cold was found to have a more severe influence. In the present study, we also have discussed the sympathetic denervation effect of the gangliectomy in relation to the thyroid and pineal gland. Due to certain contradictory data in the literature, we have also discussed the TRH-5-hydroxytryptamine (respectively melatonin) antagonism, though we were not able to determine whether peripheral and/or central mechanisms play the more important role in their regulation.

Animals

[Effect of ganglionectomy (superior cervical ganglia) at normal temperature and exposure to cold on the circadian rhythm of liver glycogen and blood glucose levels of the Wistar rat with regard to the pineal gland].

Liver glycogen content and blood glucose level of 80 male Wistar rats were measured 4 times a day, 30 d after following surgeries: sham-operation without exposure to cold, sham-operation with exposure to cold (283 K, 72 h before killing), extirpation of the ganglia cervicalia superiora (GX) without exposure to cold, extirpation of the ganglia cervicalia superiora with exposure to cold (283 K, 72 h before killing). Exposure to cold alone as well as GX with and without exposure to cold modify the unimodal daily patterns (curves were calculated by means of empirical regression) of liver glycogen content and blood glucose level: there are changes from contrary localization of the maxima (and minima) of both, liver glycogen content and blood glucose level (exposure to cold alone) to nearly equal localization (GX alone). Compared to control group, all surgeries reduce the liver glycogen content statistical-significantly and also enhance the blood glucose level. Combination of GX with exposure to cold shows the strongest effect. In this case, the influence of GX is visible, but the effect is not significantly different from this of exposure to cold alone, which causes a high activation of the metabolism. To the contrary, a statistically significant influence is to be seen after GX alone, but the effect is lower than this one of exposure to cold. Extirpation of the ganglia cervicalia superiora and the resulting sympathetic denervation of the pineal gland is answered by comparable reactions of the investigated parameters as the extirpation of the pineal gland itself (90 d post operationem). Diminuation of liver glycogen content and enhancement of blood glucose level characterize the influence of gangliectomy (30 d post operationem) in this way, that the ratio of effect of factors causing hypo- and hyperglycemia is changed in favour of the latter.

Animals

Inhibitory role of brain stem serotoninergic neuron system on thyroid function in rat.

Thyroid function was investigated in adult male rats following the use experimental procedures which inhibit the activity of serotoninergic neuron system. Pharmacological blockade of the biosynthesis of sertonin by repeated administration of para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), or interruption (by Halász knife) of the serotoninergic pathways of the brain stem which terminate on hypothalamic nuclei equally resulted in an augmentation of the following parameters of hypothalamo-hypophysial-thyroid activity: T/S ratio, pituitary and blood TSH levels and blood thyroxine concentration as well as TRH content of the hypothalamus. The results suggest that the central nervous serotoninergic neuron system plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of TSH secretion, presumably acting upon the hypothalamus, thereby inhibiting hypothalamic TRH secretion.

Animals