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R Vazquez

Publications and source records attributed to R Vazquez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Met-enkephalin induces fast synaptic plasticity of magnocellular neurons in the rat supraoptic nucleus.

A morphometric-ultrastructural study was made of the supraoptic nucleus of rats of both sexes following central administration of met-enkephalin. Ten minutes after met-enkephalin treatment the number of axo-somatic synapses was significantly increased. This effect was more pronounced in female rats than in males and could be prevented by preceding administration of naloxone. Animals that received naloxone followed by met-enkephalin showed a dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum into a vesicular shape. Our results provide preliminary evidence for a fast remodeling of synaptic input to magnocellular hypothalamic neurons. It is likely that the known inhibitory action of opioids on the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system is partly mediated by this plasticity.

Animals↗

Plasticity of the interface between oxytocin neurons and the vasculature in late pregnant rats: an ultrastructural morphometric study.

Increased numbers of oxytocin-immunoreactive perivascular neurons have been shown to occur in the preoptic region and lateral hypothalamus of female rats around parturition. In the present study, electronmicroscopical immunocytochemistry and morphometry were used to examine such perivascular oxytocinergic neurons as well as those in the classical magnocellular nuclei in late pregnant and lactating rats. In 22 d pregnant animals and in rats killed after 2 d of lactation, numerous oxytocinergic neurons were found in direct apposition to the outer basement membrane of arterioles, venules, and capillaries. The distance between immunoreactive neurons and blood vessels was significantly lower in these animals than in 9 d lactating rats and in ovariectomized controls. It is likely that, around parturition, oxytocinergic perivascular neurons are uncovered by active retraction of glial elements. This plasticity is perhaps facilitated by changing hormonal conditions around parturition. The observed changes seem to be transitory and might reflect altered secretory properties of perivascular oxytocinergic neurons.

Animals↗

A comparative analysis of the vasotocin and vasopressin systems in the chicken and rat hypothalamus. An immunocytochemical study.

By means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique a comparative immunocytochemical study of the distribution of the vasotocin- and vasopressin-reacting system in the chicken and rat hypothalamus was carried out. In both species it is possible to distinguish, on the basis of their topographical location, three different comparable populations: The first one is situated very close to the pial surface and the optic chiasma (L1 and L2 groups in the chicken and the supraoptic nucleus in the rat). The second one is located near to the third ventricle and corresponds to the suprachiasmatic nucleus of both species and the periventricular groups of the chicken (P1, P2, and P3 groups) and the periventricular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus of the rat. The third one is situated between the two previous populations and consists of small clusters of reacting neurons (L3 and L5 groups in the chicken and the nucleus circularis and fornicalis in the rat) and to a large cluster of reacting neurons (L4 group in the chicken and the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus in rat). In the median eminence of the chicken the immunoreactive axons were located in the internal zone and the anterior part of the external zone. However in the rat, the reaction was exclusively located in the internal zone.

Animals↗

Morphometric changes of specific located vasopressin-reacting parvicellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the rat after adrenalectomy.

The morphological-morphometric consequences of bilateral adrenalectomy on vasopressin-reacting neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus were analyzed. Bilateral adrenalectomy led to a dramatic increase in the cellular area as well as the number of immunoreactive cells (when compared to those obtained in normal colchicine-treated animals) in the neurons located in the anterior, medial and periventricular parvicellular subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus. By contrast, no changes were observed in either the dorsal or lateral parvicellular subdivisions or in any of the magnocellular subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus.

Adrenalectomy↗

Morphometric study of immunoreactive GH-cells of the adenohypophysis of rats treated with Met-enkephalin.

Morphological and morphometric changes were found in adenohypophyseal GH immunoreactive cells after intraventricular administration of Met-enkephalin to adult rats of both sexes. Morphologically, following Met-enkephalin treatment, the males showed cells stained intensely and homogeneously in their cytoplasm, while the females showed cells with a weaker degree of staining and a cytoplasm with a granular aspect; previous administration of naloxone prevented the changes observed in the males and intensified the reaction in the females. Morphometrically, in all the groups of animals studied, the males showed a greater cellular area than the females, accompanied by a decrease in the cytoplasmic area but without significant differences in the nuclear area. Met-enkephalin in both sexes produced an increase in cellular area, accompanied by a significant increase in the cytoplasmic area and, although less manifest, in the nuclear area. Neither kind of change appeared when naloxone was administered prior to Met-enkephalin treatment.

Animals↗

Contribution to knowledge of GABAergic innervation of the intermediate lobe of the hypophysis.

Regulation of the synthesis and release of peptides by the melanotropic cells of the intermediate lobe of the murine hypophysis is mainly brought about by innervation of the lobe by dopaminergic and GABAergic fibres. The present work reports on a study of the distribution of nerve fibres inside the gland by immunocytochemical identification of the GABA contained in the axons.

Animals↗

Gallium-67 breast uptake in a patient with hypothalamic granuloma (sarcoid).

An unusual case is presented of bilateral breast uptake of [67Ga]citrate in a patient with a hypothalamic granuloma in the absence of galactorrhea is presented. A possible mechanism for this incidental finding is elevated prolactin levels, as other causes of gallium breast uptake such as drug therapy, and intrinsic breast disease, were not present.

Adult↗

Morphology of the neural lobe of the hypophysis in rats treated with furosemide. I. Neurosecretory axons.

The changes found in the neurosecretory axons of the neural lobe of the hypophysis were studied in rats treated with furosemide for three days: over the whole period of treatment, the animals, according to each group, were deprived or not of water. In the animals with free access to water the axons contained neurosecretory granules with scarce content and low electron density; only some of them had vacuoles and autophagic bodies. In the animals deprived of water axon morphology was variable and axons showing vacuoles and autophagic bodies were abundant, as well as those presenting lamellar and dense bodies and also those in which filaments prevailed. The most outstanding modifications in this last group of animals were related to the dehydration and were not found in those animals which were given access to water again and which were in consequence rehydrated.

Animals↗

Morphology of the neural lobe of the hypophysis in rats treated with furosemide. II. Pituicytes.

Following three days of furosemide administration, the characteristics of the pituicytes in the neural lobe of the rat hypophysis were studied. The pituicytes of the animals which were treated with furosemide and had access to water during the treatment showed scarce cytoplasm organelles, conferring them with a clear appearance (light pituicytes), and a frequent finding was neurosecretory axons enclosed in their own cytoplasm. In the animals deprived of water during treatment, the pituicytes were dense (dark pituicytes) elongated, with a well-developed Golgi apparatus, numerous profiles of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and frequent annular gap junctions. It is concluded that the dehydration induced by the diuretic agent is the cause of the prevalence of the dark pituicytes.

Animals↗

Biology and behaviour of the cercariae of a Sanguinicola sp. in the river Cilloruelo (Salamanca, Spain).

In the light of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the river Cilloruelo (province of Salamanca, Spain) and the results on the shedding of lophocercariae of a Sanguinicola sp. by naturally infected Ancylus fluviatilis, a discussion is made of the influence of different temperatures on shedding and survival of the cercariae. Comments are also made concerning the most likely periods and zones of the river for infection of the definitive host.

Animals↗

Precisions on normal surface of human corneal epithelium: a scanning electron microscopic study.

We are describing the surface of the epithelium of the normal human cornea studied under the scanning electron microscope, and we describe the differences between the light and the dark cells at greater magnifications as well as the junctions between them. There are microplicae and microvilli which reveal differences both with regard to appearance and number, depending upon whether one is studying the light or dark cell.

Cornea↗

The ultrastructure of the Herring bodies in rats subjected to different experimental conditions.

A study of the morphology of Herring bodies of the posterior pituitary lobe of rats treated with colchicine and/or exposed to low temperatures has been performed. After treatment with colchicine (20 microgram in distilled water injected intracisternally) a predominance of Herring bodies with a large number of small "synaptic-like" vesicles surrounded by neurosecretory granules is found. Exposures to low temperature (4-6 degrees C) result in an increase in the neurosecretory material and the Herring bodies show many neurosecretory granules of different densities. After treatment with colchicine and subsequent exposure to low temperatures, the Herring bodies are characterized by having a great number of autophagic bodies which become more numerous as the length of the exposure is increased; later autophagic vacuoles and lamellar bodies become evident.

Animals↗