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Biomedical subjects

S Vigh

Publications and source records attributed to S Vigh.

60 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Immunohistological detection of degenerating CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the median eminence after lesion of paraventricular nucleus of the rat. A light and electron microscopic study.

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-immunoreactive neurons were detected in the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the rat brain, using both the traditional and the recently developed silver-gold intensified PAP methods at light and electron microscopic levels. The latter technique was more sensitive, compared to the classical PAP method, and proved to be highly specific at the ultrastructural level. The immunolabeled perikarya showed smooth or rough contoured fusiform or multipolar shape. Bilateral surgical destruction of PVN caused a gradual decrease in the number of CRF-immunopositive fibers of the median eminence. Following the second post-operative week, CRF-immunoreactivity practically disappeared from this area. In the case of unilateral lesion of PVN, the diminution of immunoreactivity was restricted to the ipsilateral side of the median eminence-pituitary stalk region. Applying the silver-gold intensified PAP method to electron microscopy, the detection of immuno-labeled degenerating fibers became possible, among morphologically similar, densely degenerating, but unlabeled, profiles. This study reports that CRF fibers to the capillary system of the median eminence of the rat originate principally from PVN.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of the neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), in human and primate hypothalamus.

A 38 residue neuropeptide was recently isolated from ovine hypothalamus in our laboratory, and named pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP38) based on its biological activity. Rabbit antisera against synthetic PACAP27 were characterized by ELISA for immunohistochemical use. PACAP-immunoreactive neuronal elements having similar distributions were demonstrated in both human and spider monkey hypothalami. Many PACAP-immunoreactive cell bodies were present in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. Immunopositive nerve fiber networks were stained throughout the hypothalamus, including in both external and internal zones of the tuber cinereum, close to the transition of the pituitary stalk (median eminence). These results suggest that PACAP plays multifunctional roles as a hypophysiotropic hormone, neurohypophysial hormone, neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in higher vertebrate species including man.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cytochemical characterization of anterior pituitary target cells for the neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), using biotinylated ligands.

Two novel peptides, named PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide) containing 38 (PACAP38) and 27 residues (PACAP27) were recently isolated from ovine hypothalami. In order to investigate the pituitary cell type(s) that bear a receptor for PACAP, PACAP38 was biotinylated and used for cytochemical examination of binding. The cells were also identified by immunocytochemical methods using the antisera against each of the rat anterior pituitary hormones or an antiserum against S-100 protein, a marker for pituitary folliculo-stellate (FS) cells. Biotinylated PACAP38 (biot-PACAP) exhibited adenylate cyclase stimulating activity (ACSA) comparable to PACAP38 in rat pituitary cell cultures, and displaced the bound 125I-PACAP27 to the rat pituitary membrane preparation to the same extent as PACAP38. After 2-4 days of culture, dispersed rat pituitary cells were incubated with varying concentrations of biot-PACAP at room temperature or 4 degrees C. The bound biot-PACAP38 was visualized by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method with nickel intensification. Biot-PACAP-positive and pituitary hormone or S-100-positive cells were counted. More than 90% of S-100-positive cells bound biot-PACAP38. A considerable number of GH and PRL cells and a lesser number of ACTH cells also bound biot-PACAP38, whereas only a few identified LH, FSH, or TSH cells bound biot-PACAP38. These results suggest that FS cells are a major target cell type for PACAP. A recent study from our laboratory demonstrated that PACAP stimulated the release of interleukin (IL)-6 in rat pituitary cell cultures. FS cells are known to produce IL-6.

Animals↗

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) increases cytosolic-free calcium concentration in folliculo-stellate cells and somatotropes of rat pituitary.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a new member of the secretin/VIP peptide family. In order to identify pituitary target cells for PACAP, we examined the effect of PACAP on the cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentrations, [Ca2+]i, in cells using Fura-2 and a digital imaging system. In a concentration-dependent manner, PACAP increased [Ca2+]i in pituitary cells, from 10(-11) to 10(-8) M. Some cells responded to PACAP at 10(-11) M, while others only at 10(-8) M, showing a diversity among cells in the sensitivity to PACAP. Both PACAP and growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) at 10(-8) M increased [Ca2+]i in 25% and 33% of the total pituitary cells, respectively. About 38% of the GRF-responsive cells also responded to PACAP. Some of the cells that responded to PACAP were immunocytochemically identified as growth hormone (GH) cells or folliculo-stellate (FS) cells using antisera against GH or S-100 protein, respectively. The results indicate that both the folliculo-stellate cells and GH cells of the pituitary are the direct targets for PACAP, but the possibility that other cell types also respond to PACAP cannot be excluded.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of PACAP in the ovine digestive system.

The localization of immunoreactive PACAP (PACAP-IR) in the entire length of the sheep gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas was studied by an immunohistochemical method. PACAP-IR-containing nerve fibers innervated the longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the mucosa in the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines, the muscular layer of the stomach and intestine, Brunner's gland of the duodenum, and the walls of small arteries. PACAP-IR fibers also innervated the exocrine acini, islets of Langerhans, and the small arteries in the connective tissue septa of the pancreas. These findings suggest a regulatory role of PACAP in the digestive system.

Animals↗