ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Hypothalamus
;
Neurosecretion
;
Ultrastructure
;
Neurophysin
;
Lizard
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the lizard Liolaemus cyanogaster c. were studied by use of histochemical, immunocyto-chemical and electron microscopic methods. The immunofluorescence staining for neurophysin was applied to methacrylate-embedded material before and after treatment of the sections with urea and trypsin. Pseudoisocyanine was applied to sections previously used for immunocytochemistry. The ultrastructural study showed that the SON and PVN neurons possess neurosecretory granules (nsg), distributed throughout the perikaryon, and large (2 to 12 μm) electron-dense droplets located within dilatations of the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Whereas the perikaryon (nsg) and the secretory droplets are stainable with pseudoisocyanine, only the former displays immunoreactivity for neurophysin. However, after treating the sections with urea and trypsin, the same secretory droplets become immunoreactive. It is suggested that the secretory droplets are sites of storage for the precursor of neurophysin, and that the tryptic digestion either triggers its conversion into neurophysin or exposes its immunoreactive sites. Based on the ultrastructure and the histochemical behavior of the secretory droplets, it is also postulated that they contain, in addition to peptides, a glycoprotein component.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00224620
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