Neurotensin and tyrosine hydroxylase in the tuberoinfundibular system of the guinea pig hypothalamus with special emphasis to lactation status.
Immunohistochemical methods allowed us to study the distribution of neurotensin immunoreactivity (NT-IR) in the infundibular area of the guinea pig and to obtain evidence of a clear increase of such immunoreactivity in females during lactation. By use of the double immunolabeling method we demonstrated the presence of NT in the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neuronal system, in the nerve terminals of the median eminence as well as in the arcuate perikarya. In addition, NT-IR was detected in anterior pituitary cells especially stained in the rostral part of the gland of lactating females. These cells were identified exclusively as gonadotrophs by use of the elution-restaining procedure. These results suggests that NT is able to participate in the modulation by TIDA of prolactin secretion. Moreover, NT production by gonadotrophs could be responsible for other unknown pituitary actions.
Marcos
P
P
Laboratoire de Neurocytochimie Fonctionnelle, URA CNRS 339, Talence, France.
Corio
M
M
Coveñas
R
R
Tramu
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000378:metabolism; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
D009496:Neurotensin; D011388:Prolactin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase