Immunocytochemical localization of growth hormone-releasing hormone-like peptide in the brain of the tiger frog, Rana tigrina.
Using antisera directed against carp growth hormone-releasing hormone (cGHRH), we found more extensive brain distribution of GHRH-like immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the tiger frog, Rana tigrina, than reported in previous studies, which employed mammalian GHRH antibodies. In the telencephalon, GHRH-ir perikarya were present in the pallium dorsale, pallium laterale (pars dorsalis and pars ventralis), pallium mediale, nucleus entopeduncularis, amygdala pars medialis, and in the ventral portion of the lateral preoptic area. Most GHRH somata were present in the nucleus infundibularis ventralis located around the third ventricle, extending from the region posterior to the optic chiasma to the caudal end of infundibulum. In the thalamic region, GHRH-ir perikarya occurred in the area ventrolateralis thalami, the nuclei posterocentralis thalami, and the posterolateralis thalami. The ir cell bodies in the nucleus posteroventralis tegmenti mesencephali represented the caudal-most brain GHRH perikarya. Extensive GHRH-ir fibers occurred around the nonreactive cells in the ventral preoptic area and ventral area of the infundibulum. GHRH-ir fibers were present in the outer layers of the median eminence, but not in the neural lobe or pars distalis of the pituitary gland. This wider neuroanatomical distribution of GHRH-like peptide in the brain of R. tigrina should, provide the basis for future studies to establish the exact role of GHRH-like peptides in anuran brain.
Bhargava
Shobha
S
Department of Zoology, University of Nagpur, Nagpur 440 010, India. shobhabhargava@hotmail.com
Risbud
Makarand V
MV
Prasad Rao
P D
PD
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000737:chemistry; D011898:Ranidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone