Distribution and genesis of the RFRP-producing neurons in the rat brain: comparison with melanin-concentrating hormone- and hypocretin-containing neurons.

Prepro-RFRP-containing neurons have recently been described in the mammalian brain. These neurons are only found in the tuberal hypothalamus. In this work, we have provided a detailed analysis of the distribution of cells expressing the RFRP mRNA, and found them in seven anatomical structures of the tuberal hypothalamus. No co-expression with melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) or hypocretin (Hcrt), that are also described in neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus, was observed. Using the BrdU method, we found that all RFRP cell bodies are generated between E13 and E14. Thus, RFRP neurons form a specific cell population with a complex distribution pattern in the tuberal hypothalamus. However, they are generated in one peak. These observations are discussed with data concerning the distribution and genesis of the MCH and Hcrt cell populations that are also distributed in the tuberal hypothalamus.

Hypocretin/orexin-containing neurons are produced in one sharp peak in the developing ventral diencephalon.

The birth date of hypocretin-containing neurons was analysed using the bromodeoxyuridine method in the rat. The results indicate that these neurons are generated between embryonic days 11 (E11) and E14, with a sharp peak on E12. This spatiotemporal pattern of genesis contrasts with that of the co-distributed neurons producing the melanin-concentrating hormone in the lateral hypothalamic area, which have been described as generated in one large peak from E10 to E16. These observations may be linked to the relative distribution area of both populations.

Alteration of the expression of the hypocretin (orexin) gene by 2-deoxyglucose in the rat lateral hypothalamic area.

Following an i.p. injection of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), a nonmetabolizable analogue of glucose known to induce intracellular glucopenia, a progressive decrease in the level of hypocretin (Hcrt)/orexin mRNA was observed in the rat lateral hypothalamus while the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) expression in neighbouring neurons remained unaffected. This result together with the previously reported stimulation of Hcrt expression by insulin confirms that Hcrt neurons, but not MCH neurons, are sensitive to glucose availability and suggests that they respond through different mechanisms and/or different pathways to intracellular glucopenia and hypoglycemic conditions.

Insulin-induced hypoglycemia increases preprohypocretin (orexin) mRNA in the rat lateral hypothalamic area.

The recent identification of two peptides named hypocretins (Hcrt), and expressed in neurons of the rat tuberal lateral hypothalamus (LHA) previously detected by an ovine prolactin antiserum, led us to revisit some experimental procedures intented to understand the physiological roles of these neurons. In the present study, rats received intraperitoneal injections of insulin and/or glucose. Immunocytochemical observations and quantitation of in situ hybridization signals pointed out a clear stimulation of Hcrt neurons following the sole injection of insulin in hypoglycemic but not in hyperglycemic conditions. This result, together with the robust appetite boosting effect of Hcrt reported elsewhere, suggests the involvement of Hcrt neurons in the control of food intake.

Polyethylene glycol-induced hypovolemia affects the expression of MCH mRNA, but not dynorphin or secretogranin II mRNAs, in the rat lateral hypothalamus.

Two prominent neuron populations of the rat lateral hypothalamus express genes encoding respectively the prepromelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) or dynorphin (DYN) and secretogranin II (SGII). Their roles remain hypothetical in mammals. In the present study, we examined the changes in MCH, DYN and SGII gene expression in dehydrated rats compared to controls. Dehydration was obtained by subcutaneous injection of polyethylene glycol (PEG) resulting in a large reduction of the extracellular fluid volume. Using competitive semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization methods, PEG-injected animals showed a significant increase of MCH mRNA level but no variation of DYN and SGII mRNA levels. These results confirm previous observations suggesting that intra- and extracellular dehydration challenges affect different regulation circuits; they indicate that both neuron populations could be involved in the maintenance of body fluid homeostasis, directly, or indirectly, as integrators of various information leading to goal-oriented behaviour.

Ontogenic development of prolactin immunoreactive neurons in the rat lateral hypothalamus.

The present study investigated the ontogenic expression of a prolactin-like substance (oPRL-ir) in rat hypothalamus from embryonic day (E) 17 to postnatal day (P) 29. By immunocytochemistry, the oPRL-ir peptide was only detected from P3. As in adults, labeled neurons were found exclusively in the lateral hypothalamic area. By in situ hybridization, with a cocktail of oligonucleotides complementary to the PRL mRNA, no labeling was observed in the hypothalamus, although dense labeling was obtained over the pituitary. With reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, a 408 bp band, presumably corresponding to an oPRL mRNA, was detected from PO in the LHA, but also in other brain regions. These results suggest that the oPRL-ir neurons do not contain oPRL. The nature of the oPRL-ir peptide is still unknown, but its late onset of expression may be related to its putative involvement in feeding behavior.

Occurrence of secretogranin II in the prolactin-immunoreactive neurons of the rat lateral hypothalamus: an in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical study.

The occurrence of secretogranin II in a neuron population of the rat lateral hypothalamus specifically detected by an anti-serum to ovine prolactin was examined. As this population was previously reported to synthesize dynorphin, the distribution of neurons recognized by ovine prolactin-, dynorphin B- and secretogranin II anti-sera was investigated on adjacent sections of hypothalami. The prolactin immunoreactive neurons were the only cells in the lateral hypothalamus to be stained by secretogranin II anti-serum. Moreover, coupling immunocytochemical detection and in situ hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to secretogranin II mRNA showed that these neurons expressed the secretogranin II gene. These new findings should help to study the physiological role of the prolactin immunoreactive neurons of the lateral hypothalamus.

The synthesis of melanin-concentrating hormone is stimulated by ventromedial hypothalamic lesions in the rat lateral hypothalamus: a time-course study.

The activity of melanin-concentrating (MCH) neurons, was investigated by immunocytochemical and hybridocytochemical techniques in male rats bearing limited lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (VMN). 2 days after operation, the abundance of immunoreactive cell bodies and fibres and the intensity of labelling seemed slightly decreased in lesioned rats as compared to controls while no significant difference could be detected in MCH gene expression. After 8 days, synthesis, storage and transport of MCH appeared strongly stimulated and this stimulation lasted until the end of the experiment (day 35), suggesting that VMN plays a physiological role in controlling MCH neuron activity.

Activation of the rat melanin-concentrating hormone neurons by ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.

The occurrence of a melanin-concentrating hormone-like peptide (MCH) was previously reported in the lateral hypothalamus of the rat. The sequence of this peptide was determined but its role as well as its regulation remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of minor electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial nuclei (VMN) on MCH neurons by using immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization procedures. We report that VMN lesions resulted in (1) a clear elevation in the number and staining intensity of MCH immunoreactive perikarya and fibres, (2) a significant increase in the level of hybridocytochemical signal obtained with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to rMCH mRNA. These data provide evidence for a role of VMN in modulating the MCH gene a peptide expression.

Induction of Fos-like immunoreactivity in rat oxytocin neurons following insulin injections.

Double immunostaining for oxytocin (OT) and Fos was used to study the oxytocinergic system of the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) following intraperitoneal insulin injections. The expression of c-fos in the PVN appeared about 3 h after insulin treatment and was very high after 5 h while no labelling was observed in isotonic saline-injected animals. Twelve to 18% of OT neurons expressed Fos-like immunoreactivity and these activated neurons were found in both the magno- and the parvocellular compartments of the PVN suggesting that the OT neuron responses to insulin induced disturbances are complex and involve hormonal as well as autonomic pathways.

Evidence for the expression of dynorphin gene in the prolactin-immunoreactive neurons of the rat lateral hypothalamus.

Dynorphin B (DYN B) immunoreactivity was recently reported in a population of prolactin (PRL)-immunoreactive neurons of the rat lateral hypothalamus (LH). By coupling immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization using two synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to DYN mRNA, a hybridization signal was observed over the neurons of the LH exhibiting both DYN- and PRL-like immunoreactivities. Our results clearly demonstrate that these neurons contain the mRNA encoding preproDYN and are able to synthesize authentic DYN B in colocalization with a peptide related to PRL.

Distribution of APGWa-immunoreactive substances in the central nervous system and reproductive apparatus of Helix aspersa.

The distribution of substances related to the tetrapeptide APGWa was investigated in the central nervous system (CNS) and the reproductive apparatus of Helix aspersa by immunocytochemistry. In the CNS, APGWa immunoreactive neurons were detected in all ganglia except the pedal ganglia. Concerning the mesocerebrum of the cerebral ganglia, only neurons of the right mesocerebral lobe reacted positively to the antiserum. In the genital apparatus, positive neurons fibres were seen in the muscular layer of the penis and, in the gonad, an immunoreactive material occurred on the heads of some spermatozoa. On the basis of these observations and of previous electrophysiological studies, an implication of AGPWa-like peptides in the control of mating behaviour is proposed. The significance of the positive reaction of the spermatozoa remains unclear.

Immunocytochemical localization of insulin-related peptide(s) in the central nervous system of the snail Helix aspersa Müller: involvement in growth control.

1. The presence of insulin-like substances has been demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in the central nervous system of the snail Helix aspersa. 2. The immunopositivity has been observed especially in the large perikarya of the mesocerebral green cells [the cerebral green cells (CeGC) stained in green by the alcian blue:alcian yellow technique]. 3. The removal of either the mesocerebrum or the CeGC stops the growth of the snail and induces the increase of the glycogen content in the mantle edge. 4. Our results show the existence of insulin-like material in the neurosecretory cells. Previous data having demonstrated the presence of specific binding sites to insulin in the cephalic ganglia of Helix aspersa, one may suggest that insulin could play a neuromodulatory or a neurotransmittory role in the central nervous system and might control the growth.

[Effect of cerebral ganglia and dorsal bodies on DNA synthesis induced by heat in the ovotestis of hibernating Helix aspersa ]. / Etude de l'action des ganglions cérébroïdes et des corps dorsaux sur la synthèse d'ADN induite par la chaleur dans l'ovotestis d'Helix aspersa en hibernation.

Brain extirpation of snails at the start of their natural hibernation increased the synthesis of DNA in spermatogonia when the animals were transferred from 5 to 25 degrees C for a 4-week period. This effect did not occur if animals were maintained at 5 degrees C. The reimplantation of brain (cerebral ganglia: CG + associated dorsal bodies: DB) in brain-ablated snails failed to correct the effects of brain extirpation. The implantation of either DB or CG in cerebrotomized hosts showed that, compared to shams, DB restored the level of DNA synthesis and spermatogonial proliferations whereas CG stimulated it. The CG and associated DB were therefore found to exert antagonistic effects which are responsible for the control of spermatogonial DNA synthesis in hibernating Helix aspersa.

Distribution of alpha CDCP-immunoreactive neurons in the central nervous system of the snail Helix aspersa.

alpha CDCP is a neuropeptide produced by the caudodorsal cells of Lymnaea stagnalis and encoded by the genes of the egg-laying hormone (ELH). The use of a polyclonal antiserum raised against alpha CDCP resulted in the detection of about 800 immunoreactive neurons in the parietal ganglia and a small population (60 cells) in the cerebral ganglia of Helix aspersa. As the genes of ELH are well conserved among the gastropod species, these data designate the parietal ganglia as a putative source for the egg-laying hormone in Helix aspersa.

[Development of a bioassay from gonadal cellular cultures of the snail Helix aspersa: influence of nerve ganglion extracts on the synthetic activity of the target cells]. / Réalisation d'un bioessai à l'aide de cultures cellulaires gonadiques d'escargot: influence d'extraits de ganglions nerveux sur l'activite synthetique des cellules cibles.

To realize bioassays a primary culture method was carried out with dissociated cells from the garden snail gonads. ADN and protein syntheses of gonadal cells were estimated using the liquid scintillation method. The gonadal cells were obtained from either adults of Petits Gris and Gros Gris, or young Gros Gris. The results were remarkably homogeneous. The brain extracts added to the culture medium had an inhibitory dose dependent effect on the synthetic activity of gonadal cells. The effected bioassays permit quantitative estimation on the variations of the brain extracts effect in relation to the physiological states of the snail and on the evolution of target cells' receptors during the growth of Gros Gris.

[Demonstration of the presence and localization of the synthesis of a somatostatin-like substance by immunocytochemistry and hybridization in situ in the brain of Helix aspersa]. / Mise en évidence de la presence et des lieux de synthèse d'une substance apparentée à la somatostatine par immunocytochimie et hybridation in situ dans le cerveau d'Helix aspersa.

The immunocytological method has revealed the presence of somatostatin-like substance (SSI) in the brain of the snail Helix aspersa Müller. The Cerebral Green Cells (CeGC) in the mesocerebron and some neurons in parietal and visceral ganglia react positively with an antibody raised against Vertebrate somatostatin-14. The hybridization in situ with an oligonucleotide probe labelled with 35S-dATP complementary to the 3'-coding region of rat preprosomatostatin mRNA seems to show a colocalization between synthesis and stocking sites of SSI in the nervous ganglia. These results suggest for the first time that the codage of a SSI seems to be realized in the same way in Helix aspersa and Mammals.

Presence of cells and fibers immunoreactive toward antibodies to different peptides or amine in the digestive tract of the snailHelix aspersa.

An immunocytological study of four different parts of the gut of Helix aspersa clearly demonstrates the presence of many cells and fibers immunoreactive toward antibodies directed to vertebrate (α, ß-endorphin, α, ß-MSH, ACTH 1-24 and ACTH 17-39, met-enkephalin, somatostatin, insulin, glucagon, P.P., serotonin) or invertebrate (FMRF-amide) peptides. These results are evidence of the presence of different substances related to known peptides or amines in the epithelial and connective tissue cells and nerve fibers of the snail gut. Immunocytochemistry may help to elucidate the morpho-functional characteristics of the enteroendocrine cells of H. aspersa.

[Control of secretory activity of multifid glands by castration and grafting in the snail Helix aspersa]. / Etude du contrôle de l'activité sécrétrice des glandes multifides par castration et greffe chez l'escargot Helix aspersa.

Castration of juvenile snails results in a cessation of multified gland cell differentiation. Many months later, the cells still resemble polarized epithelial cells and show no signs of secretory activity. Transplantation of nondifferentiated cells from multifid gland of castrated snails into normal adults initiated secretory activity. The experiments show that the presence of the gonad is essential for the multifid glands to develop secretory activity and that its influence is mediated by an endocrine factor which is transported in the hemolymph.

[Ultrastructural study of the differentiation of mammary buds during the fetal life of female mice]. / Etude ultrastructurale de la différenciation des bourgeons mammaires au cours de la vie foetale de souris femelles.

On mouse female fetuses, mammary gland bud development was studied ultrastructurally. This development is characterized by: - primary bud dichotomization into two secondary ductules, - lumen formation in the primary bud and in the secondary ductules. The lumen is formed by necrosis of central cells and around it cells are organized in an epithelium.