Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 368, Issue 2, 19 March 1986, Pages 310-318
Brain Research

Serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibers of the rat pituitary: effects of anticatecholamine and antiserotonin drugs on staining patterns

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)90575-5Get rights and content

Serotonin-immunoreactive (5-HT-IR) nerve fibers observed in the pars nervosa of the rat pituitary gland were examined after treatment of animals with antiserotonergic or anti-catecholaminergic drugs.p-Chlorophenylalanine, (PCPA), an inhibitor of 5-HT synthesis, eliminated staining in both areas of the pituitary gland.p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA), a serotonin neurotoxin, did not produce a significant change in 5-HT-IR from control tissue. Unexpectedly, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a catecholamine neurotoxin, eliminated 5-HT staining in the pars intermedia, but not in the pars nervosa. These observations suggest that 5-HT present in fibers innervating the intermediates and neural lobes is synthesized in axons locally, or is taken up into fibers from extrinsic sources. In addition, catecholamines and 5-HT may co-exist in nerve terminals of both lobes of the pituitary gland.

References (41)

  • WallaceJ.A. et al.

    Serotonin immunocytochemistry in the adult and developing rat brain: methodological and pharmacological considerations

    Brain Res. Bull.

    (1982)
  • BoerH.H. et al.

    Co-existence of immunoreactivity to anti-dopamine, anti-serotonin and vasotocin in the cerebral ganglion of the pond snail,Limnaea stagnalis

    Cell Tissue Res.

    (1984)
  • BjorklundA.

    Monoamine-containing nerve fibers in the pituitary neurointermediate lobe of the pig and rat

    Z. Zellforsch. Mikrosk. Anat.

    (1968)
  • ChangT.-L. et al.

    In vitro processing of proopiocortin by membrane-associated and soluble converting enzyme activities from rat intermediate lobe secretory granules

    Endocrinology

    (1984)
  • CoteT.E. et al.

    Biochemical and physiological studies of beta-adrenoreceptor and the D-2 dopamine receptor in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary gland: a review

    Neuroendocrinology

    (1982)
  • DavisM.D. et al.

    Early postnatal development of pituitary intermediate lobe control in the rat by dopamine neurons

    Neuroendocrinology

    (1984)
  • FriedmanE. et al.

    Serotonergic innervation of the rat pituitary intermediate lobe: decrease after stalk section

    Endocrinology

    (1983)
  • HsuS.M. et al.

    Use of avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques: a comparison between ABC and unlabeled antibody (PAP) procedures

    J. Histochem. Cytochem.

    (1981)
  • JacksonS. et al.

    Secretion of pro-opiocortin peptides from isolated perfused rat pars intermedia cells

    Neuroendocrinology

    (1983)
  • JohnstonC.A. et al.

    Aromaticl-amino acid decar☐ylase activity in the rat median eminence, neurointermediate lobe and anterior lobe of the pituitary

    Neuroendocrinology

    (1984)
  • Cited by (19)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text