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Light- and electron-microscopic visualization of γ-aminobutyric acid and GABA-transaminase in the oviduct of rats

Predominant occurrence in epithelium

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Summary

The distribution in the rat oviduct of γ-aminobutyric acid and its catabolic enzyme GABA-transaminase was studied by the use of immunocytochemical and enzymehistochemical techniques. At the light-microscopic level, both GABA immunoreactivity and GABA-transaminase enzyme reactivity were found primarily in the tubal epithelium while in the muscle layers of the organ only a faint GABA and GABA-transaminase positive staining could be detected. Electron-microscopic evaluation of the GABA immunoreactivity revealed a heavy labelling of the basal bodies (kinetosomes) and a moderate staining of the cilia. These findings indicate that the role of GABA in the oviduct is not related to neurotransmission but may be related to ciliary functions.

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Erdö, S.L., Somogyi, J., Hámori, J. et al. Light- and electron-microscopic visualization of γ-aminobutyric acid and GABA-transaminase in the oviduct of rats. Cell Tissue Res. 244, 621–626 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212542

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212542

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