Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Non-diffusional distribution of radioactivity in the rat median eminence after intraventricular injection of 3H-LH-RH

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The distribution of radioactivity in the rat hypothalamus after intraventricular injection of tritiated luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) was studied by autoradiography and compared with that expected from Fick's second law which defines the character of ordinary diffusion. The results suggest that LH-RH penetrates through the ependyma and thin subependymal layer in the median eminence and into the suprachiasmatic area by ordinary diffusion. By contrast, concentration of radioactivity in outer layers of the median eminence is increased and, therefore, can not be explained by the diffusion law. In this region incorporation of radioactivity into cell bodies was demonstrated. In the subependymal layer of the median eminence a few rows of silver grains seemingly located in cellular processes were also observed. The diffusion coefficient in the periventricular zone was lower than that in the deeper tissue. It is suggested that the ependymal-subependymal complex of the third and lateral ventricles acts as a passive membrane towards LH-RH contained in the cerebrospinal fluid. The significance of this mechanism for the intrahypothalamic transport of RHs is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, B.L., Dermoudy, W.C., Reil, J.R.: Localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the mammalian hypothalamus. Amer. J. Anat. 139, 129–134 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Jonathan, N., Mical, R.S., Porter, Y.C.: Transport of LRF from CSF to hypophysial portal and systemic blood and the release of LH. Endocrinology 95, 18–25 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knigge, K.M., Joseph, S.A., Silverman, A.J., Vaala, S.: Further observations on the structure and function of median eminence with reference to the organization of RF-producing elements in the endocrine hypothalamus. Progr. in Brain Res. 39, 7–10. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press (1973)

  • Kobayashi, H., Matsui, I., Ishii, S.: Functional electron microscopy of the hypothalamic median eminence. Int. Rev. Cytol. 29, 281–373 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, O.M., Barraclough, C.A.: Failure to detect luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in third ventricle cerebral spinal fluid under a variety of experimental conditions. Endocrinology 96, 913–921 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik, D.V.: Immunoreactive LH-RH neurons in the hypothalamus identified by light and fluorescent microscopy. Cell Tiss. Res. 157, 423–436 (1975a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik, D.V.: Immuno-electron microscopic localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the arcuate nuclei and median eminence of the rat. Cell Tiss. Res. 157, 437–455 (1975b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ondo, Y.G., Eskay, R.L., Mical, R.S., Porter, Y.C.: Release of LH by LRF injected into the CSF: a transport role for the median eminence. Endocrinology 93, 231–237 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sétáló, G., Vigh, S., Schally, A.V., Arimura, A., Flerkó, B.: LH-RH containing neural elements in the rat hypothalamus. Endocrinology 96, 135–142 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Szentágothai, Y., Flerkó, B., Mess, B., Halász, B.: Hypothalamic control of the anterior pituitary, p. 95. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Uemura, H., Asai, T., Nozaki, M., Kobayashi, H.: Ependymal absorption of luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone injected into the third ventricle of the rat. Cell Tiss. Res. 160, 443–452 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, R.I., Terkel, Y., Blake, C.A., Schally, A.V., Sawyer, C.H.: Changes in serum luteinizing hormone following intraventricular and intravenous injections of luteinizing hormone in the rat. Neuroendocrinology 10, 261–272 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheaton, J.E., Krulich, L., McCann, S.M.: Localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of the rat using radio-immunoassay. Endocrinology 97, 30–38 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, E.A., Hsu, K.C., Ferin, M., Kozlowsky, G.P.: Localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) in the hypothalamus of the mouse by immuno-peroxidase technique. Endocrinology 95, 1–8 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    L. Goldgefter

Authors
  1. L. Goldgefter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

I am grateful to Prof. H. Nathan for his generous support and advice. I also thank Prof. L. Nebel for his help, Prof. M. Wolman, Dr. J. Sobel and Dr. V. Stainberg for constructive criticism and Mrs. Frances Zetland for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldgefter, L. Non-diffusional distribution of radioactivity in the rat median eminence after intraventricular injection of 3H-LH-RH. Cell Tissue Res. 168, 411–418 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215317

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215317

Keywords

Search

Navigation