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Proliferation of lamellar whorls in arcuate neurons of the hypothalamus of castrated and morphine-treated male rats

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Summary

A comprehensive ultrastructural examination of one cross-sectional level (middle 1/3) of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (AH) of male rats several weeks after castration or after two weeks of morphine treatment confirmed a marked increase in lamellar whorls of endoplasmic reticulum in AH neurons in each group. A comparable incidence of AH whorls was not detected in rats treated with lactose, those treated for only 1–3 days with morphine, or in those given testosterone plus morphine for 2 weeks. It is postulated that the testosterone deficiency following either castration or chronic morphine treatment stimulated the observed increase in AH whorls. A close correspondence was noted between the distribution within the AH of neurons containing whorls and those reported by others to contain luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH). The possibility that whorls may be a marker for hypothalamic neurons which play a role in the LH-RH regulatory system warrants further consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo., USA

    M. T. Price Ph.D., J. W. Olney & T. J. Cicero

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  1. M. T. Price Ph.D.
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  2. J. W. Olney
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  3. T. J. Cicero
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Additional information

Supported by Grants DA-00259 and NS-09156 from the United States Public Health Service

Research Scientist Development Award MH-38894

Research Scientist Development Award MH-70180

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Price, M.T., Olney, J.W. & Cicero, T.J. Proliferation of lamellar whorls in arcuate neurons of the hypothalamus of castrated and morphine-treated male rats. Cell Tissue Res. 171, 277–284 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224653

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224653

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