Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of steroid hormones on the differentiation of the catecholamine storing cells of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effect of hydrocortisone, prednisolone, estrogen, progesterone and testosteron on the differentiation of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus was examined by the formaldehyde induced fluorescence (FIF) method. Prednisolone and hydrocortisone treatment caused about a tenfold increase in the number of small, intensively fluorescent (SIF) cells. The SIF-cells were larger and organized in larger groups than in untreated animals. The SIF-cells were also arranged in a satellite cell position around the ganglion cells, which were non-fluorescent or showed a weak to moderate FIF. The amount of solitary SIF-cells was increased. No effects detectable by the FIF-method were found with certainty after administration of estrogen, progesterone or testosterone.

The effect of glucocorticoids on the differentiation of autonomic ganglia is discussed. It seems probable that the main part of the developing SIF-cells after glucocorticoid treatment develop from undifferentiated neural cells.

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

  • Adham, N., Schenk, N. A.: Autonomic innervation of the rat vagina, cervix, and uterus and its cyclic variation. Amer. J. Obstet. Gynec. 104, 508–516 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Coupland, R. E.: The natural history of the chromaffin cell. London: Longmans 1965.

  • Eränkö, L., Eränkö, O.: Effect of hydrocortisone on histochemically demonstrable catecholamines in the sympathetic ganglia and extraadrenal chromaffin tissue of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 84, 125–133 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Eränkö, L.: Small intensely fluorescent, granule-containing cells in the sympathetic ganglion of the rat. Progr. Brain Res. 34, 39–51 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Eränkö, L., Hill, C. E., Burnstock, G.: Hydrocortisone-induced increase in the number of small intensively fluorescent cells and their histochemically demonstrable content in cultures of sympathetic ganglia of newborn rat. Histochem. J. 4, 49–58 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Histochemical demonstration of fluorogenic amines in the cytoplasm of sympathetic ganglion cells of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 58, 285–286 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Monoamine containing small cells in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat and an organ composed of them. Acta physiol. scand. 63, 511–512 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamberger, B., Levi-Montalcini, R., Norberg, K.-A., Sjöquist, F.: Monamines in immunosympathectomized rats. Int. J. Neuropharmacol. 4, 91–95 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervonen, A.: Development of catecholamine-storing cells in human fetal paraganglia and adrenal medulla. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 368, 1–94 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L., Lietzén R.: Histochemically demonstrable catecholamines and cholinesterases in the rat uterus during estrus cycle, pregnancy and after estrogen treatment. Acta physiol. scand., in Press (1972a).

  • Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L., Lietzén, R., Partanen, S.: Ultrastructural changes induced by Estrogen in the adrenergic nerves of the rabbit Myometrium. Acta physiol. scand. 85, 283–285 (1972b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Iversen, L. L., Glowinski, J., Axelrod, J.: The physiologic disposition and metabolism of norepinephrine in immunosympathetectomized animals. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 151, 273–284 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanerva, L.: The postnatal development of the adrenergic innervation of the female reproductive tract of the rat. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 25, Suppl. 113, 18 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanerva, L.: Development, histochemistry and connections of the paracervical (Frankenhäuser) ganglion of the rat uterus. A light and electron microscopic study. Acta inst. Anat. (Helsinki), Suppl. 2, 1–31 (1972a).

  • Kanerva, L.: Light and electron microscopical observations on the postnatal development of the paracervical (Frankenhäuser) ganglion of the rat. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 136, 33–50 (1972b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanerva, L., Hervonen, A., Lietzén, R.: The effect of prednisolone on the development of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 29, Suppl. 122, 41 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lempinen, M.: Extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue of the rat and the effect of cortical hormones on it. Acta physiol. scand. 62, Suppl. 231, 1–91 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi-Montalcini, R., Angeletti, P. U.: Nerve growth factor. Physiol. Rev. 48, 534–569 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Owman, Ch., Sjöberg, N.-O., Swedin, C.: Histochemical and chemical studies on pre- and postnatal development of different systems of “short” and “long” adrenergic neurons in peripheral organs of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 116, 319–341 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Owman, Ch., Sjöstrand, N. O.: Short adrenergic neurons and catecholamine-containing cells in vas deferens and accessory male genital glands of different mammals. Z. Zellforsch. 66, 300–320 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ploem, J. S.: The microscopic differentiation of the colour of formaldehyde induced fluorescence. Progr. Brain Res. 34, 27–38 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecky, L. A., Wurtman, R. J.: Adrenocortical control of epinephrine synthesis. Pharmacol. Rev. 23, 1–35 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöberg, N.-O.: The adrenergic transmitter of the female reproductive tract. Distribution and functional changes. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 305, 5–26 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smitten, N. A.: A cytological analysis of the origin of chromaffinoblasts in some mammals. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 10, 152–166 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Swedin, G.: Studies on neurotransmission mechanisms in the rat and guinea pig vas deferens. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 369, 1–34 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaimis, E., Berk, L., Callingham, B. A.: Morphological, biochemical and functional changes in the sympathetic nervous system of rats treated with nerve growth factor-antiserum. Nature (Lond.). 206, 1220–1222 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Finland

    A. Hervonen, L. Kanerva, R. Lietzén & S. Partanen

Authors
  1. A. Hervonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Kanerva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Lietzén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Partanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The present study was carried out during the Academic Year 1971–72, when Professor Eränkö was on a research leave abroad and Professor Arto Palkama, M. D., was acting Head of the Department.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L., Lietzén, R. et al. Effects of steroid hormones on the differentiation of the catecholamine storing cells of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus. Z.Zellforsch 134, 519–527 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307671

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307671

Key words

Search

Navigation