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Ultrastructure of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in teleost fishes and isolation of hormone-containing granules from the neurohypophysis of the cod (Gadus morrhua)

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Hormone content (pressor activity) was estimated in the posterior pituitary of the cod. An average of 160 mU pressor activity per gland was found

  2. 2.

    Subcellular particles containing the pressor hormone (arginine vasotocin) were isolated from homogenates of cod pituitaries. These particles were identified as the elementary granules (800–2000 Å).

  3. 3.

    The hypothalamo-hypophysial system of three species of teleost fishes (Gadus morrhua, Cottus bubalis, Salmo irideus) was examined with the electron microscope:

  4. a

    The fine structure of the neurohypophysis, its relations with the adenohypophysial elements and with blood vessels was shown, and methods of hormone release from the neurohypophysis were discussed.

  5. b

    The ultrastructure of the large neurosecretory cells of the preoptic nucleus in the three teleost fishes was investigated. The central zone of the cytoplasm of these cells contained numerous Golgi complexes and secretory inclusions mainly of two orders of size: elementary granules (800–2200 Å) and large secretory granules (5000–15000 Å).

  6. c

    A great variation of form and electron-density was observed in the large secretory granules.

  7. d

    A spatial association between the neurosecretory inclusions and the Golgi complex was shown and its functional implications were discussed.

  8. 4

    Mechanisms and site of formation of the elementary granules and their contents were tentatively suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute of the University of Kiel, Germany

    K. Lederis

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol, England

    K. Lederis

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  1. K. Lederis
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The work reported here was carried out with financial support from the British Council, the University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

I am indebted to Prof. W. Bargmann for hospitality and most valuable discussions. My sincere thanks are due to Frl. Dr. M. von Harnack of the Electron Microscope Laboratory in the Anatomical Institute and to Herr Dipl. Phys. J. Hellgardt (Siemens & Halske AG., Karlsruhe) for their help in technical aspects. I am grateful to Prof. H. Netter (Department of Physiological Chemistry) and to Prof. H. Lullies (Department of Physiology) for laboratory facilities. Thanks are also due to Frau B. Behrens, Frau I. Brocks and Herr B. Müller for their technical assistance.

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Lederis, K. Ultrastructure of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in teleost fishes and isolation of hormone-containing granules from the neurohypophysis of the cod (Gadus morrhua) . Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 58, 192–213 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320184

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