Summary
We recorded serotonin-emission intensity using formalin induced fluorescence and counted the number of neuroendocrine cells (NEC's) and neuroepithelial bodies (NEB's) containing argyrophil granules. Comparison of serotonin-emission intensity in NEB's of acutely hypoxic neonates (520 mmHg for 2–21/2 h) and normoxic controls showed significantly lower fluorescence in hypoxic animals. Neuroendocrine cell numbers as shown with Grimelius silver-nitrate stain did not change. This suggests either that the Grimelius stain reacts with compounds other than serotonin, or that the decrease in serotonin in acutely hypoxic rabbits is not sufficient to alter argyrophil stainability.
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Supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison and a grant from The Council for Tobacco Research, Inc. USA Number 1036
We are grateful to Ms. Sharon DeFoliart and Ms. Maureen Decorah for technical assistance. We also thank Dr. Walter Flaut who kindly let us use the fluorescence microscope, and contributed helpful advice. The use of the hypobaric chamber at the Biotron, University of Wisconsin-Madison, was essential for the study
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Keith, I.M., Wiley, L.A. & Will, J.A. Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells: Decreased serotonin fluorescence and stable argyrophil-cell numbers in acute hypoxia. Cell Tissue Res. 214, 201–205 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235157