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Neurons of the rat hypothalamus reactive with antisera against endorphins, ACTH, MSH and β-LPH

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Summary

In rat brains intraventricularly injected with colchicine, the same discrete neurons of the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei can be stained with antisera against α- and β-endorphins, (1-24)ACTH, (17-39)ACTH, α- and β-MSH, and β-LPH, as demonstrated by comparative studies in consecutive serial sections. These neurons are strongly reactive with anti-(17-39)ACTH, anti-β-endorphin, anti-α-MSH and anti-β-MSH, and more faintly stained with anti-α-endorphin, anti-β-LPH and anti-(1-24)ACTH. Exceptionally, neurons reactive with anti-(17-39)ACTH and anti-β-endorphin are poorly stained or completely negative with anti-α-MSH and anti-β-MSH. Immunoreactive fibers end in the lateral median eminence and in the arcuate nucleus proper, or form ascending pathways along the third ventricle. Comparative studies with other antisera or with the Falck and Hillarp technique show that these neurons differ from the elements producing LH-RH, somatostatin, neurophysin, oxytocin, vasopressin and dopamine.

These results suggest that the same neurons of the rat hypothalamus synthesize several neuropeptides identical with or immunologically related to endorphins, ACTH, α-MSH and β-LPH, probably arising from a common precursor molecule similar to that found in the corticotropic cells of the pituitary. These neuropeptides of a common cellular and molecular origin might be involved in basic processes of the central nervous system as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators.

Résumé

Dans les cerveaux de rats ayant reçu une injection intra-ventriculaire de colchicine, une même population de neurones du noyau arqué et du noyau ventro-médian est indifféremment immunoréactive à divers I.S. dirigés contre les endorphines (α et β), l'ACTH(1-24), l'ACTH(17-39), les MSH (α et β) et la β-LPH, comme le démontrent des études comparatives sur coupes sériées. Ces neurones sont intensément marqués par l'anti-ACTH(17-39), l'anti-β-endorphine, l'anti-α-MSH et l'anti-β-MSH et plus faiblement immunoréactifs à l'anti-α-endorphine, l'anti-β-LPH et l'anti-ACTH(1-24). Exceptionnellement, certains neurones immunoréactifs avec l'anti-ACTH(17-39) et l'anti-β-endorphine sont faiblement ou non reconnus par l'anti-α-MSH et l'anti-β-MSH. Les fibres immunoréactives se terminent dans l'éminence médiane latérale et dans le noyau arqué lui-même, ou forment des voies ascendantes le long du III∘ Ventricule. Des études comparatives avec d'autres I.S. ou avec la technique de Falck et Hillarp, montrent que ces neurones sont différents de ceux producteurs de LH-RH, de somatostatine, de neurophysine, d'ocytocine, de vasopressine et de dopamine.

Ces résultats suggèrent que certains neurones de l'hypothalamus du rat synthétisent plusieurs neuropeptides identiques aux ou immunologiquement très voisins des peptides du groupe endorphine, ACTH, α-MSH et β-LPH, vraisemblablement à partir d'un précurseur commun similaire à celui des cellules corticotropes adénohypophysaires. Ces neuropeptides ayant une origine cellulaire et moléculaire commune pourraient être impliqués comme neurotransmetteurs ou neuromodulateurs dans le fonctionnement du système nerveux central.

This work was supported by grants from the D.G.R.S.T. (contract n∘ 78.7.2749) and from the I.N.S.E.R.M. (contract n∘ 81.79.113)

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Abbreviations

β-LPH:

β-lipotropin

ACTH:

corticotropin

MSH:

melanotropin

LH-RH:

luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

CLIP:

corticotropin-like intermediate peptide

PAP:

peroxidase-anti-peroxidase

I.S.:

immune sera

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Histologie Embryologie de la Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Besançon, France

    B. Bloch, C. Bugnon, D. Fellmann, D. Lenys & A. Gouget

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  1. B. Bloch
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  2. C. Bugnon
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  3. D. Fellmann
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  4. D. Lenys
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  5. A. Gouget
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Additional information

The authors thank the following colleagues for providing compounds used in the present investigation: Prof. C.H. Li for human β-LPH; Prof. M. Herlant and Dr. C. Dessy for anti-β-LPH I.S.; Prof. L. Sternberger and Dr. M.P. Dubois for the PAP complex; Dr. C. Dessaules for ACTH and MSH; Prof. P. Czernichow, Drs. J. Legros and M.P. Dubois for anti-neurophysin, anti-oxytocin and antivasopressin. We also thank C. Jacquemard for technical assistance and D. Giammarco and O. Blandin for translating the manuscript.

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Bloch, B., Bugnon, C., Fellmann, D. et al. Neurons of the rat hypothalamus reactive with antisera against endorphins, ACTH, MSH and β-LPH. Cell Tissue Res. 204, 1–15 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235160

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