Summary
The innervation pattern of the intermediate lobe of the skate (Raja radiata) was studied with histological and fluorescence histochemical methods. Neurosecretory fibres, stained with i.a. pseudo-iso-cyanine, were found running in bundles in the central parts of the cell cords. They terminated partly around the perinuclear parts of the intermedia cells, partly around the apices of the cells close to the vascular walls.
A catecholamine innervation of the intermedia was also established. Catecholaminecontaining fibres with the appearance of nerve terminals were found around the intermedia cell apices close to the vessels. In some specimens, catecholamine fibres also seemed to terminate at the perinuclear parts of the cells.
Thus it is possible, judging solely from structural relations, that both the cell body (the synthesis pole) and the cell apex (the release pole) receive a dual innervation. Recent experimental evidence indicates that the release of MSH from the pars intermedia is controlled by catecholamine fibres, but as yet there is only structural evidence for a special control of hormone synthesis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramowitz, A. A.: The pituitary control of chromatophores in the dogfish. Amer. Naturalist 73, 208–218 (1939).
Bargmann, W.: Weitere Untersuchungen am neurosekretorischen Zwischenhirn-Hypophysen-system. Z. Zellforsch. 42, 247–272 (1955).
—, Lindner, E., Andres, K. H.: Über Synapsen an endocrinen Epithelzellen und die Definition sekretorischer Neurone. Z. Zellforsch. 77, 282–298 (1967).
Björklund, A.: Monoamine-containing fibres in the pituitary neuro-intermediate lobe of the pig and rat. Z. Zellforsch. 89, 573–589 (1968).
—, Enemar, A., Falck, B.: Monoamines in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the mouse with special reference to the ontogenetic aspects. Z. Zellforsch. 89, 590–607 (1968).
—, Falk, B.: An improvement of the histochemical fluorescence method for monoamines. Observation unvarying extractability of fluorophores in different nerve fibres. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 717–720 (1968).
—, Hromek, F., Owman, Ch., West, K. A.: Identification and terminal distribution of the tubero-hypophyseal monoamine fibre systems in the rat by means of stereotaxic and microspectrofluorimetric techniques. Brain Res. 17, 1–23 (1970).
—, Rosengren, E.: Monoamines in the pituitary gland of the pig. Life Sci. 6, 2103–2110 (1967).
Caspersson, T., Hillarp, N.- Å., Ritzén, M.: Fluorescence microspectrophotometry of cellular catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Exp. Cell Res. 42, 415–428 (1966).
Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K.: Monoamines and the pituitary gland. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 51, 301–314 (1966).
Enemar, A., Falck, B.: On the presence of adrenergic nerves in the pars intermedia of the frog Rana temporaria. Gen. comp. Endocr. 5, 577–583 (1965).
—, Iturriza, F. C.: Adrenergic nerves in the pars intermedia of the pituitary in the toad, Bufo arenarum. Z. Zellforsch. 77, 325–330 (1967).
Falck, B., Owman, Ch.: A detailed methodological description of the fluorescence method for the cellular demonstration of biogenic monoamines. Acta Univ. Lund. II, 7, 1–23 (1965).
Howes, N. H.: A study of the histology of the pituitary gland of the skate. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 78, 637–651 (1936).
Iturriza, F. C.: Monoamines and the control of the pars intermedia of the toad pituitary. Gen. comp. Endocr. 6, 19–25 (1966).
—: The secretion of intermedin in autotransplants of pars intermedia growing in the anterior chamber of intact and sympathectomized eyes of the toad. Neuroendocrinology 2, 11–18 (1967).
—: Further evidence for the blocking effect of catecholamines on the secretion of melanocyte-stimulating hormone in toads. Gen. comp. Endocr. 12, 417–426 (1969).
Knowles, F.: Evidence for a dual control, by neurosecretion, of hormone synthesis and hormone release in the pituitary of the dogfish, Scylliorhinus stellaris. Phil. Trans. B 249, 435–456 (1965).
—, Bern, H. A.: The function of neurosecretion in endocrine regulation. Nature (Lond.) 210, 271–272 (1966).
Mellinger, J.: Etude histophysiologique du système hypothalamo-hypophysaire de Scyliorhinus caniculus (L.) en état de mélanodispersion permanente. Gen. comp. Endocr. 3, 26–45 (1963).
Meurling, P.: The relations between neural and intermediate lobes in the pituitary of Squalus acanthias. Z. Zellforsch. 58, 51–69 (1962).
—: Nerves of the neuro-intermediate lobe of Etmopterus spinax (Elasmobranchi). Z. Zellforsch. 61, 183–201 (1963).
—: Observations of nerve-types in the hypophysial stem of Raja radiata. Acta Univ. Lund. II, 19, 1–20 (1967).
—, Fremberg, M., Björklund, A.: Control of MSH release in the intermediate lobe of Raja radiata (Elasmobranchii). (Abstract.) Gen. comp. Endocrinol. 13, 3 (1969).
Perks, A. M.: The neurohypophysis. In: Fish physiology, pp. 111–205. New York: Acad. Press 1969.
Polenov, A. L., Belenki, M. A.: Electron microscope observations of neurosecretory elements in the neuro-intermediate lobe in skates. Nature (Lond.) 208, 94–95 (1965).
Romeis, B.: Mikroskopische Technik. München-Wien: Oldenburg Verlag 1968.
Scharrer, E.: Das Hypophysen-Zwischenhirnsystem von Scyllium stellare. Z. Zellforsch. 37, 196–204 (1952).
Sterba, G.: Grundlagen des histochemischen und biochemischen Nachweis von Neurosekret (= Trägerprotein der Oxytozine) mit Pseudoisocyaninen. Acta histochem. (Jena) 17, 268–292 (1964).
Waring, H.: Color change mechanisms of cold-blooded vertebrates. New York-London: Acad. Press 1963.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (No. 99-35 and 2126-2) and was carried out within a research organization sponsored by the Swedish Medical Research Council (Projects No. B70-14X-712-05 and B70-14X-56-06).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meurling, P., Björklund, A. The arrangement of neurosecretory and catecholamine fibres in relation to the pituitary intermedia cells of the skate, Raja radiata . Z. Zellforsch. 108, 81–92 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335944
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335944