Leydig cell function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Streptozotocin diabetic rats were infertile as a result of decreased Leydig cell function of the testes. The major changes found were: decreased number of Leydig cells and their spontaneous secretion of testosterone. No change in the receptors to LH on the Leydig cells was observed. LH was found to be obligatory for the regulation of Leydig cell function and fertility.     

Leydig cell function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Summary Streptozotocin diabetic rats were infertile as a result of decreased Leydig cell function of the testes. The major changes found were: decreased number of Leydig cells and their spontaneous secretion of testosterone. No change in the receptors to LH on the Leydig cells was observed. LH was found to be obligatory for the regulation of Leydig cell function and fertility.     

Effects of sham-pinealectomy,performed under white and red light,on the melatonin content of rat pineal glands

Summary Sham-pinealectomy, performed under different light conditions in newborn and adult rats, is followed by changes of pineal activity resulting in variations of melatonin content. The pineal glands of rats sham-operated under white light produce significantly less melatonin. In contrast, glands of rats operated on under red light show a melatonin content corresponding to that of intact rats. This result implies that normal white light causes a disturbance in melatonin production by a non-retinal pathway.     

Influence of light on the plasma gonadotropin concentrations in the newborn rat.

The physiological increase in plasma gonadotropin (LH and FSH) levels in newborn rats is indisputably influenced by light. Permanent illumination accentuates this increase, whereas darkness decreases it in 16-day-old female rats. In male rats of the same age, only permanent illumination was tested with the same results.     

Effect of maternal under-nutrition on pup body weight and hypothalamic endocannabinoid levels

Dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to influence brain levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide in newborn pigs and mice. Furthermore, endocannabinoids were shown to control pup suckling and body weight in mice, and food intake in adult rodents. Here we determined the effect of maternal under-nutrition during gestation, lactation, or both, on body weight, and on the levels of endocannabinoids and expression of cannabinoid CB₁ receptors and fatty acid amide hydrolase in the hypothalamus of rat pups at weaning (21 days old) or adult rats (4 months old). Maternal under-nutrition resulted in a striking decrease in body weight of weaning rats, paralleled by a decrease in the hypothalamic levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, but not of 2-arachidonoylglycerol. No significant change in the hypothalamic expression of either cannabinoid CB₁ receptors or fatty acid amide hydrolase mRNA was detected in any of the three groups of weaned pups. The decrease in pup body weight and hypothalamic anandamide levels was not observable in 4-month-old rats from any of the three groups. These data suggest that maternal under-nutrition causes a decrease in hypothalamic anandamide levels and loss of body weight, and confirm a crucial role for endocannabinoid signalling in neonatal development. Received 4 November 2002; received after revision 29 November 2002; accepted 16 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

Compensatory hypertrophy of the leydig cells in hemiorchidectomized adult rats

Summary Hemiorchidectomy in adult rats results in hypertrophy of the Leydig cells in the remaining testis. The other parts of the testis appear to be unaffected. Supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (project 12X-05935) and the Harald Jeansson and Magn Bergvall Foundations.     

Estradiol-induced changes in TSH-like immunoreactivity of pituitary cells in female rats

Beta-thyrotropin (TSH)-producing cells in the pituitary pars distalis of female rats were studied using rabbit anti-rat beta-thyrotropin (TSH) serum and a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical procedure. Animals were neonatally treated with 1 mg estradiol-dipropionate (EDP) and sacrificed at different stages of development up to adulthood. Intact females of the corresponding age served as the controls. Morphometry and stereology were used to evaluate the changes in TSH-cell number and volume densities of the cells and nuclei. All morphometric parameters examined in estradiol-treated animals showed a significant decrease in comparison with immunoreactive TSH cells of age-matched controls. The most prominent EDP-induced changes were evident in peripubertal 38-day-old rats, the number and volumetric densities of both TSH cells and their nuclei being reduced by about 90% compared to intact pituitary. This decrease in the number and volume densities of TSH cells in EDP-treated rats explicitly demonstrated that this hormone, applied neonatally, has an inhibitory effect on TSH-immunoreactive cells up to adulthood, in accordance with our earlier data obtained by light and electron microscopy.     

Influence of light on the plasma gonadotropin concentrations in the newborn rat

Summary The physiological increase in plasma gonadotropin (LH and FSH) levels in newborn rats is indisputably influenced by light. Permanent illumination accentuates this increase, whereas darkness decreases it in 16-day-old female rats. In male rats of the same age, only permanent illumination was tested with the same results.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Dr C. Kordon (Unité de Neurobiologie, INSERM, rue d'Alésia, F-75014 Paris) who welcomed us in his laboratory and advised us on these experiments.     

Desensitization by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): demonstration of a negative control of gonadotropin receptors by hCG at the level of testicular Leydig cells]

A single injection of hCG (500 IU) to intact and hypophysectomized prepubertal rat increases plasma testosterone levels and decreases hCG receptors in the testicular Leydig cells for 4 to 5 days. In intact animals testosterone exhibit a rapid increase within hours and a delayed paradoxical increase between 60 and 96 hours. In hypophysectomized animals the first peak is not present. In both intact and hypophysectomized rats hCG receptors are almost undetectable between 10 and 96 hours following hCG injection. Since receptor occupancy cannot account for this phenomenon it is concluded that hCG is exerting a negative control on its own receptors.     

早期母子隔离应激对大鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的探讨早期母子隔离应激对幼鼠学习记忆能力的影响。方法30只SD新生大鼠用于实验,实验随机分成3组,正常对照纽、母子隔离15分钟纽、母子隔离3小时纽。在生后40天,三组大鼠进行Morris水迷宫及记录海马脑片长时程增强电位（LTP）实验。结果Morris水迷宫测试,与正常组比较母子隔离3h组大鼠寻找平台需要的潜伏期延长（P〈0．05）,而母子隔离15分钟组大鼠寻找平台需要的潜伏期与正常组比较则无明显变化（P〉0．05）;海马脑片长时程增强电位提示：正常对照组条件刺激（CS）前后fEPSP斜率变化率为：64．7±22．9％;母子隔离3h组为：35．3±14．2％,低于正常组（P〈0．01）;母子隔离15min组为：66．3±29．7％,与正常组比较无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。结论幼鼠生后早期过度的应激导致大鼠的学习记忆能力减弱。     

Estrogenic inhibition of testicular growth by R2858 in preweanling rats

Daily injections of physiologic doses of R2858 into preweanling rats from the 10th to the 19th day of age resulted in reduced testicular growth compared to controls. Body weights and other organ weights were unaffected. Leydig cells were smaller and less numerous, and showed distinct changes in ultrastructural morphology. Results of this study suggest that alpha-fetoprotein permits normal testicular development during postnatal life.     

Beta-adrenergic stimulation of androgen production by fetal mouse Leydig cells in primary culture

The responsiveness of fetal mouse Leydig cells to catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine), a beta-agonist agent (L-isoproterenol) and hCG was investigated in vitro. Fetal Leydig cells when freshly isolated were unable to respond to L-isoproterenol (10(-5) M). However, L-isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly stimulated androgen production by fetal Leydig cells after 24 h of primary culture. Androgen production was increased in both conditions and to a greater extent by hCG. Propranolol blocked the stimulatory effect of L-isoproterenol and epinephrine. It is concluded that catecholamines can regulate fetal testosterone biosynthesis.     

Continuous light abolishes the maternal entrainment of the circadian activity rhythm of the pups in the field mouse

12:12-h cycles of presence and absence of mother mouse act as a 'zeitgeber' and entrain the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in the pups of Mus booduga under continuous darkness or continuous dim light. Continuous higher illumination of 15-25 lx abolishes this impressive maternal entrainment.     

The effect of guanethidine treatment of testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Summary Testicular blood flow was measured bymeans of Xenon-133 clearance in control rats and rats treated with guanethidine for 3 weeks. Plasma and testis testosterone concentrations were also measured, and the effect of hCG-treatment was examined. No difference in testicular blood flow between the control group and the guanethidinetreated group was found. However, in guanethidine-treated rats, plasma and testis testosterone concentrations after hCG-treatment were significantly decreased. The results may indicate that adrenergic nerves are involved in the regulation of Leydig cell function.     

The effect of guanethidine treatment of testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Testicular blood flow was measured by means of Xenon-133 clearance in control rats and rats treated with guanethidine for 3 weeks. Plasma and testis testosterone concentrations were also measured, and the effect of hCG-treatment was examined. No difference in testicular blood flow between the control group and the guanethidine-treated group was found. However, in guanethidine-treated rats, plasma and testis testosterone concentrations after hCG-treatment were significantly decreased. The results may indicate that adrenergic nerves are involved in the regulation of Leydig cell function.     

Estrogenic inhibition of testicular growth by R2858 in preweanling rats

Summary Daily injections of physiologic doses of R2858 into preweanling rats from the 10th to the 19th day of age resulted in reduced testicular growth compared to controls. Body weights and other organ weights were unaffected. Leydig cells were smaller and less numerous, and showed distinct changes in ultrastructural morphology. Results of this study suggest that -fetoprotein permits normal testicular development during postnatal life.The authors would like to thank Dr Deltour of Roussel UCLAF for the gift of R2858.     

Collective cell migration of epithelial and mesenchymal cells

Directional cell migration is required for proper embryogenesis, immunity, and healing, and its underpinning regulatory mechanisms are often hijacked during diseases such as chronic inflammations and cancer metastasis. Studies on migratory epithelial tissues have revealed that cells can move as a collective group with shared responsibilities. First thought to be restricted to proper epithelial cell types able to maintain stable cell–cell junctions, the field of collective cell migration is now widening to include cooperative behavior of mesenchymal cells. In this review, we give an overview of the mechanisms driving collective cell migration in epithelial tissues and discuss how mesenchymal cells can cooperate to behave as a collective in the absence of bona fide cell–cell adhesions.     

Effect of continuous light on the blood and urinary sugar levels in alloxan diabetic rats

Summary Continuous light decreases the rise in blood glucose and the excretion of urinary glucose, along with increased urine volume, in alloxan diabetic rats.Acknowledgment. The authors' thanks are due to Prof. A. K. Maiti, Department of Physiology, Calcutta University for his constant encouragement.     

Presence-absence cycles of the mother and not light-darkness are the zeitgeber for the circadian rhythm of newborn mice

The relative roles of conflicting zeitgebers [presence/absence (PA) cycles versus light/dark (LD) cycles] on entrainment of circadian rhythm of locomotor activity were tested in pups of the night active mouse Mus booduga. During the early days of the pups' life the PA cycles of the mother acted as a zeitgeber and entrained their activity rhythm, even though the LD cycles were available. Entrainment by LD cycles took place only when the pups' eyes opened and probably became functional.     

β-Adrenergic stimulation of androgen production by fetal mouse Leydig cells in primary culture

Summary The responsiveness of fetal mouse Leydig cells to catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine), a-agonist agent (L-isoproterenol) and hCG was investigated in vitro. Fetal Leydig cells when freshly isolated were unable to respond to L-isoproterenol (10^–5M). However, L-isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly stimulated androgen production by fetal Leydig cells after 24 h of primary culture. Androgen production was increased in both conditions and to a greater extent by hCG. Propranolol blocked the stimulatory effect of L-isoproterenol and epinephrine. It is concluded that catecholamines can regulate fetal testosterone biosynthesis.