Immunocytological identification of two cell types in the intermediate lobe of the hypophysis of salmonids: presence of ACTH and alpha-MSH]

The lead-haematoxylin positive cells (PbH+) of the rostral pars distalis react with antibodies anti-1-24 ACTH and anti-17-39 ACTH; the pars intermedia (PI) is composed of two cell categories, but only one is revealed with cyto-immunological techniques and contains ACTH and alpha-MSH in several Salmonid species.     

Immunofluorescence identification of cells with corticotropic and alpha-melanotropic activity in the hypophysis of the grass snake Natrix natrix L.]

The use of anti ACTH (17-39) and alpha-MSH allowed us to detect by immunofluorescence in the Pituitary gland of Grass Snake the site of elaboration of ACTH and alpha-MSH. Corticotropic cells are located in the rostral part of the Pars Distalis and in the Pars intermedia. Melanotropic cells occupy the whole part of the Pars intermedia.     

Immunocytochemistry of pituitary corticotroph cells in terrestrial turtle (Testudo mauritanica)]

The immunocytochemical and histochemical characters of the corticotroph cells of the Turtle adenohypophysis have been studied. These cells are localised in the rostral part of the gland and are revealed by Is anti ACTH (1-24) and (17-39). They are also colored with lead hematoxyline and PAS-Orange G. The corticotroph nature of these cells is confirmed by the study of their modifications after treatment with amphenone and ACTH. The Is anti ACTH also reveal most of the cells of the pars intermedia; while the Is anti beta-MSH reveals only these cells and some scatter cells of the pars distalis.     

Antigenic determinants of beta-LPH, beta-MSH, alpha-endorphin, ACTH and alpha-MSH revealed by anti-beta-endorphin in neurons of the human infundibular nucleus]

Comparison of adjacent serial sections of the tubero-infundibular region of Human adult hypothalamus demonstrates that the same perikarya, axons and terminals are stained both with anti-beta-endorphin and anti 17-39 ACTH antisera. The most immunoreactive of these neurons are also revealed with anti alpha-endorphin, anti alpha and beta-MSH, anti-1-24 ACTH and anti beta-LPH. These results suggest that neurons of the infundibular nucleus can store and probably secrete peptide similar to propiocortin or fragment(s) of this molecule.     

The steroid hormone synthesis in the brown adipose tissue of mice

Zusammenfassung Braunes Fettgewebe adrenalektomierter und kastrierter weisser Mäuse synthetisiert in vitro 17-hydroxy-11-desoxycorticosteron in einer Menge 1,7–2,5µg/100 mg des Fettgewebes/h, wenn dem Inkubationsmedium Mäusehypophyse zugesetzt wird. Zugabe von ACTH bewirkt keine Stimulierung des braunen Fettgewebes.     

Über die Wirkung von synthetischem ACTH (β 1–24Corticotropin) beim Menschen

Summary Synthetic ^1–24Corticotropin (CIBA 30920-Ba) administered intravenously over 8 h to humans produced a significant rise in free plasma 17-hydroxycorticoids, urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids and 17-ketosteroids. The logarithmic dose response curve of the urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids was linear from 3 to 25 units. The comparison of the steroidogenic effect of the synthetic and natural ACTH (Cortrophin) revealed a more rapid but less sustained activity of the synthetic product.     

New histochemical contributions to the study of corticotropic cells in the adenohypophysis of the chick enbryo.]

Comparative analysis of results obtained after subsequent treatments of chick embryo adenohypophysis by anti-ACTH 17-39 Is, PAS and Bodian method demonstrates that ACTH cells are PAS positive, Bodian negative and are located in the cephalic lobe. With the histochemical fluorescence method of Falck, the cells marked by anti-ACTH 17-39 Is exhibit an induced fluorescence, after L-DOPA injection. However, after treatment by metopirone, numerous cells of the caudal part of the adenohypophysis take up L-DOPA but they are not corticotrophs.     

Immunocytochemical localization of neurons containing ACTH 17-39 in the rat brain]

Immunoreactive neurons and fibers were localized in the Rat brain by immunocytochemistry using an anti-ACTH 17-39 antiserum. Neither adrenalectomy nor water deprivation affected intensity of distribution of reaction of labelled neurons whereas colchicine increased labelling of hypothalamic perikarya. These results support the neuronal origin of cerebral ACTH.     

In vivo study of the hypocalcemic, hypophosphoremic, hyperlipemic, and immunogenic activities of the oligopeptide fragment common to ACTH, alpha and beta MSH, and beta lipotropin]

The intravenous injection that was given to rabbits which consisted of 0,5 mg of a common heptapeptide to ACTH4-10, BETA MSH11-17 hormones, and to beta lipotropic47-53 hormone (beta LPH47-53) was followed at the end of an hour by an augmentation of 70% of total lipids, and at the end of two hours by a lowering of calcemia (around 27%) and of phosphoremia (20%). The injection of a tetrapeptide corresponding to only ACTH7-10 bound to a nitrobenzylhydralamin and in presence of a Freund adjuvants has provoked the formation of corresponding antibodies.     

Effects of chronic treatment with ACTH on the intracellular levels of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP in the rat adrenal cortex.

The effects of chronic ACTH treatment on the increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP acutely elicited by ACTH in the rat adrenal cortex were investigated. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic ACTH treatment stimulates a) the de novo synthesis of adenylate- and guanylate-cyclase or b) the synthesis of new specific membrane receptors for ACTH.     

Immunofluorescent localization of beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and beta-endorphins in normal and anencephalic human fetal pituitary gland]

The use of antibodies to alpha-(17-39) ACTH, beta-LPH, alpha- and beta-endorphins has enabled the detection of immunoreactive cells in human fetal pituitary glands as early as the eight week of gestation. The same cells reacted with the different antibodies. Immunoreactive cells were also observed in the pituitary of 6 human anencephalic fetuses.     

Changes in placental permeability to corticosterone and estradiol-17beta toward the end of gestation in the rat

Radioactivity in the fetal plasma 1 h after maternal injection of 14C-4-corticosterone or 14C-4-estradiol-17 beta on day 21 of gestation was markedly higher than that 1 h after injection on day 22. Radioactivity in the maternal plasma was not different on these 2 days. The results suggest that the placental permeability to steroids from the mother to the fetus declines toward the end of gestation in the rat.     

Effects of chronic treatment with ACTH on the intracellular levels of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP in the rat adrenal cortex

Summary The effects of chronic ACTH treatment on the increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP acutely elicited by ACTH in the rat adrenal cortex were investigated. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic ACTH treatment stimulates a) the de novo synthesis of adenylate- and guanylate-cyclase or b) the synthesis of new specific membrane receptors for ACTH.Part of this work was presented at the 3rd International Conference on Cyclic Nucleotides, July 1977, New Orleans, Abstr. Book, p. 79.     

Changes in the blood cortisol levels during the first week of life in calves (Bos taurus) and lambs (Ovis aries)]

At birth, the plasmatic level of cortisol is very variable and very high in the new-born Calf or the newborn Lamb. This level diminishes within one day and then varies between 10 and 30 ng/ml during the six following days. In the Calf, the secretion of cortisol can be directly stimulated by ACTH or inhibited at the level of the hypothalamic and hypophyseal system with dexamethasone on the day following birth.     

The effect of corticotrophine on free fatty acid content in rat adrenal

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wirkung von ACTH auf den Gehalt unveresterter Fettsäuren in Rattennebennieren verfolgt. Nach Injektion von 2 IE ACTH per 100 g Körpergewicht (1, 2, 6 und 12 h post inj.) findet in der Nebennierenrinde keine Abnahme an freien Fettsäuren statt.     

Immunohistochemical study of the pars intermediate of the mouse pituitary in different experimental conditions.

Alpha-MSH, beta-MSH and ACTH have been localized in the cells of hypophyseal intermediate lobe by fluorescence histoimmunological technics. Elaboration and excretion of these polypeptides are enhanced after dehydration or adrenalectomy. The most evident variations are seen with alpha-MSH and ACTH after dehydration, with beta-MSH after adrenalectomy.     

Pentobarbital sodium and chromosome abnormalities in rabbit blastocysts.

Female rabbits were injected with pentobarbital sodium at 1/4 h or 6 h post coitum. A slight delay in oocyte maturation was evident in animals killed at 17 h pc, however, zygote development appeared normal by 24 h pc. At 6 days pc, a greater frequency of chromosomally abnormal blastocysts was found in animals injected with pentobarbital than in control rabbits.     

Maternal and fetal corticosteroids in the sow at the end of gestation]

Foetal and maternal blood samples are taken on the sow at the end of pregnancy. No variations in maternal cortisol are found, but plasma cortisol levels in the foetus, which are relatively constant between days 70 and 100 of pregnancy (10 to 20 ng/ml), increase suddenly at the end of pregnancy reaching a mean of 210 ng/ml at birth. This high increase of foetal corticosteroids at birth, similar to that found in other species (ewe, goat, etc.), probably plays a role in the mechanisms releasing parturition. It also permits us to understand the action of ACTH which induces premature birth when given to the pig foetus in the last days of pregnancy.     

Investigations into the effects of ACTH on the half-life of mitochondrial proteins in the rat adrenal cortex

Summary ACTH elongates the half-life of the mitochondrial proteins from the rat adrenal cortex, and chloramphenicol inhibits this effect of ACTH. The hypothesis is advanced that the ACTH-provoked stabilization of the adrenocortical mitochondrial proteins requires continuous mitochondrial DNA-dependent protein synthesis.