Influence of pinealectomy on corticotropin (ACTH)

Sensory deprivation produced by removing the eyes and olfactory bulbs in male rats allowed pinealectomy to markedly augment the post-adrenalectomy elevation of ACTH levels. Pineal removal or sensory deprivation separately did not have this effect. Thus, intact sensory input and an intact pineal gland are independently capable of restricting the post-adrenalectomy rise in ACTH levels.     

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.     

Behavioural effects of naloxone in rats

Summary Naloxone in rats induces a behavioural syndrome closely resembling that induced by intraliquorally injected ACTH peptides. This effect is probably due to a displacement of the ACTH peptides from other receptors (e.g. opiate receptors).Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Dr M. J. Ferster of Endo Laboratories (Brussels) for the kind supply of naloxone. The excellent technical assistance of Mr Gianni Montorsi is gratefully acknowledged.     

ACTH-Stimulierung der Corticosteroidbiosynthese durch Freisetzung «gebundener» 21-Desoxypregnene

Summary Impairment of 21-hydroxylation was observed when 4-C¹⁴-cholesterol was transformed into 4-C¹⁴-corticosteroids in slices of bovine adrenal cortex, whereas corticosteroid synthesis from 4-C¹⁴-progesterone proceeded freely. ACTH stimulated corticosteroid formation from 4-C¹⁴-cholesterol but not from 4-C¹⁴-progesterone. It is therefore suggested that ACTH facilitates the «release» of 21-desoxypregnenes, which are present in a «bound» form after synthesis from cholesterol in intact adrenocortical tissue, and which are unavailable for the following reactions without conditioning by ACTH.     

Corticosterone secretion after neurogenic stress in intact and hypophysectomized rats

Summary The time course of blood and adrenal corticosterone elevation after immobilization stress has been studied in intact and hypophysectomized male rats. The results suggest that the adrenal gland is able to respond to neurogenic stress, increasing the synthesis and release of corticosterone, in the absence of ACTH.     

Influence of pinealectomy on serum estrogen and progesterone levels in blind-anosmic female rats

Summary Previous studies show that the suppression of gonadal function in blind-anosmic rats is dependent on the pineal gland. The present results demonstrate that in young female rats both the pineal gland and dual sensory deprivation have additional independent antigonaldal effects.This work was partially supported by state institutional funds and by NSF grant No. PCM 74-06276-276-A02. The radioimmunoassays of the steroids were carried out with the aid of the Radioimmunoassay Core which is supported by USPHS grant No. 1T30 HD-10202. We also thank Constance Stahl for typing assistance.     

Effects of stress and adrenocorticotrophin administration on plasma corticosterone levels at different stages of pregnancy in the mouse.

Stress or administration of ACTH to pregnant mice gave rise to much higher plasma corticosterone levels in the second half of pregnancy than in the first half, suggesting that there may be increased adrenal sensitivity to ACTH or decreased metabolism of corticosterone during the second half of pregnancy.     

Effects of stress and adrenocorticotrophin administration on plasma corticosterone levels at different stages of pregnancy in the mouse

Summary Stress or administration of ACTH to pregnant mice gave rise to much higher plasma corticosterone levels in the second half of pregnancy than in the first half, suggesting that there may be increased adrenal sensitivity to ACTH or decreased metabolism of corticosterone during the second half of pregnancy.     

Action of ACTH,cAMP and cytochalasin B on steroid production by Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells in culture

Summary Continued incubation of Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or with dibutyryl-3,5-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) resulted in an initial increase and a subsequent decrease in steroidogenesis. ACTH-or dbcAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis was inhibited by cytochalasin B (CB) to approximately the same extent during the entire period of incubation; CB inhibition of the ACTH response was reversible.Supported in part by NTSU Faculty Research grant No. 34711, and NIA No. AG01055-02A1.Acknowledgment is made for the assistance of L. Hershberger, J. Youngblood and V. Dang; K. Mrotek, K. Johansson and M. Donahue were editors.     

Metabolism of C21 steroids by incubated adrenals of ACTH treated rats

Resumen En animales tratados crónicamente con ACTH se aumentan o activan los sistemas de la adrenal que catabolizan la corticosterona y los que hidroxilan en C²¹, a la vez que disminuye la cantidad de radioactividad incorporada a la 18 OH DOC. Esto indica que el ACTH in vivo tiene sobre la adrenal incubada una acción distinta, a veces opuesta, a la del ACTH exógeno agregado in vitro al principio de la incubación.

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This investigation was supported by U.S.P.H.S. grant No. 1-RO5-TWO0200-01.     

Ultrastructure of muscle spindles in C57BL/6J dy2J/dy2J dystrophic mice.

The sensory organs of skeletal muscles, the muscle spindles, were examined using electron microscopy in dy2J/dy2J dystrophic mice. Despite widespread damage to the extrafusal (skeletomotor) fibres the intrafusal (spindle) fibres appeared normal and seemed resistant to the aetiological factors for murine dystrophy.     

Intercellular junctions of hyperplastic retinal pigment epithelium

In rats with retinopathies induced by excess fluorescent light or injections of urethane, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) undergoes focal hyperplasia. Neither intravascularly injected horseradish peroxidase or lanthanum nitrate penetrated the sensory retina at these hyperplastic sites. Electron microscopy revealed that this was due to the persistence of intact tight junctions among a single layer of hyperplastic cells facing the sensory retina. These junctions prevented intraocularly injected microperoxidase from passing as well. Cells within the hyperplastic foci were connected only by adherent junctions that presented no permeability barrier.     

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.     

ACTH response induced by interleukin-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE

We investigated whether hypothalamic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are responsible for the development of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response induced by interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). The present results show that ACTH responses induced by intravenous injection of IL-1 alpha were suppressed by systemic pretreatment with indomethacin and that intrahypothalamic injection of PGE2 stimulates the secretion of ACTH. Furthermore, systemic pretreatment with anti-CRF antibody significantly suppressed the ACTH response induced by intrahypothalamic injection of PGE2. These data suggest that the ACTH response induced by IL-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE2.     

High levels of transition metals in dinoflagellate chromosomes

Summary X-ray microanalysis of fixed, sectioned chromosomes of the dinoflagellatesGlenodinium foliaceum, Prorocentrum micans andAmphidinium carterae has revealed high levels of iron, nickel, copper and zinc. We report high levels of these transition metals in association with chromosomes in intact eukaryote cells.L.P.K. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the SRC.     

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.     

Intercellular junctions of hyperplastic retinal pigment epithelium

Summary In rats with retinopathies induced by excess fluorescent light or injections of urethane, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) undergoes focal hyperplasia. Neither intravascularly injected horseradish peroxidase or lanthanum nitrate penetrated the sensory retina at these hyperplastic sites. Electron microscopy revealed that this was due to the persistence of intact, tight junctions among a single layer of hyperplastic cells facing the sensory retina. These junctions prevented intraocularly injected microperoxidase from passing as well. Cells within the hyperplastic foci were connected only by adherent junctions that presented no permeability barrier.Supported by a grant from the National Eye Institute to Dr R. Bellhorn, whose support is greatly appreciated, and an unrestricted grant and a Research Manpower Award from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.