Scanning and transmission electron microscopic evidence of epithelial phagocytosis of spermatozoa in the terminal region of the vas deferens of the cat

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observations have been made in the terminal region of the vas deferens of the cat, with emphasis on the occurrence of spermiophagy. The present study has revealed that epithelial cells as well as luminal macrophages are extensively and actively involved in phagocytosis of spermatozoa. The mechanism of the spermiophagy is discussed, in relation to a possible role of the epithelial cells, as one function of the vas deferens.     

Catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and the adrenal gland with special reference to the central catecholamine-depleted state

Experiments were carried out to elucidate the role of central catecholamines in regulating catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and adrenal gland of the rat. Rats were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with either vehicle or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Groups of animals pretreated with vehicle or 6-OHDA (i.c.v.) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMT), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Catecholamine turnover rates were estimated by determining norepinephrine or epinephrine content after administrating AMT.Central norepinephrine and dopamine contents decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with 6-OHDA and AMT. The norepinephrine content of the vas deferens of rats pretreated with 6-OHDA was markedly reduced (p<0.001) after administration of AMT, whereas that of the vehicle-treated rats remained unchanged. Administration of 6-OHDA had no effect on the norepinephrine or epinephrine content of the adrenal gland.The present results indicate that central monoaminergic neurons have an inhibitory effect on the adrenergic neurons of the vas deferens. In contrast, this inhibitory regulation does not appear to be exerted on the adrenal glands.     

Catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and the adrenal gland with special reference to the central catecholamine-depleted state.

Experiments were carried out to elucidate the role of central catecholamines in regulating catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and adrenal gland of the rat. Rats were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with either vehicle or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Groups of animals pretreated with vehicle or 6-OHDA (i.c.v.) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMT), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Catecholamine turnover rates were estimated by determining norepinephrine or epinephrine content after administering AMT. Central norepinephrine and dopamine contents decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) after treatment with 6-OHDA and AMT. The norepinephrine content of the vas deferens of rats pretreated with 6-OHDA was markedly reduced (p less than 0.001) after administration of AMT, whereas that of the vehicle-treated rats remained unchanged. Administration of 6-OHDA had no effect on the norepinephrine or epinephrine content of the adrenal gland. The present results indicate that central monoaminergic neurons have an inhibitory effect on the adrenergic neurons of the vas deferens. In contrast, this inhibitory regulation does not appear to be exerted on the adrenal glands.     

Effects of mescaline and lysergide on the mechanical responses of isolated organs of the rat to catecholamines and the role of calcium transfers in these phenomena]

On isolated Rat vas deferens the contracting responses of noradrenaline and dopamine are increased by mescaline (23 micromoles) and decreased by lysergide (15 micromoles). Similarly, on isolated Rat duodenum previously decalcified the hypertonic responses of recalcification are modified in the opposite direction by the two agonists. On the other hand, mescaline such as lysergide increase the fall of tonus which ensues the decalcification of isolated duodenum.     

Evidence to support the hypothesis that ATP is a co-transmitter in rat vas deferens

Application of exogenous ATP or of noradrenaline (NA) produced responses in bisected rat vas deferens which mimicked the biphasic responses to nerve stimulation, and these actions were modified by nifedipine and verapamil in a manner similar to the modification of the 2 phases of the responses of the vas to nerve stimulation. It is proposed that sufficient evidence now exists to support the hypothesis that in this tissue, ATP is released along with NA from the motor nerves and that ATP may indeed be a co-transmitter.     

The effect of alkaloids from Tabernanthe iboga H. Bn. on the response of isolated organs to catecholamines and the possible role of calcium exchange. Case of Ibogaine]

On isolated Rat duodenum, ibogaine (70 mumoles/l) increases the hypertonic effect following the addition of Calcium ions to the organ previously decalcified. Moreover, this alkaloid increases the hypotomic effect resulting from decalcification of the normal organs. These actions are taken into account with the potentiating effects of ibogaine on noradrenaline and dopamine responses observed on rat vas deferens.     

Low temperature-induced contracture of depolarized smooth muscle and the effects of calcium and multivalent cations

Summary Lowering of temperature caused tension development in the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens, which was dependent on extracellular Ca. Mn²⁺ and La³⁺ reversed the effect and induced phasic contraction on rewarming.Part of the results were presented at the 14th Int. Congress of Physiological Science, Budapest 1980.     

Mode of action of acorus calamus L. oil vapours on adult male sterility in red cotton bug

Summary In normal freshly moulted insects Spermotozoa are present and pass into the vas deferens after 24 h. They show morphological changes when inside the female genital tract. Sterility caused by Acorus calamus oil vapours is due to agglutation, malformation and immobility of sperms, which makes the sperms unable to undergo morphological differentiation in the female tract.     

Ouabain-induced release of extraneuronal catecholamine in the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens

Summary It was found that ouabain (10^–5 M) was effective in releasing the extraneuronal catecholamine which was taken up by uptake₂ process in the guinea-pig vas deferens. This result shows that a Na–K ATPase is essential for the storage of catecholamine in the extraneuronal site.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull.

Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.     

Enhancement of H3-norepinephrine accumulation in rat vas deferens by cocaine,imipramine, and desmethylimipramine

Résumé La cocaïne, l'imipramine, la desméthylimipramine et la guanéthidine ont provoqué une accumulation accrue de la noradrénaline tritiée dans le vas deferens du rat, dans des conditions expérimentales où elles inhibaient fortement cette accumulation dans le cur. La réserpine et le métaraminol n'ont pas montré cet effet. La question se pose de savoir si l'accroissement observé est dû à une augmentation de la captation nette de la noradrénaline ou à un échange accru de la noradrénaline exogène et endogène au niveau des terminaisons nerveuses sympathiques du vas deferens.     

Taux de renouvellement de la noradrénaline dans le canal déférent et la vésicule séminale du Rat

Summary The turnover times and the synthesis rates of tissue norepinephrine were determined in the vas deferens and in the seminal vesicle of the rat from the rate of disappearance of H³-norepinephrine after an i.v. injection ofl-H³-norepinephrine. The labelled amine disappeared from the two organs by a single exponential decline thus behaving kinetically as though it was stored in a single pool.     

Modifications ultrastructurelles provoquées par quelques médicaments sur les terminaisons nerveuses adrénergiques et sur la médullaire surrénale

Summary It has been shown that reserpine and guanethidine deplete granules containing catecholamine in sympathetic nerve endings of both the pineal gland and the vas deferens. This effect is blocked by iproniazid. Bretylium is not able to deplete these granules but it modifies their aspect. It has also been observed that granules of the adrenal medulla are depleted less easily than those of sympathetic nerve endings.     

Correlation between serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities in central and peripheral adrenergic neurons and adrenal glands.

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats had a positive correlation with dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities in mesenteric vessels, vas deferens, and adrenal glands at 14-16 weeks of age, a negative correlation with dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in locus coeruleus at 3 weeks and 14-16 weeks of age, and a positive correlation with tyrosine hydroxylase activity only at 3 weeks of age, but not at 14-16 weeks of age.     

All in the family: aldose reductase and closely related aldo-keto reductases

Aldose reductase catalyzes the first step in the polyol pathway and is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. In addition to polyol synthesis, aldose reductase may have multiple other activities that intersect with signal processing and oxidative defense mechanisms. Multiple aldose reductase-like proteins have been discovered to have structures and catalytic properties that broadly overlap those of aldose reductase. This chapter will summarize new insights into properties and functions of aldose reductase and closely related members of the aldo-keto reductase enzyme superfamily.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull

Summary Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.This study has been supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (to O. E.), from the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland (to E. K.) and from the Magnus Bergvall Memorial Fund (to N. O. S.). Excellent technical assistance by Mrs.Paula Hasenson is gratefully acknowledged.     

Turnover of 5-hydroxydopamine in adrenergic nerves

Summary In adrenergic nerve endings of the guinea-pig vas deferens the population of small granular vesicles increases from 19% in control animals to 80–90% 1–3 h after the administration of 5-hydroxydopamine, and gradually declines to control values in 10 days. Large granular vesicles were also loaded but the loss of enhanced granulation was more rapid than in the small granular vesicles.M. R. C. Scholar. I am greatly indebted to Prof. G. Burnstock, Prof. G. Gray and Dr G. Gabella for helpful advice and criticism. The technical assistance of J. Barron and G. Barrett is gratefully acknowledged.     

A note of the dual effect of prostaglandin E1 on the responses of the guinea-pig vas deferens to nerve stimulation

Résumé La prostaglandine E₁ diminue les potentiels de jonction excitateurs du muscle lisse du vas deferens de cobaye en réponse à une stimulation nerveuse, mais provoque aussi une dépolarisation modérée de ce tissu. L'effet inhibiteur de la drogue sur la réponse motrice de cet organe à une stimulation nerveuse est attribué à la 1^e de ces actions. L'effet stimulant sur la réponse motrice parfois constaté, est attribué à la seconde action.

---

---

The generous hospitality of ProfessorEdith Bülbring F. R. S. is gratefully acknowledged. The investigation was supported by a grant to ProfessorBülbring from the Medical Research Council.     

Correlation between serum dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity and dopamine-β-hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities in central and peripheral adrenergic neurons and adrenal glands

Summary Serum dopamine--hydroxylase activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats had a positive correlation with dopamine--hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities in mesenteric vessels, vas deferens, and adrenal glands at 14–16 weeks of age, a negative correlation with dopamine--hydroxylase activity in locus coeruleus at 3 weeks and 14–16 weeks of age, and a positive correlation with tyrosine hydroxylase activity only at 3 weeks of age, but not at 14–16 weeks of age.     

Synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans by the three cell types of the rabbit cornea in culture.

Rabbit corneal cells were cultivated for 21 days and then exposed to Na235SO4, a precursor of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG). All 3 cell types of the cornea, the fibroblasts, the epithelial as well as the endothelial cells, synthesize GAG. The fractionation-patterns of the epithelial and endotherlial GAG are almost identical and differ clearly from the one of fibroblastic GAG.