Influence of local vascularity on hormone receptors in mammary gland

Procedures, such as teat removal (thelectomy) or teat duct ligation, which prevent removal of milk, lead to rapid involution of the lactating mammary gland; performed unilaterally they have been used previously to study the biochemistry of involution, enabling a comparison of normal and involuting glands in the same animal against the same systematic hormonal environment. Both the protein hormone prolactin and the steroid hormone oestrogen are of importance in the development and function of the mammary gland. In the present experiments, female Sprague-Dawley rats were unilaterally thelectomised and the binding to the mammary gland of prolactin and oestrogen was examined through pregnancy, lactation and weaning. There was an effect of thelectomy during lactation only, when levels of both receptors increased in the intact lactating gland but failed to rise in the thelectomised, involuting gland. Capillary closure is known to occur in the mammary glands of rats after 36-48 h of milk accumulation. The rate of delivery of hormones to the tissue will be drastically reduced and it is concluded that this, rather than systemic hormone levels, is of importance in controlling receptor levels.     

Somatostatin modulates effects of angiotensin II in adrenal glomerulosa zone

The octapeptide angiotensin II is a major regulator of the adrenal glomerulosa zone, acting both as an acute stimulus of aldosterone secretion and as a trophic hormone which increases steroidogenic enzymes and angiotensin II receptors in glomerulosa cells. Angiotensin II also mediates the adrenal effects of altered sodium balance, and is essential for the aldosterone response to sodium restriction. However, the adrenal effects of angiotensin II are attenuated during sodium loading, suggesting that other local or humoral factors modulate its actions on adrenal glomerulosa function. Somatostatin, the somatotropin release inhibiting factor of the hypothalamus, has been shown to inhibit the secretion and action of several pituitary and non-pituitary hormones. Because somatostatin has been found in several non-neural tissues, and seems to act as a local regulator of endocrine function, we have now examined the possibility that it may also modulate the effects of angiotensin II in the adrenal glomerulosa cell. Our studies have shown that low concentrations of somatostatin specificity inhibit the production of angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone, and that this action is mediated by specific, high-affinity receptors for somatostatin in the zona glomerulosa.     

Discrete cis-active genomic sequences dictate the pituitary cell type-specific expression of rat prolactin and growth hormone genes

The anterior pituitary gland, which is derived from a common primordium originating in Rathke's pouch, contains phenotypically distinct cell types, each of which express discrete trophic hormones: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, growth hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH). The structurally related prolactin and growth hormone genes, which are evolutionarily derived from a single primordial gene, are expressed in discrete cell types--lactotrophs and somatotrophs, respectively--with their expression virtually limited to the pituitary gland. The pituitary hormones exhibit a temporal pattern of developmental expression with rat growth hormone and prolactin characteristically being the last hormones expressed. The reported co-expression of these two structurally related neuroendocrine genes within single cells prior to the appearance of mature lactotrophs, in a subpopulation of mature anterior pituitary cells, and in many pituitary adenomas raises the possibility that the prolactin and growth hormone genes are developmentally controlled by a common factor(s). We now report the identification and characterization of nucleotide sequences in the 5'-flanking regions of the rat prolactin and growth hormone genes, respectively, which act in a position- and orientation-independent fashion to transfer cell-specific expression to heterologous genes. At least one putative trans-acting factor required for the growth hormone genomic sequence to exert its effects is apparently different from those modulating the corresponding enhancer element(s) of the prolactin gene because a pituitary 'lactotroph' cell line producing prolactin but not growth hormone selectively fails to express fusion genes containing the growth hormone enhancer sequence.     

Identification of a new class of steroid hormone receptors

The gonads and adrenal glands produce steroids classified into five major groups which include the oestrogens, progestins, androgens, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Gonadal steroids control the differentiation and growth of the reproductive system, induce and maintain sexual characteristics and modulate reproductive behaviour. Adrenal steroids also influence differentiation as well as being metabolic regulators. The effects of each steroid depend primarily on its specific receptors, the nature of which could therefore provide a basis for classification of steroid hormone action. The successful cloning, sequencing and expression of the human glucocorticoid (hGR) (ref. 1), oestrogen (hER), progesterone (hPR), and mineralocorticoid (hMR) receptors, complementary DNA, plus homologues from various species, provides the first opportunity to study receptor structure and its influence on gene expression. Sequence comparison and mutational analysis show structural features common to all groups of steroid hormone receptors. The receptors share a highly conserved cysteine-rich region which functions as the DNA-binding domain. This common segment allows the genome to be scanned for related gene products: hMR cDNA for example, was isolated using an hGR hybridization probe. In this study, using the DNA-binding domain of the human oestrogen receptor cDNA as a hybridization probe, we have isolated two cDNA clones encoding polypeptides with structural features suggestive of cryptic steroid hormone receptors which could participate in a new hormone response system.     

Circulating angiotensin II and adrenal receptors after nephrectomy

Mineralocorticoid secretion is predominantly controlled by the octapeptide angiotensin II, which exerts trophic actions on the adrenal glomerulosa and acute regulatory effects on aldosterone biosynthesis. The trophic actions include stimulation of angiotensin II receptors and enzymes of the aldosterone biosynthetic pathway, with corresponding enhancement of the aldosterone secretory capacity of the adrenal gland. The positive regulatory action of angiotensin II on its adrenal receptors occurs with elevations of the circulating peptide concentration within the physiological range and probably contributes to the increased sensitivity of the adrenal during sodium deficiency. In this action, angiotensin II differs from other hormones which decrease their target-cell receptors. However, the increase in adrenal angiotensin II receptors following nephrectomy has been interpreted as evidence for a tonic down-regulating effect of angiotensin II on its adrenal receptors. To clarify these conflicting views we evaluated the effects of nephrectomy on adrenal angiotensin II receptors in relation to blood angiotensin II and plasma electrolyte levels. We show here that hyperkalaemia contributes markedly to the post-nephrectomy increase in adrenal angiotensin II receptors, and that circulating angiotensin II levels persist for an unexpectedly long period after nephrectomy, presumably due to tissue generation of the octapeptide.     

How specific are nuclear "receptors" for thyroid hormones?

The presence of "high-affinity-saturable" binding sites for thyroid hormones of similar characteristics not only in isolated nuclei but in all the major extranuclear cellular components, as well as the failure of cytosol to promote nuclear binding, invalidates the analogy with steroid hormone receptors and necessitates a more critical assessment of the physiological relevance of current approaches to binding of thyroid hormone in vitro nuclear preparations.     

类固醇激素受体在扬子鳄睾丸表达的免疫细胞化学研究

用免疫细胞化学方法对雄激素受体(AR)、雌激素受体(ER)和孕激素受体(PR) 在扬子鳄睾丸中进行定位研究.结果表明,三种类固醇激素受体在扬子鳄睾丸中都有分布:雄激素受体在睾丸的肌样细胞和支持细胞中呈阳性反应,雌激素受体在睾丸的间质细胞中呈 阳性反应,孕激素受体在睾丸的生精细胞中呈阳性反应.推测结果表明,雄激素受体在扬子 鳄精子发生过程有重要作用;雌激素受体可能在扬子鳄睾丸发育过程中影响睾丸间质细胞雄性激素的分泌,进而调节生精过程和精子发育成熟,孕激素受体可能通过转换成AR和ER来对精子发生进行调节.这些结果为证明性类固醇激素参与调节扬子鳄性腺生殖内分泌调控提供了重要的形态学新证据.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue binds to luteal cells and inhibits progesterone production.

Although gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is believed to mediate the hypothalamic control of pituitary gonadotropin secretion, continuous or repeated administration of GnRH or its agonist analogues has been shown to cause paradoxical antifertility effects in several species, including primates. GnRH-induced interruption of reproductive cycles and pregnancy is associated with diminished progesterone production, implying defective function of the corpus luteum. These luteolytic effects have been attributed to the well recognized desensitising actions of elevated luteinising hormone (LH) levels on ovarian LH receptors and steroidogenesis, subsequent to GnRH-induced gonadotropin release from the anterior pituitary. However, treatment with high doses of exogenous LH did not cause suppression of serum progesterone levels during early pregnancy in rats, whereas a highly active GnRH analogue was effective in this regard. These observations suggested that GnRH and its agonist analogues, given in high or sustained doses, can exert a direct action on the ovary that is independent of the pituitary. This hypothesis was further supported by the ability of GnRH and its agonists to inhibit human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-induced ovarian and uterine weight gain in hypophysectomised rats and to delay the onset of puberty in intact female rats. Also, GnRH and its agonist analogues have recently been shown to inhibit steroidogenesis induced by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in cultured granulosa cells, confirming the direct action of such peptides on the ovarian follicle. The marked inhibitory effects of GnRH and its agonists on corpus luteum function suggest that these compounds could exert direct actions by binding to specific receptors on luteal cells. The present experiments, which examine the effects of GnRH agonists on luteal steroidogenesis, demonstrate the existence of such actions and their mediation by specific high-affinity receptor sites present in luteal cell membranes.     

Identification of an angiogenic mitogen selective for endocrine gland endothelium

The known endothelial mitogens stimulate growth of vascular endothelial cells without regard to their tissue of origin. Here we report a growth factor that is expressed largely in one type of tissue and acts selectively on one type of endothelium. This molecule, called endocrine-gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF), induced proliferation, migration and fenestration (the formation of membrane discontinuities) in capillary endothelial cells derived from endocrine glands. However, EG-VEGF had little or no effect on a variety of other endothelial and non-endothelial cell types tested. Similar to VEGF, EG-VEGF possesses a HIF-1 binding site, and its expression is induced by hypoxia. Both EG-VEGF and VEGF resulted in extensive angiogenesis and cyst formation when delivered in the ovary. However, unlike VEGF, EG-VEGF failed to promote angiogenesis in the cornea or skeletal muscle. Expression of human EG-VEGF messenger RNA is restricted to the steroidogenic glands, ovary, testis, adrenal and placenta and is often complementary to the expression of VEGF, suggesting that these molecules function in a coordinated manner. EG-VEGF is an example of a class of highly specific mitogens that act to regulate proliferation and differentiation of the vascular endothelium in a tissue-specific manner.     

目前内分泌研究进展

本文对传统内分泌腺之外的一些细胞和组织的内分泌功能作一概述，其中包括神经内分泌，胃肠道内分泌，血循环系统内分泌，免疫细胞内分泌及排泄系统内分泌，研究表明，人体所有的细胞事实上都具有产生激素的共同基因，都有合成和分泌激素的能力，只是他们在不同细胞表达的方式和数量不同而已。人们预言，内分泌功能是一切生命细胞最基本的特征之一，所有的细胞都具有内分泌功能。     

生殖期间鳜脑垂体的超微结构观察

对生殖期间鳜脑垂体的超微结构进行观察．脑垂体由神经垂体和腺垂体两部分组成．神经垂体组织中存在2种类型的脑垂体细胞,并可以区分A1、A2和B 3种类型的神经分泌纤维,其终端轴突中具有不同直径和形态的分泌颗粒;B型纤维轴突中含有许多透明小囊泡．腺垂体由前外侧部、中外侧部和中间部构成,分布催乳激素分泌细胞、促肾上腺激素分泌细胞、生长激素分泌细胞、促甲状腺素分泌细胞、促性腺激素分泌细胞、促黑色素激素分泌细胞、PAS-高碘酸-雪夫反应细胞和一种非分泌细胞（星状细胞）类型．本文并讨论了繁殖季节排卵前后期鳜脑垂体的超微结构特点．     

The c-erb-A gene encodes a thyroid hormone receptor

The cDNA sequence of human c-erb-A, the cellular counterpart of the viral oncogene v-erb-A, indicates that the protein encoded by the gene is related to the steroid hormone receptors. Binding studies with the protein show it to be a receptor for thyroid hormones.     

长期饲养的Wistar 大鼠自发性肿瘤、脏器变化与死亡原因分析

摘要: 目的喂养Wistar 大鼠二年,观察试验期内存活与死亡大鼠的脏器质量、脏器系数及自发性肿瘤发生情况, 并分析试验期内死亡动物的死亡原因。方法对试验期结束尚存活的动物、试验中濒死或死亡的动物,及时进行 大体解剖及组织病理学检查,称其脑、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、肾上腺、胸腺、卵巢、子宫、睾丸及附睾脏器质量 并计算脏器系数,观察是否有自发性肿瘤发生。结果试验观察104 周存活大鼠雌性与雄性间比较,体质量、脑、 心脏、肺脏、肝脏、脾、肾脏、肾上腺脏器质量及脑、肾上腺脏器系数差异显著。通过对试验期内死亡或濒死的动物 大体解剖及组织病理学检查, 80. 5%大鼠因肿瘤性病变导致恶液质、多脏器衰竭死亡, 17. 1% 大鼠因非瘤性病变致 多脏器衰竭死亡, 2. 4%大鼠因其他病变致脏器衰竭死亡,雌雄动物间死亡原因未见统计差异。结论本实验为 Wistar 品系大鼠致癌性试验提供了相关的背景资料,肿瘤性病变是Wistar 品系大鼠致死的主要原因。     

Functional corticotropin releasing factor receptors in the primate peripheral sympathetic nervous system

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a key hormone in the integrated response to stress, acting both as the major regulator of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release and as a neuropeptide in the brain. The actions of CRF are mediated by specific plasma membrane receptors in the anterior pituitary gland and in discrete brain areas including the cerebral cortex and several regions related to the limbic system. In addition to the pituitary and central actions of CRF, systemic administration of the peptide in the rat, dog, monkey and man causes hypotension and tachycardia because of a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. These observations, in conjunction with the finding of immunoreactive and bioactive CRF in peripheral tissues, suggest that the peptide is locally released in tissues to act as a neurotransmitter or paracrine hormone. As CRF is present in the adrenal medulla and the peptide is known to modulate the central activity of the autonomic nervous system, we investigated the possibility that CRF is involved in the regulation of the peripheral autonomic nervous system. Such an action of CRF is supported by our demonstration of specific CRF receptors in the monkey adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglia. In the adrenal medulla, these receptors are coupled to adenylate cyclase and can stimulate the secretion of catecholamines and Met-enkephalin.     

锯缘青蟹视神经节FSH和LH的免疫识别

甲壳动物的视神经节含有性腺抑制激素(Gonad inhibiting hormone, GIH),长期以来视神经节被理解为生殖抑制效应.本研究应用脊椎动物卵泡刺激素(Fllicle stimulating hormone,FSH)抗体和黄体生成素(Luteinizing hormone,LH)抗体,从锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)视神经节的视外髓、视内髓和视端髓检测到FSH和LH免疫细胞化学阳性反应.锯缘青蟹视神经节中的FSH和LH免疫阳性物质,可能参与了生殖神经内分泌调节.     

Inositol trisphosphate receptor localization in brain: variable stoichiometry with protein kinase C

Many neurotransmitters, hormones and growth factors act at membrane receptors to stimulate the phosphodiesteratic hydrolysis of phosphatidyl-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate generating the comessengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and diacylglycerol. Diacylglycerol stimulates protein kinase C3 while Ins(1,4,5)P3 is postulated to activate specific receptors leading to release of intracellular calcium, probably from the endoplasmic reticulum. In recent preliminary reports, Rubin and associates detected 32P-Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to liver and adrenal microsomes and to permeabilized neutrophils and liver cells. We now report the biochemical and autoradiographic demonstration in brain of high affinity, selective binding sites for 3H- and 32P-labelled Ins(1,4,5)P3 at levels 100-300 times higher than those observed in peripheral tissues. The potencies of various myoinositol analogues at the Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding site correspond to their potencies in releasing calcium from microsomes, supporting the physiological relevance of this receptor. Brain autoradiograms demonstrate discrete, heterogeneous localization of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors. In some regions localizations of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors resemble those of protein kinase C14, while in others they differ markedly, suggesting a novel mechanism whereby the relative activity of the two limbs of the PI cycle can be differently regulated.     

不同时期绿色荧光裸鼠雌鼠血浆及组织中性激素水平变化

目的 了解不同妊娠期、泌乳期绿色荧光(Green Fluorescence Protein,简称GFP)裸鼠雌鼠血浆中雌激素、孕激素、泌乳素及各组织中泌乳素及泌乳素受体mRNA水平变化。方法 通过电化学发光法测定血浆中激素的水平,通过荧光定量PCR法测定泌乳素及泌乳素受体mRNA相对表达量。结果 GFP裸鼠雌鼠妊娠期内雌激素和泌乳素水平不断下降、孕激素的水平先升后缓慢下降、组织中泌乳素mRNA水平较低、泌乳素受体水平较高;而在泌乳期内雌激素、孕激素水平较稳定、组织中泌乳素mRNA水平较高,泌乳素受体水平较低。结论 不同时期GFP裸鼠雌鼠体内性激素的水平不同,参与裸鼠妊娠调控过程,为解决雌鼠不孕、易流产等问题提供了基础参考值和内分泌水平的解决思路。