ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Pineal organ (Meriones unguiculatus)
;
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nervefibres
;
VIP receptors
;
Autoradiography
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary By use of the indirect peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical technique, nerve terminals exhibiting vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like-immunoreactivity were demonstrated in the pineal gland of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Incubation of the superficial pineal gland of the gerbil with 60 pM of 125I-VIP showed that the gland exhibited saturation kinetics, and about 80% of the bound 125I-VIP could be displaced by adding a surplus of cold VIP. Incubation of unfixed, 0.1% and 4% paraformaldehyde-fixed cryostat sections of the gerbil forebrain with 125I-VIP also exhibited saturation kinetics, and displacement was possible by adding a surplus of the cold tracer. Receptor autoradiography on cryostat sections that had been incubated for 60 min with 125I-VIP showed a large number of grains over cortical areas, especially over the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus and the granular layer of the dentate gyrus. A prominent labelling of the pineal gland was also observed. The presence of VIP-like-immunoreactive nerve terminals and receptors for this molecule in the pineal gland of the Mongolian gerbil supports the biochemical studies demonstrating a stimulatory function of this molecule in the synthesis of melatonin.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00217178
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