Determination of the source of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal projections to the neural and intermediate lobes of the rat pituitary gland through the use of electrical stimulation and lesioning experiments

The mammalian pituitary intermediate lobe: an update on innervation and regulation

The pituitary intermediate lobe (IL) in mammals is an area of uniform endocrine cells which synthesize and release specific peptide products of the proopiomelanocortin gene. The lobe receives direct synaptic connections onto the endocrine cells from hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons. This review updates information on the dopaminergic as well as the gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibitory neuroregulation for the IL. It also provides a discussion of stimulatory molecules which are likely to affect peptide release, particularly the neurotransmitter serotonin, which may be present via uptake into the dopaminergic nerve terminals. Other stimulatory molecules discussed which are likely to significantly affect peptide secretion are norepinephrine, corticotropin-releasing factor, and several opiate peptides. A new direction of study involves the potential interaction of neurotrophic factors, which are present in all areas of the pituitary, and may be suggested to have a supportive role for the neural elements of the IL. The endocrine cells of the IL and their direct hypothalamic innervation are considered to be an easily accessed peripheral model for study of both neural-endocrine and neurotrophic-target cell interactions.

Distribution of serotonin in the brain of the Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis: an immunohistochemical study

We report the distribution of serotonin immunoreactive (5-HT-ir) structures in the brain of the adult Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemical method. We have found a wide distribution of immunoreactive fibers throughout the entire brain. 5-HT-ir cell bodies appeared restricted to some periventricular nuclei associated with the diencephalic recesses, and in the rhombencephalic reticular formation and inferior olivary region. Specifically, cerebrospinal fluid-contacting serotoninergic cells were found within the pars dorsalis and pars ventralis of the nucleus recessus lateralis, in the paraventricular organ and in the nucleus recessus posterioris. In the brainstem, 5-HT-ir perikarya appear within the superior and inferior raphe, the nucleus reticularis superioris, the nucleus interpeduncularis and the inferior olive. Although positive fibers were not found in the neurohypophysis, a few 5-HT-ir cells were identified in the adenohypophysis. This distribution is compared with those found in other fishes and discussed in the context of putative roles of 5-HT as a neuroendocrine factor and neurotransmitter in the Senegalese sole.

Serotonergic innervation of the pituitary pars intermedia of xenopus laevis

At this point three brain centres are thought to be involved in the regulation of the melanotrope cells of the pituitary pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis: the magnocellular nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the locus coeruleus. This study aims to investigate the existence of a fourth, serotonergic, centre controlling the melanotrope cells. In-vitro superfusion studies show that serotonin has a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on peptide release (1.6 x basal level at 10(-6) M serotonin) from single melanotrope cells. Retrograde neuronal tract tracing experiments, with the membrane probe FAST Dil applied to the pars intermedia, reveals retrogradely labelled neurones in the magnocellular nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the locus coeruleus and the raphe nucleus. Of these brain centres, after immunocytochemistry only the raphe nucleus revealed serotonin-immunoreactive cell bodies. In addition, serotonin-immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the nucleus of the paraventricular organ, the posteroventral tegmental nucleus and the reticular istmic nucleus. In the pituitary, the pars nervosa, pars intermedia and pars distalis all reveal serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibres. With immunocytochemical double-labelling for tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonin no colocalization of serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase was observed in cell bodies in the brain, and in the pituitary hardly any colocalization was found in the nerve fibres. However, after in-vitro loading of neurointermediate lobes with serotonin, tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonin appear to coexist in a fibre network in the pars intermedia. On the basis of these data we propose that the melanotrope cells in the Xenopus pars intermedia are innervated by a 5-HT network originating in the raphe nucleus; this network represents the first identified stimulatory input to the pars intermedia of this species.

The ontogenic appearance of tyrosine hydroxylase-, serotonin-, gamma-aminobutyric acid-, calcitonin gene-related peptide-, substance P-, and synaptophysin-immunoreactivity in rat pituitary gland

The initial appearance of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-, serotonin (5-HT)-, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide- (CGRP), substance P-, and synaptophysin-immunoreactivity in the rat pituitary gland, and in the related brain regions was investigated. Several groups of TH-immunoreactive neurons were first detected in the brain stem on day E17, and in the hypothalamus on day E18, followed by TH-immunoreactivity in the median eminence and infundibulum on E19-E20. TH-positive fibers appeared in the posterior lobe on day E20 and in the intermediate lobe on day P0. 5-HT-immunoreactivity was first detected on day E17 in neurons and nerve fibers in the brain stem and in the median eminence, respectively. On day E18, a few 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers were detected in the posterior lobe of the pituitary, although they were consistently seen in the infundibulum from day E19. In newborn rats, some 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers, but no neurons, were seen in the hypothalamus. GABA immunoreactivity appeared on day E17 in several nerve fibers of the infundibulum and the posterior lobe. Some neurons in the cortex and ventral hypothalamus transiently expressed GABA-immunoreactivity on day E17. In newborn rats, a plexus of GABA-immunoreactive fibers was detected for the first time in the intermediate lobe. No CGRP-immunoreactive fibers could be detected in the prenatal pituitary. On day P10, CGRP-immunoreactive fibers were first observed in the anterior lobe. Later their number considerably increased, while only sporadic fibers could be found in the intermediate or posterior lobes. No substance P-immunoreactivity could be detected in any of the lobes in the embryonic or developing postnatal rat pituitary, instead the adult anterior lobe occasionally showed some substance P-immunoreactive fibers. Synaptophysin-immunoreactivity was first detected in the posterior lobe on day E20, followed shortly by its expression in the intermediate lobe in newborn rats. The time course of GABA and 5-HT expression revealed in the present study suggests that these transmitters, which are initially expressed in the developing pituitary clearly before synaptic maturation, may act as trophic molecules during the prenatal period.

Differential 5-HT-mediated regulation of stress-induced activation of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression in the anterior and intermediate lobe of the pituitary in male rats

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in mediating the effects of stress on proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland. To this aim, the effects of 5-HT depletion induced by administration of the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT; 200 microg/rat; i.c.v.; 7 days) were investigated on POMC mRNA levels in the anterior and intermediate lobe of control and restraint-stressed rats. Three hours after brief exposure to diethyl ether (2 min) followed by 60 min of restraint stress increased POMC mRNA levels in the anterior and intermediate lobe of the pituitary. 5,7-DHT neurotoxic lesion, which resulted in a marked depletion of 5-HT (below the level of sensitivity of the neurochemical assay, 6 pg/sample) but not of dopamine or norepinephrine concentrations in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, had no effect on basal POMC mRNA levels in the anterior or intermediate lobe of the pituitary. However, 5-HT depletion further increased POMC mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary and completely blocked POMC mRNA level enhancement induced in the intermediate lobe of stressed rats. These results suggest a possible inhibitory 5-HT tone on POMC gene expression in the anterior pituitary and a stimulatory 5-HT tone in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary under these experimental conditions of stress. It appears, therefore, that 5-HT exerts a differential regulation of stress-induced activation of POMC gene expression in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary in male rats.

Release of false transmitter serotonin from the dopaminergic nerve terminals of the rat pituitary intermediate lobe

Rat pituitary intermediate lobe contains two types of serotonin-immunoreactive nerve terminals. Most of them are dopaminergic, in which serotonin acts as a false transmitter, while the rest are true serotoninergic nerves. In the present study, release of the false transmitter serotonin from the dopaminergic nerve terminals was studied by loading the neurons in vivo with serotonin precursor L-tryptophan and MAO inhibitor pargyline, which results in accumulation of false transmitter serotonin. Subsequently pituitary neurointermediate lobe complexes were incubated in the presence of various agents. Potassium induced dramatic release of serotonin. This release was Ca(2+)-dependent, as demonstrated by an inhibition by Mg2+, and transporter-independent, since it was unaffected by GBR 12909 (a dopamine transport inhibitor). Tyramine and sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, caused slight to remarkable release of serotonin. This release was inhibited by GBR 12909, suggesting that it was transporter-dependent. Presynaptic stimulation with apomorphine or haloperidol, dopamine receptor agonist or antagonist, respectively, or isoproterenol, agonist of the beta-adrenergic receptor, did not significantly release serotonin. Thus, it seems that presynaptic receptors per se cannot induce release of significant amounts of serotonin from the IL dopaminergic fibers. Our results suggest that false transmitter serotonin in the IL dopaminergic nerve terminals is released primarily by the classical exocytotic release mechanism, but may also be partly released by the transporter-dependent, non-exocytotic release.

Colocalization of dopamine and serotonin in the rat pituitary gland and in the nuclei innervating it

The nerve terminals in the intermediate and posterior lobes of the rat pituitary gland are reported to show colocalization of serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase. This study examined the extent of this colocalization in the pituitary gland and in the nuclei considered to project to the pituitary. In the intermediate lobe, two types of nerve fibers were encountered, one containing serotonin (5-HT-IR) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-IR) immunoreactivities and the other showing 5-HT-IR only. Instead, there was no colocalization in the posterior lobe. In the hypothalamus, colchicine treatment with L-tryptophan and pargyline injections resulted in 5-HT-IR in some neurons in the dorsomedial, periventricular and arcuate nuclei, some of which in the arcuate and periventricular nuclei were also TH-IR. In the raphe nuclei no colocalization of 5-HT-IR and TH-IR was observed. Catecholamine neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine, abolished the 5-HT-IR and dramatically reduced the TH-IR in the intermediate lobe nerve fibers. Both effects were prevented by cocaine, a monoamine uptake inhibitor, but not by fluoxetine, a specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. Serotonin neurotoxin p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) had no effect on intermediate lobe fibers, although it caused complete disappearance of 5-HT-IR from the posterior lobe nerve fibers. This effect was prevented by fluoxetine. Our results indicate, that colocalization of serotonin and TH observed in the intermediate lobe occurs both in the nerve terminals within the lobe and in some nuclei that innervate it. Furthermore, drug treatments suggest that serotonin in the intermediate lobe is localized in catecholaminergic fibers, which do not posses a specific serotonin uptake mechanism.

Pharmacological characterization of serotonin synthesis and uptake suggest a false transmitter role for serotonin in the pituitary intermediate lobe

A subpopulation of nerve fibers in the rat pituitary intermediate lobe (IL) have been shown to exhibit colocalization of serotonin (5-HT-IR) and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities and they are sensitive to neurotoxins specific to catecholamine neurons. This study was set out to examine the uptake and synthesis mechanisms of serotonin in these fibers. We developed an in vitro technique in which the neurointermediate lobe explants were incubated (14 and 48 h) in the presence of various drugs and serotonin was subsequently visualized by immunohistochemistry. Control incubation in the presence of serotonin (10(-6) M) resulted in a rich plexus of 5-HT-IR fibers in both posterior and intermediate lobes. Fluoxetine and citalopram (10(-6) M and 10(-5) M), inhibitors of 5-HT transporter, did not affect 5-HT-IR in the IL fibers, unless they were used in concentrations high enough (10(-4) M and 10(-3) M) to block unspecifically a number of monoamine transporters. The same applied for desipramine (10(-5)-10(-7) M), an inhibitor of the noradrenaline transporter. However, cocaine (10(-5)-10(-6) M) blocked serotonin uptake into these terminals, suggesting that serotonin uptake occurs through a dopamine transporter. Incubation of the IL in presence of L-tryptophan (10(-4) M) did not result in 5-HT-IR in the IL fibers showing colocalization of 5-HT-IR and tyrosine hydroxylase, which suggests that these fibers do not synthesize serotonin. The present results suggest that serotonin is taken up into the IL terminals by a dopamine transporter and is not synthesized in them, at least in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Distribution of serotonin in the caudal neurosecretory complex. A light and electron microscopic study

The caudal neurosecretory complex (CNc) of poecilids has previously been shown to receive serotonergic inputs. In the present study, immunohistochemical techniques were applied at the light and electron microscopic levels to characterize serotonergic terminals in the neuroendocrine nucleus. A dense plexus of varicose fibers observed in the rostral CNc neuropil was absent in the spinal cords of deafferented fish, indicating that the origin of this input was extranuclear. Ultrastructural study revealed no direct contacts between labeled structures and neuroendocrine cells. Non-synaptic terminals (varicosities) were the predominantly labeled structures in the neuropil. Synaptic terminals were observed on cellular and axonal targets in the CNc. Small cells containing 70 nm dense-core vesicles received serotonergic input on their perikarya. Labeled synapses were also found on unlabeled axon terminals which made axo-axonal synapses on neuroendocrine processes. Non-synaptic terminals may be responsible for a variety of serotonin-mediated effects in the CNc. Synaptic interactions with local catecholaminergic and afferent cholinergic inputs to the CNc are likely.

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides and sleep in the rat. Part 2--Aminergic regulatory processes

Apomorphine (Apo), a D1/D2 Dopamine (DA) agonist, at high doses (500 micrograms/kg) induces a short-lasting insomnia, antagonized by a secondary injection of corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP, 10 ng); these effects are also observed with hypophysectomized (hypoX) rats. The administration of the serotonin (5-HT) agonist 8-hydroxy-2-di-n-propylamino-tetralin (8-OHDPAT, 0.3 mg/kg) induces also an insomnia which, unlike Apo, is followed by a significant PS rebound. CLIP, again, antagonizes the 8-OHDPAT-induced insomnia. Finally, Bromocriptine (5 mg/kg), an agonist for both DA and 5-HT, induces first an insomnia (antagonized by CLIP), followed by a PS rebound; these effects persist in hypoX rats.

Co-localization of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and serotonin (5-HT)-immunoreactive innervation in the rat pituitary gland

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined for possible co-localization of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and serotonin (5-HT) within innervation of the pituitary neurointermediate lobe. Use of sheep antiserum to TH and a secondary antibody coupled to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), followed by rabbit anti-5-HT, then rhodamine-coupled second antibody, produced co-existent staining in some, but not all fibers of both the neural and intermediate lobes, using paraffin embedded tissues. Application of a combination of the two primary antibodies followed by sequential application of secondary antibody also resulted in co-localized antigens in selected fibers. Multiple 'classic' neurotransmitters within the same nerve terminals may modulate selected areas of endocrine tissue to control hormone release.