Relationship between neurosecretory axon and ependymal terminals on capillary walls in the median eminence of several vertebrates

Semi-quantitative ultrastructural analysis of the localization and neuropeptide content of gonadotropin releasing hormone nerve terminals in the median eminence throughout the estrous cycle of the rat

The ultrastructural appearance of gonadotropin releasing hormone-immunoreactive elements was studied in the external zone of the median eminence of adult female Wistar rats. On the one hand, the purpose of the study was to determine the distribution of gonadotropin releasing hormone terminals towards the parenchymatous basal lamina at the level of hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vessels, throughout the estrous cycle. On the other hand, we have semi-quantified the gonadotropin releasing hormone content in nerve terminals or preterminals during this physiological condition. A morphometric study was coupled to a colloidal 15 mn gold postembedding immunocytochemistry procedure. Animals were killed at 09.00 on diestrus II, 0.900, 10.00, 13.00, 17.00 and 18.00 on proestrus and 09.00 on estrus (n = 4-8 rats/group). A preliminary light microscopic study was carried out to identify an antero-posterior part of median eminence strongly immunostained by anti-gonadotropin releasing hormone antibodies but which was, in addition, easily spotted. This last condition was necessary to make a good comparison between each animal. Contacts between gonadotropin releasing hormone nerve terminals and the basal lamina were observed only the day of proestrus. Such contacts, however, were rare and in the great majority of cases, gonadotropin releasing hormone terminals are separated from basal lamina by tanycytic end feet. The morphometric analysis showed no significant variation in average distance between gonadotropin releasing hormone terminals and capillaries throughout the estrous cycle. Consequently, it did not appear that a large neuroglial plasticity exists during the estrous cycle. However, the observation of contacts only on proestrus together with some ultrastructural images evoke the possibility of a slight plasticity. The semi-quantitative results show that the content of gonadotropin releasing hormone in the nerve endings presented two peaks on proestrus: one at 09.00 (23 +/- 5 particles/micrograms2, P < 0.03) before the onset of luteinizing hormone surge, and the second at 18.00 (16 +/- 2 particles/micrograms2, P < 0.01) concomitantly with the luteinizing hormone surge, when compared to baseline values on proestrus 10.00 (8 +/- particles/micrograms2).

Role of astroglia and insulin-like growth factor-I in gonadal hormone-dependent synaptic plasticity

Gonadal hormones exert a critical influence over the architecture of specific brain areas affecting the formation of neuronal contacts. Cellular mechanisms mediating gonadal hormone actions on synapses have been studied extensively in the rat arcuate nucleus, a hypothalamic center involved in the feed-back regulation of gonadotropins. Gonadal steroids exert organizational and activational effects on arcuate nucleus synaptic connectivity. Perinatal testosterone induces a sexual dimorphic pattern of synaptic contacts. Furthermore, during the preovulatory and ovulatory phases of the estrous cycle there is a transient disconnection of inhibitory synaptic inputs to the somas of arcuate neurons. This synaptic remodeling is induced by estradiol, blocked by progesterone, and begins with the onset of puberty in females. Astroglia appear to play a significant role in the organizational and the activational hormone effects on neuronal connectivity by regulating the amount of neuronal membrane available for the formation of synaptic contacts and by releasing soluble factors, such as insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which promote the differentiation of neural processes. Recent evidence indicates that gonadal steroids and IGF-I may interact in their trophic effects on the neuroendocrine hypothalamus. Estradiol and IGF-I promote the survival and morphological differentiation of rat hypothalamic neurons in primary cultures. The effect of estradiol depends on IGF-I, while the effects of both estradiol and IGF-I depend on estrogen receptors. Furthermore, estrogen activation of astroglia in hypothalamic tissue fragments depends on IGF-I receptors. These findings indicate that IGF-I may mediate some of the developmental and activational effects of gonadal steroids on the brain and suggest that IGF-I may activate the estrogen receptor to induce its neurotrophic effects on hypothalamic cells. In addition, IGF-I levels in the neuroendocrine hypothalamus are regulated by gonadal steroids. IGF-I levels in tanycytes, a specific astroglia cell type present in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence, increase at puberty, are affected by neonatal androgen levels, show sex differences, and fluctuate in accordance to the natural variations in plasma levels of ovarian steroids that are associated with the estrous cycle. These changes appear to be mediated by hormonal regulation of IGF-I uptake from blood or cerebrospinal fluid by tanycytes. These results suggest that tanycytes may be involved in the regulation of neuroendocrine events in adult rats by regulating the availability of IGF-I to hypothalamic neurons. In summary, IGF-I and different forms of neuron-astroglia communication are involved in the effects of estradiol on synaptic plasticity in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

Axovascular relationships in developing median eminence of perinatal rats with special reference to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone projections

Topographical relationships of neurosecretory axons with the capillaries of the primary portal plexus were studied in the median eminence of rats from the 14th fetal till the 9th postnatal day by means of electron microscopy combined with morphometric analysis. Special attention was given to the light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical examination of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone projections to the median eminence. Neurosecretory axons possessing secretory granules and clear microvesicles were first observed in the median eminence at the 14th fetal day. However, all of them were situated at a distance from the primary portal plexus. By the 20th fetal day, neurosecretory axons reached the external basal lamina of the primary portal plexus giving rise to so-called axovascular contacts. Some axons even penetrated into the perivascular space, apparently facilitating the neurohormone delivery into the hypophysial portal circulation. From that time on, both the number of the axons abutting on the external basal lamina and the entire area of axovascular contacts increased gradually. As to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone axons, they grew into the median eminence from the 18th fetal day concentrating in older fetuses and neonates either over the primary portal plexus, or around the infundibular recess of the 3rd ventricle. After birth, the concentration and distribution of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone axons within the median eminence became similar to those of adults. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone axons were found to arise from the neurons of septopreoptic area including the diagonal band of Broca. These data suggest the onset of neurohormone release in the median eminence from the 14th fetal day followed by the establishment of the hypothalamic control over the pituitary functions during the perinatal period in rats.

Toxic effects of adriamycin on the central nervous system. Ultrastructural changes in some circumventricular organs of the mouse after intravenous administration of the drug

Recent experimental studies have shown that the cytotoxic antibiotic adriamycin (doxorubicin) after systemic administration can enter the so-called circumventricular organs (CVO) of the brain of the mouse. The present experiments were performed to find out whether such penetration of the brain is associated with signs of neurotoxic injury. For this purpose, light- and electron-microscopic observations were carried out on three of these organs: the neurohypophysis (NH), median eminence (ME), and postremal area (PA). Pronounced widening of the extracellular space indicating the presence of edema was present in all the regions, particularly in animals examined within 3 days of injection of the drug. Many degenerated axon terminals were observed in the NH and ME. The glial cells within these regions showed rarefaction of the nuclear chromatin, nucleolar segregation, and also cytoplasmic changes. The PA presented marked cellular changes resulting in degeneration of neurons, which was most evident 30 days after the injection. Hence, regions of the CNS outside the blood-brain barrier can be reached by adriamycin after systemic administration, and the drug can induce morphological changes there. The doses of the drug used in the present experiments were comparable to those given to patients for the treatment of malignant tumors.

Response of tanycytes to aging in the median eminence of the rat

Age-related changes in tanycytes of the median eminence were observed at both the light and electron microscopic level in male and female rats at ages 4 weeks to 14 months. The most obvious changes involved a marked progressive increase in number and size of droplets identified histochemically as neutral lipid and the development of complex degenerate bodies in the perivascular contact zone. These degenerate bodies consisted of large multiple complexes of myelin figures containing intercalated channels and pools of electron-dense material. They often occurred interspersed among large lipid droplets. The degenerate bodies (myelin figure complexes) and associated lipid droplets occupied much of the contact zone in the older animals. Evidence of axonal degeneration and tanycytic phagocytosis of deteriorating neural elements was also present. These age-related changes occurred independent of sex and were not affected by gonadectomy. This tanycyte response to aging in the median eminence is very similar to the response of neurohypophysial pituicytes to axonal degeneration, suggesting a phagocytic glial role for tanycytes.

Hypothalamo-hypophysial function following the lesion of tanycytes in the median eminence of the rat

The transport of hormones from the cerebrospinal fluid to the adenohypophysis by the tanycytes of the median eminence was examined in male rats. Electron microscopy revealed that all ependymal cells including the tanycytes disappear or degenerate in rats subjected to electric cauterization of the ependymal layer lining the third ventricle. However, the granular axons in the palisade layer of the median eminence remain intact. In rats subjected to electric lesion, no significant change was found in either the serum-LH level or in the weight of the adenohypophysis, testes, adrenal and thyroid glands. It is concluded that the tanycytes do not participate in the hypothalamic regulation of hypophysial function.

Simultaneous changes of the perivascular contact area and HIMOT activity in the pineal organ after bilateral adrenalectomy in the rat

In the pineal organ of the female rat, proportional changes in the area of contact of pinealocyte processes and glial processes with the perivascular space were found after bilateral adrenalectomy. The contact area was evaluated by measuring the length of pinealocyte and glial cell membranes directly abutting on the basal lamina. In the normal female rat, 40% of the contact area is occupied by pinealocyte and 60% by glial cell processes. Fourteen days after bilateral adrenalectomy, this proportion is reversed. In addition, cell counts demonstrate that more pinealocytes gain access to the pericapillary space due to the experimental conditions. In order to prove whether or not these results indicate an increase of pineal endocrine activity, the melatonin-forming enzyme hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT, E.C. 2.1.1.4) was assayed. After bilateral adrenalectomy the HIOMT activity was found to significantly increase.