SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND RELEASING FACTORS IN THE RAT MEDIAN EMINENCE

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Abstract
SUMMARY The neurohaemal part of the median eminence of the rat hypothalamus is characterized by numerous nerve terminals which end near a rich network of fenestrated capillaries. An attempt was made to isolate different types of nerve terminals by means of sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The subcellular fractions obtained were assayed for dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine. In addition FSH- and GH-releasing activities were determined. A sample of each fraction obtained was taken for electron microscopical observations. Dopamine, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, GH- and FSH-releasing factors were present in higher concentration in the nerve endings. A further fractionation showed that noradrenaline was present in the lightest synaptosomal band, dopamine in the middle one, and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the heaviest. GH-RF and FSH-RF were recovered mainly from the band containing dopamine. The relevance of this localization to the physiological role of the median eminence is discussed.

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