ABSTRACT

The effect of maternal hyperglycaemia on the function of neonatal B cells was examined using a perifusion technique in pancreatic monolayer cultures of neonatal rats from normoglycaemic mothers (C), and those made slightly hyperglycaemic (SH) and highly hyperglycaemic (HH) by injection of streptozotocin. Monolayer cultures were kept for 7 days in medium containing 5·5 mmol glucose/l plus 1 mmol 2-deoxy-glucose/l. On day 0, B cells in the C group responded to 16·7 mmol glucose/l, 10 mmol leucine/l and 10 mmol 2-ketoisocaproate/l in a monophasic fashion with no significant rise in the second phase. However, compared with the C group, a significant increase in the second-phase secretion in response to glucose and 2-ketoisocaproate was observed in the SH group, although there was no difference in the first-phase secretion. In the HH group the insulin secretion was lower in the first phase but not in the second phase. After culture for 7 days, B cells in the C group showed a biphasic response to the secretagogues, with a great increase in the second-phase secretion. In the SH group, the second phase of insulin secretion was increased but the increment was far less than that in the C group. The secretory response was remarkably low in the HH group compared with other groups. From these results, we conclude that at an early stage of culture slight maternal hyperglycaemia causes a hypersensitivity of neonatal B cells but impairs the normal development of the function of B cells during culture, and that high hyperglycaemia results in impaired insulin secretion throughout the whole period of culture studied.

J. Endocr. (1988) 119, 493–499

We recently found lumbosacral sympathetic ganglionic galanin neurons innervating the quail uterine oviduct. Galaninergic innervation of the uterine muscle may be essential for avian oviposition, as galanin evoked oviposition through a mechanism of induction of vigorous uterine contraction. The questions arising from these findings are: what changes occur in galanin expression in the sympathetic ganglionic galanin neuron during development, and what is the hormonal factor(s) that induces galanin expression in this neuron? Therefore, the present study examined the developmental changes in galanin of the quail sympathetic ganglionic neuron and uterus, and the effect of administration of ovarian sex steroids on galanin induction. Immature birds reared under long-day photoperiods from 4 weeks of age demonstrated progressive increases in galanin levels both per unit ganglionic protein (concentration) and per ganglia (content) concurrent with ganglionic development during weeks 4--13. The uterine galanin content and uterine weight also increased progressively during the same period, but the galanin concentration in the uterus at 4 weeks was high due to the much smaller tissue mass. Immunocytochemical analysis with anti-galanin serum showed that immunoreactive ganglionic cells were few and small at 4 weeks and increased progressively thereafter. Administration of oestradiol-17 beta to immature birds at 3 weeks of age for 1 week increased both the galanin concentration and content in the ganglia without ganglionic growth. A marked increase in galanin-immunoreactive ganglionic cells was detected following oestradiol treatment. In contrast, progesterone increased ganglionic galanin levels, but the effects were low. Expression of the mRNAs encoding oestrogen receptor-alpha and -beta (ER alpha and ER beta) in the ganglionic tissue was verified by RT-PCR/Southern blot analysis. Immunocytochemical staining with anti-ER serum further revealed an intense immunoreaction restricted to the nucleus of ganglionic neurons. These results suggest that ovarian sex steroids, in particular oestradiol-17 beta, contribute as hormonal factors to galanin induction, which takes place in the lumbosacral sympathetic ganglionic neurons innervating avian uterine oviduct during development. Oestradiol may act directly on this ganglionic neuron through intra-nuclear receptor-mediated mechanisms to induce galanin.

A number of studies on the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), have reported changes in plasma GH during parr-smolt transformation, but there is a lack of information about the endocrinology of the GH system during this process. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these changes in plasma GH levels during the parr-smolt transformation of Atlantic salmon, GH mRNA expression in the pituitary was studied together with total pituitary GH content, in vitro GH secretion rate and plasma GH and IGF-I levels. Atlantic salmon were kept in outside tanks, under natural condition from early February until late June. Approximately three times a month fish were killed and pituitaries and blood were sampled for investigation. Further, pituitaries were moved to the laboratory for in vitro GH secretion studies. The results show that the GH system is first activated by an increase in GH secretion rate, which leads to an increase in plasma GH levels and causes a drop in the total GH content of the pituitary. This drop in pituitary GH content is later reversed by an increased GH synthesis seen as an increase in GH mRNA expression. Maximal activation of the GH system is seen to occur in early May, when plasma IGF-I levels reach highest levels, after which a certain deactivation of the GH system takes place. The data show that plasma levels of GH are to a large extent regulated by the secretion rate from the pituitary, although changes in the GH clearance rate are also likely to take place and influence the plasma GH levels. The study further underlines the significant role that the GH-IGF-I axis plays in the parr-smolt transformation of the Atlantic salmon.

ABSTRACT

Advances in techniques in molecular biology have facilitated the research into endogenous opioids and related peptides in several ways. The organization and expression of genes and the primary structure of three precursor proteins of opioid peptides have been elucidated. These studies predicted the presence of potentially bioactive peptides, which has been confirmed by later studies. Advances in techniques in protein chemistry have helped to elucidate the distribution and molecular forms of endogenous opioids and related peptides in the body, and the processing of precursor proteins. Studies on the function of these peptides have shown a broad spectrum of actions. Leumorphin, a newly identified peptide, has been shown to exhibit unique biological activities. In spite of extensive studies, the physiological and pathophysiological significance of opioid peptide systems are not yet completely understood. This is mainly due to the paucity of our knowledge about opioid receptors. Further studies on the subtypes of opioid receptors will help to elucidate all aspects of the function of endogenous opioids and related peptides.

J. Endocr. (1985) 107, 147–157