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Biomedical subjects

S Mikami

Publications and source records attributed to S Mikami.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The hypothalamic neurosecretory systems of the Japanese quail as revealed by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.

Within 24-48 h after injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the neural lobe or into the median eminence of adult Japanese quail dense accumulations of its reaction product (HRP-RP) can be demonstrated in axons of the hypothalamo-hypophysial tract and in the magnocellular neurosecretory perikarya of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei as well as in scattered neurons of the accessory hypothalamic neurosecretory nuclei. The HRP-RP-containing nerve fibers, which are beaded in appearance, occur prominently in the internal zone of the median eminence. They turn dorsally at its anterior border to become widely distributed in the retrochiasmatic region and extended to the paraventricular, supraoptic areas. These observations confirm more directly conclusions drawn earlier from Gomori-type preparations and from immunologic demonstration of arginine vasotocin, mesotocin and neurophysin. HRP-RP was also found in perikarya of parvocellular secretory neurons in the infundibular nucleus 48 h after injection of HRP into the median eminence but not after injection into the pars nervosa. This provides direct evidence that a conspicuous component of the tubero-infundibular tract is formed by axons of tuberal neurons that originate from the infundibular nucleus and pass directly into the median eminence.

Animals↗

Studies of von Willebrand factor: effects of different kinds of carbohydrate oxidases, SH-inhibitors and some other chemical reagents.

The effects of several kinds of carbohydrate oxidase, SH-inhibitors and some other chemical reagents on the activities of von Willebrand factor, factor VIII procoagulant and factor VIII-related antigen were studied. Factor VIII procoagulant and von Willebrand factor activities were both inhibited by galactose oxidase, p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid and sodium periodate, alpha-Mannosidase, N-ethylmaleimide and phospholipase C inactivated factor VIII procoagulant but not von Willebrand factor activity. Dithiothreitol had little effect on factor VIII procoagulant activity but reduced significantly that of von Willebrand factor. It is suggested that galactose and the thiol and epsilon-aminogroup groups of lysine may play an important role in both factor VIII procoagulant and von Willebrand factor activity. Mannose may be responsible for the factor VIII procoagulant activity but not for the von Willebrand factor activity. The Laurell rocket heights of factor VIII-related antigen rose with increasing concentration of galactose oxidase, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid or sodium periodate. Gel filtration experiments showed that factor VIII-related antigen may be dissociated into subunits by galactose oxidase but not by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid or sodium periodate.

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Ultrastructure of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

The structure of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) of the Japanese quail has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The OVLT has a palisade arrangement. It forms a part of the terminal plate extending from the optic chiasma to the anterior commissure and is characterized by a special vascular arrangement. The organ consists of ependymal, internal and external zones. The ventricular surface of the organ is covered by non-ciliated ependymal cells characterized by the presence of raspberry-like ventricular protrusions. The ependymal zone is composed of two types of ependymal cells, one being a large, cuboidal cell with columinous cytoplasmic protrusions suggesting secretion into ventricle, and the other a slender tanycyte with long balar plexus of the external surface. The internal zone contains two types of secretory neurons, parvocellular neurons containing a few dense-cored granules 1,000 A in diameter, and mediocellular neurons containing in their perikarya many larger granules 1,300-1,500 A in diameter and well developed granular endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The granular formations are usually observed in the Golgi area of both types of cells, thus indicating of their secretory activities. There are three types of nerve terminals in the neuropil: (1) nerve endings containing spherical, dense-cored granules 800 A in diameter, which display axosomatic synapses with perikarya of the neurons, (2) nerve endings containing dense-cored granules 1,000 A in diameter and clear vesicles 400 A in diameter, and (3) nerve endings containing dense granules 1,300 A in diameter and clear vesicles. Types 2 and 3 do not display axo-xomatic synapses but often show axo-dendritic synaptic contacts with dendrites in the neuropil; thus they are probably axons originating from the parvocellular and mediocellular neurons of this organ. The functional significance of the neurons and axons of the OVLT is discussed and it is suggested that two kinds of neurohormones may be secreted from the OVLT of the Japanese quail.

Animals↗

The fine structure of the hypothalamic secretory neurons of the white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Passeriformes: Fringillidae). II. Magnocellular and parvocellular nuclei of the rostral hypothalamus.

The fine structures of the neurons and neuropils of the magnocellular supraoptic nucleus and the parvocellular nuclei of the rostral hypothalamus, including the suprachiasmatic and medial, lateral and periventricular preoptic nuclei, and the neuronal apparatus of the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, have been examined in the male White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, by correlated light and electron microscopy. The magnocellular supraoptic nucleus is characterized by large neurosecretory perikarya which contain a well developed Golgi complex and dense-cored granules 1,500-2,200 A in diameter. The neuropil displays axons, dendrites and glial fibers. Some axonal profiles contain dense-cored vesicles 800-1,000 A in diameter and clear vesicles 500 A in diameter. Axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synapses are conspicuous in this nuclear region. The suprachiasmatic nucleus is characterized by an accumulation of small neurons with moderately developed cellular organelles and some dense-cored granules, approximately 1,000 A in diameter. The profiles of axons within the neuropil contain dense-cored granules 800-1,000 A in diameter and clear vesicles 500 A in diameter. The neurons of the medial preoptic nucleus are relatively large and exhibit well developed cellular organelles and dense-cored granules 1,300 to 1,500 A in diameter. Granular materials are formed within the Golgi complex. The medial preoptic nucleus is rich in secretory perikarya. Occasionally, neurons with granules 1,500-2,200 A in diameter are encountered in the lateral preoptic and periventricular preoptic nuclei. They may be considered as scattered elements of the magnocellular (supraoptic and paraventricular) system. The organum vasculosum laminae terminalis consists of three layers, i.e., ependymal, internal and external zones, and exhibits a vascular arrangement similar to that of the median eminence. The perikarya of the parvocellular neurons and their axons in the internal zone contain numerous secretory granules ranging from 1,300 to 1,500 A in diameter.

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The fine structure of the hypothalamic secretory neurons of the white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Passeriformes: Fringillidae). I. Parvocellular tuberal nuclei.

The fine structure of the parvocellular tuberal nuclei and that of the ependyma bordering the third ventricle in the basal hypothalamus of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, have been investigated. Photoperiodically stimulated birds have been compared with birds held on short days. The perikarya of the neurons of the basal infundibular (tuberal) nucleus, and in part, of the more dorsal layers, contain dense-cored granules (1000-1500 A). The granules in the anterior part of the nucleus are somewhat larger than those of the posterior part. The synapses and the synaptic relationships of these cells are described. The single-layered ependyma of the third ventricle in the basal hypothalamus may be divided into the dorsal typical ependyma, the ventrolateral "glandular" ependyma, and the ventral "glandular" ependyma. Cells of the ventral ependyma lack apical cilia but bear a few microvillous processes. They have well-developed Golgi apparatus, conspicuous polysomes, and frequently dense, irregularly-shaped granules. Basal cytoplasmic processes extend ventrally to the outer surface of the median eminence. Photoperiodic stimulation appears to increase the numbers of apical protrusions of the cells in the ventral glandular ependyma and to cause an increase in size of the nerve cells of the basal infundibular nucleus.

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