Vol 61, No 4 (2002)
Original article
Published online: 2002-08-29
Immunocytochemical evidence for growth hormone-releasing hormone in the tanycytes of the median eminence of the rat
Folia Morphol 2002;61(4):209-216.
Abstract
The current study was performed to analyse the potential existence and structure
of a GHRH-transporting tuberoinfundibular system in the rat median eminence.
The immunocytochemical analysis using anti-GHRH revealed an intense
immunoreaction in the ependimary cells, tanycytes, at the level of the floor of
the infundibular recess forming part of the median eminence. The basal processes
of these cells course towards the external layer of the median eminence
and reach the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) fibres of the tuberoinfundibular
tract and this reaction was increased after intraventricular treatment
with colchicine. Thus, these observations suggest the existence of a second
or alternative cerebrospinal fluid-mediated route of GHRH transport to the
median eminence and implicate the involvement of tanycytes in the regulation
of this novel transport system.
Keywords: hypothalamusneuropeptidesependimary cellsimmunocytochemistrycolchicine