Cerium ions in the histochemical demonstration of second-messenger enzymes.

Second-messenger systems are involved in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. Adenylate cyclase (AC) and guanylate cyclase (GC) enzymes are in key positions in the regulation of these systems. The cerium method has been successfully applied to demonstrate amine- and neuropeptide-stimulated AC in rat nervous and adipose tissues and human sweat glands at the electron microscopic level.

Distribution of acidic fibroblast growth factor-like immunoreactivity in rat skeletal muscle fibers.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is a mitogenic, angiogenic and neurotrophic growth factor which promotes proliferation, but delays differentiation of cultured myoblasts. Its mRNA is expressed in the skeletal muscle, however, the distribution of aFGF in the postnatal skeletal muscle is poorly characterized. In the present study, the distribution of aFGF-like immunoreactivity (LI) was examined in developing and adult rat skeletal muscle fibers.

The expression of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme mRNA and protein in rat motoneurons.

The distribution of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme messenger ribonucleic acid (AZ mRNA) and AZ-like immunoreactivity (LI) was studied in the brainstem and spinal cord motoneurons and in the extraocular and triceps surae muscles of rat. In situ hybridization showed AZ mRNA in the gray matter of the spinal cord at different levels of spinal cord with highest AZ mRNA levels in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. No apparent changes in AZ mRNA contents were seen after unilateral transection of the sciatic nerve in lumbar motoneurons.

Localization of neurocalcin-like immunoreactivity in rat cranial motoneurons and spinal cord interneurons.

Neurocalcin (NC) is a calcium-binding protein with at least three putative calcium-binding domains called EF-hands. In this study, the distribution of neurocalcin-like immunoreactivity (LI) was examined in the rat motor system. Motoneurons in the III, IV and VI cranial nerve nuclei were NC-immunoreactive (IR) and strong labelling was seen in the nerve bundles and in the myoneural junctions in all extraocular muscles.

Immunocytochemical localization of glucocorticoid receptor in rat skin.

The aim of the present study was to map immunohistochemically the distribution of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in rat skin. Nuclear GR-like immunoreactivity (LI) was found in both epidermis and dermis. In the epidermis, the basal cell layer showed an intense immunoreaction; the lower part of the spinous layer was also labelled.

Expression of diazepam-binding inhibitor peptide in human skin: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Human diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) was originally isolated from the brain and subsequently found to be present in several peripheral tissues. The various physiologic effects recently attributed to DBI include acting as an endogenous ligand for the central and peripheral (mitochondrial) benzodiazepine receptors. The present work provides, for the first time, evidence of DBI immunoreactivity in skin.

Co-localization of peptide-like immunoreactivities with glucocorticoid receptor- and Fos-like immunoreactivities in the rat parabrachial nucleus.

The parabrachial nucleus (PB) is a brainstem nucleus, which mediates autonomic information from the viscera to various forebrain nuclei, e.g. to the central nucleus of the amygdala (ACe) and to the medial preoptic area (MPOA).

Ornithine decarboxylase-like immunoreactivity in rat spinal motoneurons and motoric nerves.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the formation of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. In the present study ornithine decarboxylase-like immunoreactivity (ODC-LI) was localized immunocytochemically in rat spinal motoneurons, motoric nerves and myoneural junctions in several muscles. In the spinal cord ODC-LI was expressed in most of the large multipolar neurons located in the ventral horn at cervical and lumbar levels.

Fos and jun in rat central amygdaloid nucleus and paraventricular nucleus after stress.

The present paper describes the effect of capsaicin-induced stressful stimulus on the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) c-fos, c-jun, junB and junD in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the central amygdaloid nucleus (ACe) using in situ hybridization. Stress caused an intense expression of c-fos, c-jun and junB especially in the PVN and ACe and also a clear induction of junD was observed in the PVN. This suggests that the PVN and the ACe are two major targets of stress in the brain.

Calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivity in rat muscle spindles during postnatal maturation and after denervation.

Calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in some of the intrafusal muscle fibres and in the capsule of adult rat muscle spindles. In this study, the immunocytochemical localization of calbindin D-28k in the muscle spindles of triceps surae muscle was studied during postnatal maturation and after denervation. In young rats calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivity was seen in a few intrafusal fibres, first at the age of 4 days.

Calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivity in rat muscle spindle; a light and electron microscopic study.

The localization of the vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein, calbindin D-28k (CaBP), was studied immunocytochemically in rat striated muscle. CaBP-like immunoreactivity was found in some of the intrafusal fibres in muscle spindles. The spindle capsule and the perineurial sheath of the nerve bundles were occasionally immunoreactive to CaBP.

Colocalization of peptide and glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivities in rat central amygdaloid nucleus.

The central amygdaloid nucleus (ACe) is part of the amygdaloid complex that participates in adrenocorticotrophin secretion, stress-related reactions and behavioral functions. The ACe contains numerous glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons, and in addition it has been shown to contain several neuropeptide-IR somata and nerve terminals. In order to study the relationship between the GR- and neuropeptide-IR structures we mapped the distribution of GR-like immunoreactivity (LI) in amygdaloid complex and colocalized the neuropeptide- and GR-LIs in the ACe.

Histochemistry of guanylate cyclase, phosphodiesterase, and NADPH-diaphorase (nitric oxide synthase) in rat brain vasculature.

The distribution of guanylate cyclase, phosphodiesterase, and NADPH-diaphorase [nitric oxide (NO) synthase] was studied in rat brain both at the light and electron microscopic level with special emphasis on the vascular system. We showed that the cGMP-generating enzyme is located in cells (glial cells and pericytes) surrounding cerebral vessels, but not in the endothelium. For NO synthase, a dual localization was observed.

Protein kinase C beta-subtype-immunoreactive motor and sensory nerves in rat muscle spindle.

The localization of protein kinase C beta-subtype-like immunoreactivity (PKC-beta-LI) was studied in the muscle spindles of rat neck muscles. In the equatorial regions of muscle spindles PKC-beta-LI was detected in spiral sensory nerve endings surrounding intrafusal muscle fibers. In polar regions single PKC-beta-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers were found between intrafusal muscle fibers and some PKC-beta-IR motor nerve endings were seen on the surface of intrafusal fibers.

Second messenger enzymes in glial cells: a cytochemical point of view.

Knowledge about second messenger metabolizing enzymes in neuroglia is still rather fragmentary. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to localize adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and protein kinase A in glial cells of the rat hippocampus and cerebellum. Enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the enzymes at the light and electron microscopic level.

Neuropeptides in cutaneous neurofibromas of von Recklinghausen's disease.

The occurrence of neuropeptides was studied in neurofibromas of von Recklinghausen's disease by indirect immunofluorescence. All non-plexiform cutaneous neurofibromas contained abundant vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine-isoleucine and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactive nerves. The nerves were small and unmyelinated.

Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of protein kinase C beta-subtype in rat motoneurons and myoneural junctions.

The localization of protein kinase C beta-subtype-like immunoreactivity (PKC-beta-LI) was studied in the spinal cord and in different striated muscles of rat. In the spinal cord, large motoneurons in the ventral horn were PKC-beta-immunoreactive (IR). Strong immunoreactivity to PKC-beta was found in large nerve bundles between muscles, and in smaller nerves among muscle fibers.

Simultaneous localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide and neurotensin in rat central amygdaloid nucleus.

The distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactivities (LI) was studied in rat central amygdaloid nucleus (ACe) with immunocytochemical double staining. A dense network of CGRP- and NT-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers and some NT-positive neurons were found in the lateral and lateral capsular subnuclei. Light microscopically CGRP-immunoreactive nerve endings were in close contact to most of the NT-immunoreactive neurons.

Immunocytochemical study of the relations of acetylcholinesterase, enkephalin-, substance P-, choline acetyltransferase- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive structures in the ventral horn of rat spinal cord.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity was localized immunocytochemically in the large motoneurons in the ventral horn of rat spinal cord. Using fluorescence double-labelling substance P (SP)-immunoreactive nerve fibres were found to surround both the CGRP-positive and negative motoneurons, whereas enkephalin (ENK)-immunoreactive fibres surrounded mainly CGRP-negative cells. All CGRP-like immunoreactive motoneurons were also choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)- and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in prurigo nodularis: a comparative study with neurodermatitis circumscripta.

Eight patients with intensely pruritic lesions of chronic idiopathic prurigo nodularis and three patients with neurodermatitis circumscripta were investigated using the indirect immunofluorescence method. Results showed similarities in epidermal hyperplasia but not in nerve proliferation and neuropeptide immunoreactivity. Increased numbers of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P immunoreactive nerve fibre bundles were detected in specimens taken from prurigo nodularis lesions, but no increased immunoreactivity could be seen in specimens taken from patients having neurodermatitis circumscripta compared to normal skin.

Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical demonstration of intraepidermal CGRP-containing nerves in human skin.

The distribution of nerves immunoreactive to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was studied in human skin with special reference to the intraepidermal nerve fibres. It was shown by light and electron microscopy that a small proportion of the CGRP immunoreactive nerves entered the epidermis. The majority of the nerves ended as free nerve terminals subepidermally.

The distribution of substance P-, CGRP-, galanin- and ANP-like immunoreactive nerves in human sweat glands.

The distribution in immunoreactivities towards atrial natriuretic peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin and substance P were demonstrated in human skin at the light and electron microscopic levels. Nerves immunoreactive to the first three of these peptides were found around eccrine sweat glands, whereas only a few positively-labelled nerve fibres could be seen around apocrine glands. At the ultrastructural level, immunoreactivity to the neuropeptides was localized in the large dense-cored vesicles of the nerve terminals.

Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in the rat pituitary. An immunohistochemical study.

The catecholamine-containing nerve fibers of the rat pituitary were studied by immunohistochemical demonstration of the catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT). Immunohistochemical demonstration of TH confirms earlier catecholamine fluorescence histochemical studies showing a fine network of varicose fibers in both the intermediate and the neural lobe, with the most dense aggregation of fibers at the border between the lobes. DBH-immunoreactive fibers were much less in number, and confined to the neural lobe, where both vascular and parenchymal fibers were seen.

Peptidergic innervation of human atrial myocardium: an electron microscopical and immunocytochemical study.

Nerve terminals of human cardiac muscle were studied using an electron microscope. Substance P-, Leu-enkephalin- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like (VIP) immunoreactive nerves were demonstrated by use of the light microscope. In addition, VIP- and substance P-like immunoreactive nerves were localized ultrastructurally by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase-method.