Author/Editor		Blaganje, Mija
Title		Vpliv kemičnega prenašalca glutamata na sekrecijsko aktivnost celic srednjega režnja hipofize podgane
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 26
Language		slo
Abstract		Background: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). However, little is known about its functions outside the CNS, particularly in the endocrine system. Here we studied melanotrophs i.e. cells of the intermediate part of the rat pituitary gland (pars intermedia), which secrete a-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (alpha-MSH). Among many receptors on the plasma membrane, they possess glutamate receptors, but it is not clear whether these receptors affect the secretory output of melanotrophs. Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the role of glutamate in the modulation of secretory activity of rat melanotrophs. Hypothesis: We presumed that glutamate application would increase the rise to secretory activity of melanotrophs. Secretory activity was determined by immunocytochemistry using alpha-MSH antibodies under different experimental conditions. Methods: The effect of glutamate on secretory activity of melanotrophs was monitored by confocal microscopy. Cells were stained by antibodies against alpha-MSH and then exposed to different trial conditions: control, stimulation by elevated extracellular potassium concentration (plasma membrane depolarization), application of extracellular glutamate, exposure to extracellular glutamate in the presence of CNQX, an AMPA glutamate receptor blocker. The secretory activity of melanotrophs is related to the amount of adsorbed hormone on the cell surface, therefore we monitored secretory activity by measuring the area of the alpha-MSH immunostained cell surface. The results were statistically analyzed by Student's t-test. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		PITUITARY GLAND GLUTAMATES MSH RECEPTORS, GLUTAMATE RATS, WISTAR CELLS, CULTURED EXOCYTOSIS IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY MICROSCOPY, CONFOCAL