Browsing by Subject "Serotonin"
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- PublicationOpen AccessAge-related changes in antral endocrine cells in mice(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Sandstrom, O.; Mahdavi, J.; El-Salhy, M.Antral endocrine cells in four age groups of mice, namely prepubertal (1 month old), young (3 months old), ageing (12 months old) and senescent (24 months old), were detected by immunocytochemistry and quantified by computerized image analysis. A statistical difference was detected between the different age groups regarding the numbers of gastrin-, somatostatin-, and serotonin-immunoreactive cells. The number of gastrin-immunoreactive cells significantly increased between 1 and 12 months, whereas they became significantly fewer between 12 and 24 months. Somatostatinimmunoreactive cell number increased significantly in I-, 12- and 24-month-old mice, compared with young mice (3 months old). The number of serotoninimmunoreactive cells also increased significantly in 1- and 12-month-old mice as compared with young mice. There was a statistical difference between different agegroups regarding the cell secretory index (CSI) of somatostatin- and gastrin-immunoreactive cells, the CS1 of both somatostatin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells increased significantly in 1-, 12-, and 24-month-old mice, compared with young mice. There was no statistical difference between the different age-groups regarding the CS1 of gastrin-immunoreactive cells, nor between males and females regarding the number and CS1 of all the endocrine cell types investigated. It is suggested that the large number of somatostatin-imrnunoreactive cells in ageing and senescent mice might have an impact on the gastric delay seen in the elderly. It was concluded also that the changes in the antral endocrine cells could be involved in the development of dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract inherent in ageing, or could be secondary to structural and functional changes in the alimentary tract caused by ageing.
- PublicationOpen Accesscoexistence of serotonin and cholecystokinin in paraneurons of the foetal sheep lung(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1994) Balaguer, L.; Romano, J.; Ruíz-Pesini, P.The coexistence of serotonin and cholecystokinin was studied in foetal sheep lungs at pseudoglandular stage of developtnerit by light inicroscopic itninunohistochemistry. The coexistence was examined by staining consecutive sections with the different antibodies. Serotonin and cholecystokinin iniinunoreactivity was found within consecutive sections of most bronchopultnonary neuroepithelial bodies and in consecutive sections of the same intrapulmonary autonomic gariglia.
- PublicationOpen AccessEffects of single, double or triple combinations of octreotide, galanin and serotonin on a human pancreatic cancer cell line(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2005) Tjomsland, V.; El-Salhy, M.The human pancreatic cancer cell line (SW 1990) was exposed to 0.2 µg/ml of octreotide, galanin or serotonin as single, double or triple combinations. The tumor cells were checked at 3, 6 and 12 hours. In order to determine the number of viable cancer cells, the MTTassay was used. Proliferation, apoptosis and the expression of epidermal growth factor were detected with immunohistochemistry using the avidin-biotin complex method. In addition, apoptosis was also detected with (TUNEL) method. The primary antibodies used were proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), anti-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and antihuman epidermal growth factor. Single treatment with octreotide or serotonin reduced, the number of viable cells and the proliferation index at all observation times. Galanin increased the number of viable cells and the proliferation index. Whereas double treatments containing octreotide reduced the number of viable cells, those containing galanin increased the number. The effect of single, double or triple treatment on the apoptotic index obtained with both TUNEL method and PARP expression varied depending on the combination and the observation time. Octreotide did not affect the tumor cell expression of EGF. Galanin and serotonin, on the other hand, increased the expression of EGF Whereas triple combination increased the expression of EGF after 6 h, all the other double combinations decreased this expression. It has been concluded that treatment with a combination of octreotide and serotonin may be useful in clinical settings.
- PublicationOpen AccessEffects of triple treatment with octreotide, galanin and serotonin on a human pancreas cancer cell line in xenografts(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2005) El-Salhy, M.; Tjomsland, V.; Theodorsson, E.Human pancreas cancer cells were implanted s.c. in nude mice. After 11 days, the mice were divided into two groups of 13. The first group received sterile saline solution and the second received triple therapy containing octreotide, galanin and serotonin, 40 µg/kg/day as a continuous i.p. infusion via an implanted osmotic pump for 14 days. Triple therapy prolonged the survival rate of the mice bearing human pancreatic carcinoma. Both the volume and weight of tumours in mice given triple therapy were less than in controls (not statistically significant). The proliferation index and the labelling index for epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased significantly in mice given triple therapy vis-ávis controls. There was no statistically significant difference between control and treated tumours as regards, apoptotic index, necrosis, or number of tumour blood vessels. The increased survival rate was attributed to the reduced tumour load, since both weight and volume were reduced. It is most probable that octreotide was the responsible agent. Further investigation with single and double combinations of octreotide, galanin and serotonin are needed to identify the cause of increased cell proliferation in tumours subjected to these bioactive substances. Identifying the agent(s) inducing pancreatic cancer cell proliferation may be useful in combining a new treatment, as antagonists to these bioactive substances are available.
- PublicationOpen AccessIdentification of serotoninergic system components in stallion sperm(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Jiménez Trejo, F.; Coronado Mares, I.; Boeta, M.; González Santoyo, I.; Vigueras Villaseñor, R.; Arriaga Canon, C.; Herrera, L.A.; Tapia Rodríguez, M.Assisted reproductive techniques have been used on several domestic animals to preserve desirable traits in strains of high genetic and commercial value; however in equines its efficiency rate is relatively low. To increase the conception ratio in stallions, some research groups have used pharmacological treatments which promote sperm hyperactivation in order to increase male’s fertility rates. In this way, our previous work suggests that serotonin (5-HT) could be a good pharmacological candidate that facilitates conception rate in domestic horses. 5-HT is a neurohormone involved in several reproductive processes, i.e., it enhances hyperactivation, motility, and promotes the acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm, but it has not been described in the stallion sperm yet. Therefore, using both immunofluorescence and western blot techniques, we searched for and found some serotonin markers such as 5-HT, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3 receptors, both TPH1 and MAOA enzymes, and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in stallion sperm. In addition, we found a non-neuroendocrine cell, V-MAT1 transporter, which has not been previously reported in mammalian sperm. Our results suggest that serotoninergic system is present in stallion sperm, which could be a pharmacological target to increase the conception rates in domestic horses.
- PublicationOpen AccessPresence and distribution of 5HT-, VIP-, NPY-, and SP-immunoreactive structures in adult mouse lung(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Verastegui, C.; Fernandez-Vivero, J.; Prada, A.; Rodríguez, F.; Romero, A.A large number of biologically active substances have been identified and characterised in the respiratory tract of severa1 mammals. These substances (amines and peptides) exert important regulatory influences on respiratory functions, and they act as neurotransmitters/neuromodulators, both being released from nerve terminals as neuroendocrine cells. However, these substances can also have other effects which suggest a paracrine action. Thus, to understand the role of amines and peptides in the lung, it is important to explore their localisation in different species. By using immunocytochemical staining methods we have studied the morphology and distribution of serotonin-, Substance P-, neuropeptide Y- and VIP-like immunoreactivity in the adult mouse lung. Moreover a pretreatment with colchicine, pargyline and 5-hydroxytryptophan as staining enlargement method was made. A widespread distribution of isolated endocrine cells and neuroepithelial bodies containing 5HT-like immunoreactivity was recorded within the lung. NPY-like immunoreactive nerve fibres were localised in the airway smooth muscle and surrounding the blood vessels. VIP-like immunoreactivity was revealed in single cells as well as in some nerve fibres and ganglia around the blood vessels and in the bronchial smooth muscle. SP-like IR was observed in nerve fibres located in the smooth muscle of the airways, surrounding bronchi and bronchioli but not next to the intrapulmonary blood vessels. Their localisation both in cells and nerve fibres of the respiratory system suggests that they play a role in the regulatory function of the mouse respiratory tract, exerting their influence by endocrine, paracrine, neurosecretory pathways or a combination of al1 of these.
- PublicationOpen AccessSerotonin immunoreactivity in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1991) Carvajal, J.C.; Carbajo, S.; Carbajo-Pérez, E.; Castro, S.; Rodríguez, J.Immunocytochemical staining for serotonin (5-HT) in paraffin-embedded sections of rat pituitary resulted in the localization of reactive nerve fibres and cell bodies in the intermediate lobe. Immunostaining was also found in the anterior and posterior lobes. Labelled nerve fibres appear to enter the intermediate lobe from the neural lobe through the interlobular spaces. These fibres are relatively scarce and lightly stained. Neuroglandular contacts were identified between varicose nerve endings containing serotonin and immunoreactive perykarion. It is not clear whether intermediate lobe cells produced 5-HT themselves or, alternatively, these cells take in 5-HT from serotoninergic nerve terminals.
- PublicationOpen AccessSerotonin-producing pancreatic endocrine tumour. Histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of a case(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1990) Kanavaros, Panagiotis; Hoang, Catherine; Le Bodic, Marie Francoise; Polivka, Marc; Hautefeuille, PierreSerotonin-producing pancreatic endocrine tumours are rare neoplasms which in most cases exhibit malignant biological behaviour. These tumours, in the majority of the well-documented cases, are composed of argyrophil- and argentaffin-positive cells which contain large pleomorphic neurosecretory granules. In contrast, argyrophilic non-argentaffin pancreatic endocrine tumours with tumour cells containing round neurosecretory granules are exceptional. In this study we describe such a tumour not associated with clinical evidence of carcinoid syndrome in a 60-year-old woman. Histological examination revealed tumour extension in pancreatic lymphatic vessels and veins but no evidence of locoregional or distant metastases. Ten months after surgery the patient showed no recurrence of the disease. Immunohistochernistry revealed cytoplasmic serotonin production in the tumour cells which were negative for anti-gastrin, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and ACTH. This study emphasizes the usefulness of combined ultrastructural and immunohistochemical investigations in order to identify and characterize the rare pancreatic endocrine tumours with serotonin production.