Biomaterial Database

Photoperiod-dependent changes in exocytotic activity in the hypophyseal pars tuberalis of the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. 1993

T Merks, and A Schulze-Bonhage, and W Wittkowski

Institut für Medizinische Zytobiologie, Universität Münster, Germany.

The pars tuberalis of the hypophysis of the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus, was investigated with regard to secretory activity by applying the tannic acid-Ringer perfusion technique. Two groups were maintained under long photoperiods (16 h light: 8 h dark) or short photoperiods (8 h light: 16 h dark), respectively. Perfusion with tannic acid showed that specific pars tuberalis cells release some of their secretory granules as indicated by typical exocytotic figures. The percentage of cells displaying exocytotic activity was significantly higher in the pars tuberalis of hamsters kept under long photoperiods. The number of exocytotic figures per single cell was not increased. These results provide further evidence for a secretory activity of the pars tuberalis and support the hypothesis of its involvement as a mediator between photoperiodic stimuli and the endocrine system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D010507	Periodicity	The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian).	Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D010903	Pituitary Gland, Anterior	The anterior glandular lobe of the pituitary gland, also known as the adenohypophysis. It secretes the ADENOHYPOPHYSEAL HORMONES that regulate vital functions such as GROWTH; METABOLISM; and REPRODUCTION.	Adenohypophysis,Anterior Lobe of Pituitary,Anterior Pituitary Gland,Lobus Anterior,Pars Distalis of Pituitary,Adenohypophyses,Anterior Pituitary Glands,Anterior, Lobus,Anteriors, Lobus,Lobus Anteriors,Pituitary Anterior Lobe,Pituitary Glands, Anterior,Pituitary Pars Distalis
D003594	Cytoplasmic Granules	Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane.	Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D005089	Exocytosis	Cellular release of material within membrane-limited vesicles by fusion of the vesicles with the CELL MEMBRANE.
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017111	Phodopus	A genus of hamsters characterized by small size, very short tail, and short, broad feet with hairy soles.	Djungarian Hamsters,Hamsters, Djungarian,Hamsters, Siberian,Phodopus campbelli,Phodopus sungorus,Phodopus sungorus campbelli,Siberian Hamster,Djungarian,Hamster, Siberian,Siberian Hamsters,campbelli, Phodopus sungorus,sungorus campbelli, Phodopus