Huang Weiquan

Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor in rat digestive tract

GnRH(LH-RH) is first discovered in the hypothalamus and found to have a role in regulation of reproduction. With the study on it deepening, GnRH was demonnstrated that it also exists in a number of organs beyond the hypothalamus and acts on extrapituitary organs. To study whether digestive tract synthesizes GnRH and its receptor and, if it does, by what cells. In the experiment, the locallizations of GnRH and its receptors in rat digestive tract were studied using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The parietal cells of gastric gland, the villous and glandular epithelium in small and large intestine and parasympathetic ganglion cells of myenteric plexus showed GnRH immunoreactivity; GnRH mRNA hybridization signal was detected. The epithelium of gastric pit and the cells above in digestive tract showed GnRH receptor immunoreactivity; GnRH receptor mRNA hybridization signal was detected. The immunoreactive and signal materials distributed in cytoplasm of all positive cells, with nuclei being immunonegative and with no hybridization signal. These results suggested that the digestive tract can produce GnRH and express GnRH receptor; GnRH may also be a gastrointestinal hormone.

Innervation of the ovary in amphioxus: ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study

The distribution of unmyelinated nerve fiber in the ovary of amphioxus was found with transmission electron microscopic technique for the first time. The fiber is located under the ovary coat, and in close contact with it. There are two types of synaptic vesicles in the terminals of nerve fiber: one is durse-cored vesicle, the other is clear vesicle. In addition, the nerve terminals contact with follicle cells of ovary can be seen. Using immunohistochemical method. it is further demonstrated that the unmyelited nerve fiber nlay be a noradrenergic nerve fiber which is located on the ovary coat and follicle cell.

Localization and quantitative analysis of interleukin-6 in human placenta

The localization of IL-6 at light microscopic levels and its quantitative analysis in human placentas were studied by using immunohistochemistry. Both syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast in placental villi, white blood cells in villose capillary cavity stromal cells and capillary endothelium present IL-6 immunoreactivity in cytoplasm. Using a quantitative immunohitochemical method, the amounts of IL-6 in placenta were low at the 6th week of gestation, increased saliently and peaked at the 7th, then reduced gradually during the rest of the gestation period and maintained the same level as that in the 6th week of gestation. This changing trend was paralleled with that of GnRH in our previous studies. These results revealed that IL-6 could be produced by the human placenta and may take part in the regulation of placental hormone releasing.

Microscopic and ultramicroscopic localizations and quantitative analysis of 5-HT receptors in human placentas

The localizations of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR) at light and electron microscopic levels and its quantitative analysis in human placentas were studied by using immunohistochemistry andin situ hybridization. Both syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast in placental villi and fetal white blood cells in villose capillary cavity showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity, with 5-HTIA receptor mRNA hybridized signal detected in cytoplasm. But the stromal cells and capillary endothelium in placental villi showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity in cytoplasm, without 5-HT1A receptor mRNA hybridized signal detected. This suggested that two layers of trophoblast cells may produce 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors, that the stromal cells and capillary endothelium in placental villi may only produce 5-HT2 receptor. By immunohistochemistry at electron microscopic level, the small flattened vesicles and large dense cored vesicle within trophoblast cells showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity. This suggested that it may be the result of 5-HT receptors internalization and transportion. Using a quantitative immunohistochemical method, the contents of 5-HT receptor in placenta were higher during the 6th week of gestation, and decreased in 7th and 8th. reoccurred the second peak in the 9th. reduced gradually during the 10th, 20th and 40th of the gestation period. These changes paralleled the contents of 5-HT in the authors’ studies, reflecting that 5-HT may be one of the most important bioactive substances in placental self-regulation.