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Cytophysiologie de l'excrétion dans la posthypophyse du rat. Étude ultrastructurale après stimulation in vivo

Cytophysiology of release of secretory products in the rat neurohypophysis. Ultrastructural study after in vivo stimulation

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Résumé

Chez des rats normaux et soumis à diverses stimulations de la libération de vasopressine (stress à l'éther, hémorragie, injection intracarotidienne hypertonique et déshydratation de deux jours), nous avons analysé les modifications ultrastructurales des terminaisons neurosécrétoires. Les granules élémentaires conservent leur contenu dense, et leur nombre ne semble pas varier dans de fortes proportions. Chez les rats normaux comme les stimulés, des densifications juxtamembranaires sont présentes et des microvésicules de type synaptique sont en contact étroit avec celles-ci. Des images suggérant un processus d'exocytose ont été observées, mais elles restent toujours très rares, même chez les rats stimulés, ce qui empêche toute étude quantitative. Des images d'exocytose simultanées à partir d'une même terminaison ont été notées. Enfin, des figures suggèrent une vésiculisation de la membrane de certains granules après décharge de leur contenu. Ce phénomène peut être à l'origine d'une catégorie de microvésicules de type synaptique. Une autre catégorie de cette population de microvésicules peut être constituée par micropinocytose. Le nombre global de ces microvésicules est augmenté après stimulation. Si l'existence d'une excrétion par exocytose ne peut être mise en doute, les investigations ultrastructurales visant à déterminer son importance dans des circonstances physiologiques restent décevantes. Etant donné que ce mode de libération est toujours très difficile à mettre directement en évidence, notre résultat ne peut être considéré comme concluant, du moins quant à un rôle exclusif de l'exocytose.

Summary

In normal rats and in rats subjected to various stimulations known to induce vasopressin release, such as ether-stress, haemorrhage, intracarotic injection of hypertonic saline, and two days of dehydration, the ultrastructural changes of neurosecretory nerve-endings has been analysed. The elementary granules keep their dense content and there are no noticeable changes in their number. In normal as well as in stimulated rats, electron dense thickenings on the inner side of the plasma membrane are observed. These structures are associated with clusters of small synaptic vesicles. Aspects suggestive of exocytosis have also been observed. Because they are scarce, even in stimulated rats, a quantitative study of this phenomenon is impossible. Simultaneous exocytosis at more than one site of a single nerve ending eventually occurs. Moreover, some aspects suggest vesiculation of the membranes of the granules after discharge of their content. Microvesicles perhaps originate due to this process. Another kind of microvesicles can result from micropinocytosis. The total number of microvesicles is increased after stimulation. The existence of exocytosis as a release mechanism is beyond doubt, but the results of ultrastructural investigations with the aim of establishing its actual importance in physiological circumstances are disappointing. It should be emphasized that convincing evidence of this process of release has always been difficult to obtain. Our own results bring no definite conclusion as to its supposedly exclusive rôle in excretion.

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  1. J. -L. Boudier

    Present address: E.R.A.-C.N.R.S. nℴ 322 ≪Cytophysiologie du système hypothalamo hypophysaire≫, Laboratoire d'Histologie I, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, France

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    La matière de cet article fait également l'objet d'un mémoire soutenu pour l'obtention d'un Diplôme d'Etudes et de Recherches en Biologie Humaine.

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    Boudier, J.L. Cytophysiologie de l'excrétion dans la posthypophyse du rat. Étude ultrastructurale après stimulation in vivo. J. Neural Transmission 35, 53–82 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245335

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