Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin in the rodent Harderian gland

1999 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Djeridane ◽  
P. Klosen ◽  
B. Vivien-Roels ◽  
V. Simonneaux ◽  
P. Pévet
Keyword(s):  
Tryptophan Hydroxylase ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Immunohistochemical Evidence

Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of melatonin in the pineal gland, the retina and the Harderian gland

1981 ◽  
Vol 217 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vivien-Roels ◽  
P. P�vet ◽  
M.P. Dubois ◽  
J. Arendt ◽  
G.M. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Immunohistochemical Evidence

Further Studies on the Ultrastructure of Harderian Gland in Adult Rats

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 288-289
Author(s):  
Alfredo Feria-Velasco ◽  
Guadalupe Tapia-Arizmendi
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Domestic Fowl ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Acinar Cells ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Myoepithelial Cells ◽  
The Other ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Cell Components

The fine structure of the Harderian gland has been described in some animal species (hamster, rabbit, mouse, domestic fowl and albino rats). There are only two reports in the literature dealing on the ultrastructure of rat Harderian gland in adult animals. In one of them the author describes the myoepithelial cells in methacrylate-embbeded tissue, and the other deals with the maturation of the acinar cells and the formation of the secretory droplets. The aim of the present work is to analize the relationships among the acinar cell components and to describe the two types of cells located at the perifery of the acini.

Serotonergic Genes and Suicidality

Crisis ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisheng Du ◽  
Gabor Faludi ◽  
Miklos Palkovits ◽  
David Bakish ◽  
Pavel D. Hrdina
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Tryptophan Hydroxylase ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serotonergic Activity ◽  
Completed Suicide

Summary: Several lines of evidence indicate that abnormalities in the functioning of the central serotonergic system are involved in the pathogenesis of depressive illness and suicidal behavior. Studies have shown that the number of brain and platelet serotonin transporter binding sites are reduced in patients with depression and in suicide victims, and that the density of 5-HT2A receptors is increased in brain regions of depressed in suicide victims and in platelets of depressed suicidal patients. Genes that code for proteins, such as tryptophan hydroxylase, 5-HT transporter, and 5-HT2A receptor, involved in regulating serotonergic neurotransmission, have thus been major candidate genes for association studies of suicide and suicidal behavior. Recent studies by our group and by others have shown that genetic variations in the serotonin-system-related genes might be associated with suicidal ideation and completed suicide. We have shown that the 102 C allele in 5-HT2A receptor gene was significantly associated with suicidal ideation (χ2 = 8.5, p < .005) in depressed patients. Patients with a 102 C/C genotype had a significantly higher mean HAMD item #3 score (indication of suicidal ideation) than T/C or T/T genotype patients. Our results suggest that the 102T/C polymorphism in 5-HT2A receptor gene is primarily associated with suicidal ideation in patients with major depression and not with depression itself. We also found that the 5-HT transporter gene S/L polymorphism was significantly associated with completed suicide. The frequency of the L/L genotype in depressed suicide victims was almost double of that found in control group (48.6% vs. 26.2%). The odds ratio for the L allele was 2.1 (95% CI 1.2-3.7). The association between polymorphism in serotonergic genes and suicidality supports the hypothesis that genetic factors can modulate suicide risk by influencing serotonergic activity.

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