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Localization of aromatase in the brain of the male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), by microdissection and biochemical identification
Author(s) -
Timmers R. J. M.,
Lambert J. G. D.,
Peute J.,
Van Oordt P. G. W. J.,
Vullings H. G. B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902580305
Subject(s) - aromatase , biology , clarias gariepinus , catfish , midbrain , cerebrum , hindbrain , endocrinology , medicine , diencephalon , forebrain , preoptic area , cerebellum , anatomy , central nervous system , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , genetics , cancer , breast cancer
Aromatase activity was determined in small discrete areas of the brain of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus , by a radiometric assay. The fore‐and midbrain were divided into eighteen 500‐μm transverse sections. From these sections several punches (0.3 mg of tissue) were taken and incubated with [19‐ 3 H]‐androstenedione. The aromatase activity, calculated from the release of tritium label during aromatization, is expressed in pmol mg −1 tissue hour −1 . The highest activity (3.7 pmol) was detected in the preoptic region. The more caudally located area tuberalis, including the nucleus lateralis tuberis and the nucleus recessus lateralis, also showed a relatively high activity (2.5 pmol). A similar activity was found in the most rostral part of the telencephalon and the dorsal parts of the mesencephalon, i.e., the tectum opticum and torus semicircularis (2.3 pmol). A moderate aromatase activity was observed in remaining parts of the brain, except the cerebellum and hindbrain, in which aromatase activity was hardly detectable (0.1–0.3 pmol). It is concluded that a high aromatase activity is present in regions known to be involved in the regulation of reproduction. Since both the torus semicircularis and the tectum opticum display a high aromatase activity, it is suggested that also these structures are involved in reproductive processes.