PMID- 16721806
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20061024
LR  - 20181201
IS  - 1548-8969 (Print)
IS  - 1548-8969 (Linking)
VI  - 305
IP  - 8
DP  - 2006 Aug 1
TI  - Occurrence of D-aspartate in the harderian gland of Podarcis s. sicula and its 
      effect on gland secretion.
PG  - 610-9
AB  - High concentrations of free D-aspartate (D-Asp), an amino acid well known for its 
      neuroexcitatory activity, are endogeneously present in the Harderian gland (HG) 
      of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. This orbital gland consists of two different 
      parts: the medial part, which is prevalently a mucous acinar gland, and the 
      lateral part, which is a serous tubulo-acinar gland. To determine the 
      physiological effect of D-Asp on exocrine secretion in HG, D-Asp (2.0 micromol/g 
      b.w.) was injected intraperitoneally into lizards. We found that highest 
      accumulations of exogenous D-Asp in HGs occurred 15 hr after the injection. 
      Specifically, exogenous D-Asp prevalently stimulated serous secretion from the 
      lateral portion of the gland, where immunohistochemical analysis revealed a major 
      accumulation. Similarly, in the medial part of the gland, highly sulfated 
      mucosubstances were observed after D-Asp injection. Further, in both parts of the 
      HG, the electron microscope revealed euchromatic nuclei, a prominent rough 
      endoplasmic reticulum, as well as numerous secretory granules within the acinar 
      cells. Thus, following D-Asp injection, a 60% increase in HG total protein was 
      detected. In addition, exogenous D-Asp induced changes in the electrophoretic 
      pattern of HG. In conclusion, although further investigations are still needed to 
      clarify the molecular pathway induced by D-Asp in exocrine secretion, this study 
      does indicate that free D-Asp plays a significant role in the secretory activity 
      of this gland.
CI  - Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
FAU - Santillo, A
AU  - Santillo A
AD  - Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Universita di Napoli, Caserta, Italy.
FAU - Monteforte, R
AU  - Monteforte R
FAU - Raucci, F
AU  - Raucci F
FAU - D'Aniello, A
AU  - D'Aniello A
FAU - Baccari, G Chieffi
AU  - Baccari GC
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - J Exp Zool A Comp Exp Biol
JT  - Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Comparative experimental biology
JID - 101168223
RN  - 4SR0Q8YD1X (D-Aspartic Acid)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - D-Aspartic Acid/analysis/*physiology
MH  - Female
MH  - Harderian Gland/chemistry/drug effects/*metabolism/physiology
MH  - Immunohistochemistry
MH  - Injections, Intraperitoneal
MH  - Lizards/*physiology
MH  - Male
EDAT- 2006/05/25 09:00
MHDA- 2006/10/25 09:00
CRDT- 2006/05/25 09:00
PHST- 2006/05/25 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2006/10/25 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2006/05/25 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1002/jez.a.301 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Exp Zool A Comp Exp Biol. 2006 Aug 1;305(8):610-9. doi: 10.1002/jez.a.301.