The subcommissural organ of Lacerta s. sicula Raf.: Functional studies

Abstract

The secretory activity of the subcommissural organ (SCO) is affected by adrenalectomy, adrenalectomy + castration, and by an increase in ambient temperature in adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized + castrated animals. Adrenalectomy inhibits the activity of the SCO. After adrenalectomy + castration the decrease in the secretory activity of the SCO is more rapid. In contrast, an increase in the ambient temperature in adrenalectomized animals induces a recrudescence of the activity of the SCO. The increase in temperature in castrated + adrenalectomized lizards does not affect the inhibition produced by this type of surgical treatment. The histological changes are discussed on the basis of results obtained in the present study and in previous experiments.

Production of an Oxytocin like Substance by the Subcommissural Organ (SCO), Related to the Reproductive Cycle in Oviparous and Viviparous Reptiles

“…In the male, these stages follow an annual cycle parallel to Secretory granules in the SCO cells have been reported since the beginning of the century (11 ), and can be revealed by chromo-that of the Leydig cells and of the secondary sexual characters (SSC) (4 ); all the treatments stimulating and inhibiting Leydig haematoxylin (12), aldehyde-fuchsin after oxidation (13)(14) and Periodic Acid-Shi reaction (PAS) (15)(16). SCO secretory mat-cells and SSC in parallel stimulate or inhibit SCO secretory activity ( 5,(36)(37)(38)(39). Similar correlations with the reproductive erial is of glycoprotein nature (16)(17)(18)(19).…”