Dynamics of subcellular organelles, growth hormone, Rab3B, SNAP-25, and syntaxin in rat pituitary cells caused by growth hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin

Rab3B is involved in the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and secretory granules in the central nervous system and the anterior pituitary cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate both the role of rab3B in GH secretion and the mutual relationship of rab3B and SNARE proteins. Adult male rats were injected intravenously with 10 μg of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) or 10 μg of somatostatin (SRIF). Untreated rats were used as controls, and their pituitary glands were sectioned for histochemical examination. Rab3B is localized on the limiting membrane of the secretory granules and the cytosol. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of rab3B and GH revealed that immunoreactivity of rab3B increased in GHRH‐treated rats and decreased in SRIF‐treated rats. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of SNAP‐25, syntaxin, and rab3B revealed the co‐localization of rab3B and these SNARE proteins in GHRH‐treated rats, and their dissociation in SRIF‐treated rats. These results suggest that rab3B plays a principal role in GH secretion in the anterior pituitary cells and that SNAP‐25 and syntaxin act as co‐workers with rab3B in the functional regulation of GH secretion. Microsc. Res. Tech. 62:232–239, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.