Research article summary (published 8 Oct 2009):

Comparison of the spatial distribution of seven types of neuroendocrine neurons in the rat paraventricular nucleus: toward a global 3D model.

Full Abstract

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) coordinates neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to help maintain energy and body water balance. The rat paraventricular nucleus has three major divisions: descending with axonal projections to somatomotor-behavioral and autonomic circuitry, magnocellular neuroendocrine with projections directly to the posterior pituitary, and parvicellular neuroendocrine with projections to the median eminence for controlling anterior pituitary hormone secretion. The present work was undertaken to provide high-resolution mapping of spatial relationships among the two magnocellular neuroendocrine and five parvicellular neuroendocrine neuron types throughout the nucleus. Double immunohistochemical labeling for two neuron types combined with retrograde labeling to identify neuroendocrine neurons positively was used in individual sections spaced 45 mum apart, along with a grid transfer method for reducing plane of section artifacts when comparing staining pattern data between animals. The results indicate that whereas each neuroendocrine neuron phenotype displays a unique distribution pattern, there is extensive partial overlap in a complex pattern between small "hot spots" with a relatively high density of a particular neuron type and few if any other phenotypes. In addition, the distribution of non-neuroendocrine neurons staining with each of the markers (but not retrogradely labeled) was mapped and compared with each other and with the neuroendocrine neuron populations. This spatial organization raises important questions about the differential functional regulation of individual-and perhaps sets of-neuroendocrine motor neuron populations in the PVH by synaptic mechanisms and by less traditional mechanisms like dendritic neurotransmitter release and gap junctions within and between neuron types.

Author information

Author/s: Simmons, Donna M (DM); Swanson, Larry W (LW);

Affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-2520, USA.

Grants: NS-050792 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS16686 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; In Vitro; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: The Journal of comparative neurology (J Comp Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 516 (issue 5) : pp 423-41

Dates: Created 2009/08/13; Completed 2009/10/23;

PMID: 19655400, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/23/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - physiology Animals Basal Nucleus of Meynert - cytology; physiology Colchicine - pharmacology Dopamine - physiology Glucocorticoids - physiology Growth Hormone - physiology Image Processing, Computer-Assisted Immunohistochemistry Male Models, Neurological

Models, Neurological Neurons - classification; physiology Neuropeptides - physiology Neurosecretory Systems - cytology Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - cytology Pattern Recognition, Automated Perfusion Prolactin - physiology Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Thyrotropin - pharmacology

Associated Chemicals: Glucocorticoids (0) ; Neuropeptides (0) ; Colchicine (64-86-8) ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (9002-60-2) ; Prolactin (9002-62-4) ; Thyrotropin (9002-71-5) ; Growth Hormone (9002-72-6)

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