Abstract
Vasopressin (arginine vasopressin, AVP) is present in two types of nerve fibres in the median eminence (ME)1–3. First, it is found in nerve terminals that originate in the parvicellular neurones of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and abut on the pericapillary space surrounding the fenestrated capillaries of the primary pituitary portal plexus in the external zone (EZ) of the ME. These neurones also synthesize corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)4–6, which acts synergetically with vasopressin to stimulate release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) from the pituitary gland (see ref. 7). Second, vasopressinergic axons of the magnocellular neurosecretory system pass through the internal zone (IZ) of the ME to terminate in the neurohaemal contact zone of the neurohy-pophysis. The involvement of vasopressinergic magnocellular neurones in the control of ACTH secretion is much debated7. Of particular interest in this context is the origin of the vasopressin found in pituitary portal blood1,8,9. Although it has been demonstrated that vasopressin and CRF are present in the same neurosecretory granules of EZ fibres3, parallel determinations of vasopressin and CRF in pituitary portal blood have shown alterations of the concentration of vasopressin without a concomitant change in that of CRF8,9. Such a dissociation suggests that either differential release of vasopressin and CRF can occur from a single population of nerve endings, or there are fibres in the pituitary-stalk ME which release vasopressin but not CRF. Here we present evidence for the latter. Our results indicate that stimuli causing depolarization of the axonal membrane in vitro elicit release of vasopressin from nerve fibres in the external and internal zones of the ME.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Zimmerman, E. A. et al. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 297, 405–417 (1977).
Burlei, A., Chateau-Chapler, M. & Dreyfuss, F. Neuroendocrinology of Vasopressin, Corticoliberin and Opiomelanocortins (eds Baertschi, A. J. & Dreyfuss, J. J.) 95–106 (Academic, London, 1982).
Whitnall, M. H., Mezey, E. & Gainer, H. Nature 317, 248–250 (1985).
Kiss, J. Z., Mezey, E. & Skirboll, L. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1854–1858 (1984).
Sawchenko, P. E., Swanson, L. W. & Vale, W. W. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1883–1887 (1984).
Tramu, G., Croix, G. & Pillez, A. Neuroendocrinology 37, 467–469 (1983).
Makara, G. B., Antoni, F. A., Stark, E. & Karteszi, M. Perspectives in Neuroendocrinology Vol. 3 (eds Müller, E. E. & McLeod, R. M.) 71–119 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984).
Gibbs, D. M. Fedn Proc. 44, 203–206 (1985).
Plotsky, P. M. Fedn Proc. 44, 207–213 (1985).
Holmes, M. C., Antoni, F. A., Catt, K. J. & Aguilera, G. Neuroendocrinology (in the press).
Bhattacharya, A. N. & Marks, B. H. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther. 165, 108–116 (1969).
Seybold, V., Eide, R. & Hokfelt, T. Endocrinology 108, 1803–1809 (1981).
Bugnon, C. et al. J. Steroid Biochem. 20, 183–195 (1984).
Rhodes, C. H., Morrell, J. L. & Pfaff, D. W. J. comp. Neurol. 198, 45–64 (1984).
Antoni, F. A., Holmes, M. C. & Kiss, J. Z. Endocrinology 117, 1293–1299 (1985).
Ixart, G. et al. Neuroendocrinology 35, 270–276 (1982).
Makara, G. B. Adv. physiol. Sci. 14, 31–44 (1981).
Antoni, F. A., Makara, G. B. & Rappay, Gy. J. Endocr. 91, 415–423 (1981).
Marchbanks, R. M. Biochem. J. 104, 148–157 (1967).
Seitz, H. M. Z. Zellforsch. Mikrosk. Anat. 67, 351–366 (1965).
Page, R. B. & Dovey-Hartman, J. J. comp. Neurol. 226, 274–288 (1984).
Grafstein, B. & Forman, D. S. Physiol. Rev. 60, 1167–1283 (1980).
Reichardt, L. F. & Kelly, R. B. A. Rev. Biochem. 52, 871–926 (1983).
Gillies, G. & Lowry, P. J. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. Vol. 7 (eds Ganong, W. F. & Martini, L.) 45–75 (Raven, New York, 1981).
Russell, J. T., Brownstein, M. J. & Gainer, H. Brain Res. 201, 227–232 (1980).
Knepel, W., Nutto, D., Meyer, D. K. & Vlaskovska, M. Neurosci. Lett. 48, 321–326 (1984).
Andersson, E. Science 152, 379–380 (1966).
Green, J. D. & Harris, G. W. J. Endocr. 5, 136–145 (1947).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holmes, M., Antoni, F., Aguilera, G. et al. Magnocellular axons in passage through the median eminence release vasopressin. Nature 319, 326–329 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319326a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/319326a0
This article is cited by
-
Short-term fluoxetine treatment induces neuroendocrine and behavioral anxiogenic-like responses in adolescent male rats
Experimental Brain Research (2015)
-
Role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the regulation of the neuroendocrine stress response in rodents: insights from mutant mice
Amino Acids (2008)
-
Immunohistochemical characterization of chicken pituitary cells containing the vasotocin VT2 receptor
Cell and Tissue Research (2008)
-
Physiological and pathological roles of interleukin-6 in the central nervous system
Molecular Neurobiology (1997)
-
Regulation of vasopressin gene expression: Changes in the level, but not the size, of vasopressin mRNA following endocrine manipulations
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (1993)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.