Different effects of chronic Na+, Cl−, and K+ depletion on brain vasopressin mRNA and plasma vasopressin in young rats

1. We studied the effects of selective chronic dietary sodium, chloride, or potassium depletion in young rats on vasopressin mRNA levels in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, an index of vasopressin formation, and in plasma vasopressin levels, an index of vasopressin release. 2. All diets significantly increased plasma renin activity, contracted the extracellular fluid volume, and decreased serum osmolarity. 3. In the supraoptic nucleus, vasopressin mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the low-sodium group but were not significantly affected by chloride depletion. 4. There were no significant changes in vasopressin mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus after sodium or chloride dietary depletion. 5. After 2 weeks of potassium depletion, vasopressin mRNA levels were decreased in the supraoptic nucleus. When potassium depletion was prolonged for 3 weeks, vasopressin mRNA levels increased in both supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. 6. Plasma vasopressin levels were high in animals subjected to dietary chloride depletion or to 3 weeks of potassium depletion. Dietary sodium depletion or 2 weeks of dietary potassium depletion did not significantly affect plasma vasopressin. 7. Our results show that chronic sodium, chloride, or potassium depletion differentially affect brain vasopressin mRNA and vasopressin release in young rats. 8. The effect of these diets may be mediated through changes in the extracellular fluid volume, serum osmolarity, and/or renin angiotensin system.     

Effect on vasopressin release of microinjection of cholinergic agonists into the rat supraoptic nucleus.

It is likely that central cholinergic pathways to the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei participate in the control of vasopressin release. We have shown previously that this is due, in part, to activation of muscarinic, but not nicotinic, receptors in the paraventricular nucleus. There is, however, reason to believe that this cholinergic effect in the supraoptic nucleus may be the result of activation of nicotinic receptors. To test this possibility, we have studied in conscious unrestrained rats the effect of microinjection of muscarinic and nicotinic agonists into the supraoptic nucleus on vasopressin release, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate. Under ether anesthesia, a stainless steel guide cannula was placed in the supraoptic nucleus 5-7 days before the experiment, and femoral, arterial, and venous catheters were implanted 1 day before the experiment. Microinjection of nicotine into the supraoptic nucleus at doses of 1 and 10 micrograms resulted in transient increases in the plasma vasopressin concentration that were 7-fold and 11-fold greater, respectively, than control values at 3 min. There were also small transient increases in mean arterial blood pressure, but heart rate was unchanged. The microinjection of 2 and 20 ng of oxotremorine, a muscarinic agonist, into the supraoptic nucleus had no effect on the plasma vasopressin concentration, mean arterial blood pressure, or heart rate. These doses of oxotremorine were previously shown to have potent stimulatory effects on vasopressin release when microinjected into the paraventricular nucleus. These findings suggest that the central cholinergic stimulation of vasopressin release is due, in part, to activation of muscarinic receptors in the paraventricular nucleus and nicotinic receptors in the supraoptic nucleus.     

The distribution of vasopressin-, oxytocin-, and neurophysin-producing neurons in the guinea pig brain

Summary The location, cytology and projections of vasopressin-, oxytocin-, and neurophysin-producing neurons in the guinea pig were investigated using specific antisera against vasopressin, oxytocin or neurophysin in the unlabeled antibody enzyme immunoperoxidase method. Light microscopic examination of the neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei shows that hormone is transported not only in axons, but also in processes having the characteristics of dendrites. Neurons were found to contain only vasopressin or oxytocin; all neurons containing neurophysin appear to contain either vasopressin or oxytocin. In the neural lobe, vasopressin and oxytocin terminals are intermingled. In the median eminence, vasopressin and oxytocin fibers are intermingled in the internal zone. In a caudal portion of the median eminence, a number of vasopressin and neurophysin (but few oxytocin) axons enter the external zone from the internal zone, and surround portal capillaries. In the supraoptic nucleus, vasopressin neurons outnumber oxytocin neurons with a ratio of at least 5:1. The paraventricular nucleus is separated into two distinct groups of neurons, a lateral group consisting of only vasopressin neurons, and a medial group consisting of only oxytocin neurons. In addition to axons passing to the neurohypophysis, a number of axons appear to interconnect the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 51, C/21 and C/27), (We 608/3)Acknowledgements. The authors are greatly indebted to Mmes. R. Köpp-Eckmann, B. Reijerman, A. Scheiber, I. Wild and Mr. U. Schrell for technical assistance, to Mmes. P. Campbell and U. Wolf for editorial assistance, and to Dr. R.R. Dries and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Kiel, for the generous provision of high quality peptides     

Immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptides in the hypothalamus of the Japanese long-fingered bat,Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Summary To elucidate the role of hypothalamic neuropeptides in regulation of reproductive phenomena of seasonally breeding feral mammals, we used Japanese long-fingered bats, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, for immunocytochemical study of distribution of the following neuropeptides in the hypothalamus: arginin vasopressin, oxytocin, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, somatostatin, corticotropin-releasing factor, and growth hormone-releasing factor. The size, shape and location of supraoptic, paraventricular, suprachiasmatic, and arcuate nuclei of the bat were determined. Arginin vasopressin-and oxytocin-immunoreactive magnocellular neurons were found in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, where they exhibited separate distribution into two distinct groups. Parvocellular arginin vasopressin neurons occurred only in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The hibernating bats exhibited slightly increased numbers of vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. The pregnant bat displayed further increased numbers of vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in both nuclei. Somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus were also immunopositive to anti-oxytocin serum, while those in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei reacted solely to anti-somatostatin serum. They projected to the anterior median eminence and infundibular stalk. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-immunoreactive perikarya were scattered throughout the basal hypothalamus, being particularly abundant in the arcuate nucleus. They were larger in size in hibernating bats than those in normal (non-pregnant) and pregnant females. They projected fibers mainly to the internal layer of the median eminence and infundibular stalk. A few luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-reactive fibers were also observed in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, lateral habenular nuclei, pineal stalk, retroflexus fasciculus, and olfactory tubercle. Corticotropin releasing factor-immunoreactive perikarya were distributed in the paraventricular nucleus and medial preoptic area and projected into the external layer of the anterior median eminence, while growth hormone-releasing factor-immunoreactive perikarya occurred only in the arcuate nucleus and projected into the posterior part of the median eminence.     

Intra- and extrahypothalamic vasopressin and oxytocin pathways in the rat

Summary Perfusion of rat brain followed by immersion fixation with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1% paraformaldehyde, purification of the first antisera and application of the unlabelled antibody enzyme method were used to specifically identify vasopressin and oxytocin containing cells and fibres. The conventional sites of production of these hormones were confirmed as follows: supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, suprachiasmatic nucleus (only vasopressin), and other cells and cell groups of the hypothalamus. Fibres from the suprachiasmatic nucleus spread out in various directions, and probably project to the nucleus praeopticus periventricularis, organum vasculosum laminae terminalis and in the direction of the supraoptic nucleus. Oxytocin and vasopressin containing pathways could be traced from the paraventricular nucleus to the lateral ventricle, the stria terminalis and the stria medullaris. Some of the oxytocin and vasopressin containing tracts appear to continue onto the septum. The possible importance of these morphological findings for the behavioural effects of vasopressin and oxytocin is discussed.The authors wish to thank Dr. L. Sternberger for his generous gift of peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex, and Miss M.M. Smidt, Mr. A. Potjer and Mr. P. Wolters for their assistance. This work was supported in part by the Foundation for Medical Research FUNGO     

Histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in the hypothalamus of the female guinea-pig

Summary The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the hypothalamus of the female guinea pig has been examined histochemically.Activity was found in neurones of the supraoptic, paraventricular and infundibular nuclei; in the lateral hypothalamic area, in cells dorsomedial to the fornix at the level of the paraventricular nucleus and in a large group of cells surrounding the fornix at the level of the in-fundibular nucleus. A small well-stained group of cells, not identified in histological preparations, was present ventral to the paraventricular nucleus. The neuropil stained at the lateral border of the paraventricular nucleus and in the medial mammillary, suprachiasmatic and dorsomedial nuclei. The walls of some blood vessels stained; activity was particularly strong in vessels in the preoptic area and at the base of the median eminence. Nerve fibres on blood vessels ventral to the hypothalamus also stained.The degree of enzyme activity in the cell groups was compared in immature, pregnant, lactating, ovariectomized and hysterectomized animals. The greatest variation occurred in the infundibular nucleus. Hypophysectomy markedly reduced staining in the supraoptic nucleus. The possibility that AChE may be involved in the elaboration or transport of releasing factors is discussed.The authors are indebted to Dr. J. S. Perry for doing the surgery involved in this work. They are also grateful to him and to Dr. R. B. Heap for helpful discussions and to Miss M. Hamon for excellent technical assistance.     

Development of oxytocin- and vasopressin-network in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of fetal sheep

The hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei consist of oxytocin and arginine vasopressin synthesizing neurons that send projections to the neurohypophysis. A growing body of evidence in adult animals and young animals at near term confirmed the structure and function in the vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic network. However, whether those distinctive neural networks are formed before near term is largely unknown. This study determined the special patterns in location and distribution of oxytocin- and vasopressin-neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei from preterm to term in the ovine fetuses. The results showed that oxytocin- and vasopressin-neurons were present in both nuclei at the three gestational time periods (preterm, near term, and term). In the paraventricular nuclei, vasopressin-cells concentrated mainly in the core of the middle magnocellular paraventricular nuclei, and oxytocin-cells were scattered surrounding the core. In the supraoptic nuclei, vasopressin-cells mostly located in the ventral part, and oxytocin-cells in the dorsal part. The data demonstrated that the special distributed patterns of vasopressin- and oxytocin-neuron network have formed in those two nuclei at least from preterm. Intracerebroventricular injection of angiotensin II significantly increased fetal plasma oxytocin and vasopressin levels at preterm, which was associated with an increase of oxytocin- and vasopressin-neuron activity marked with c-fos expression. The data provided new evidence for the structural and functional development of the oxytocin- and vasopressin-network before birth.     

Changes in pituitary oxytocin and vasopressin during the estrous cycle and after ovarian hormones: evidence for mediation by norepinephrine

Pituitary levels of oxytocin and vasopressin were maximal on the morning of proestrus, declined during estrus, and were lowest on metestrus in cycling female rats. Norepinephrine levels in the paraventricular nucleus were decreased on proestrus and estrus when compared with metestrus-diestrus. Norepinephrine did not vary in the supraoptic nucleus. Administration of estradiol benzoate to ovariectomized rats elevated oxytocin in the pituitary 54 hr later. This elevation was not affected by a subsequent injection of estrogen or progesterone. Estrogen priming did not affect vasopressin levels in the pituitary, but a second injection of estrogen or of progesterone 48 hr later increased vasopressin in the pituitary when measured 6 hr after the second injection. Vasopressin was decreased 30 hr after a second injection of estrogen. The ovarian hormone treatments that elevated pituitary vasopressin decreased steady state levels of norepinephrine in the paraventricular nucleus and reduced the depletion of norepinephrine after administration of the catecholamine synthesis inhibitor α-methyltyrosine, suggesting a decrease in turnover. Ovarian hormones did not affect norepinephrine in the supraoptic nucleus. The present results suggest a role for posterior pituitary hormones in reproductive processes and a role for noradrenergic mechanisms in the paraventricular nucleus in mediating the effects of ovarian steroids on pituitary vasopressin.     

Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of a mutant vasopressin precursor in the supraoptic nucleus of the homozygous Brattleboro rat

Summary CP-14, a tetradecapeptide from the predicted mutant vasopressin precursor in the homozygous Brattleboro rat was detected immunocytochemically in the supraoptic nucleus of homozygous Brattleboro but not normal rats. The staining was localized to the periphery of the perikarya. CP-14 immunoreactivity was not found in the neural lobes, paraventricular nuclei, accessory nuclei or suprachiasmatic nuclei of either homozygous Brattleboro or normal rats. Vasopressin immunoreactivity was found in the neural lobe and in the perinuclear region of neurons of the supraoptic, paraventricular, suprachiasmatic and accessory nuclei of normal rats. Vasopressin immunoreactivity was also found in homozygous Brattleboro rats, mainly in the ventral part of the supraoptic nucleus: densely stained solitary cells were found amongst other faintly stained perikarya. In both cell-types the staining was mainly in the periphery of the perikarya. No vasopressin immunoreactivity was detected in the paraventricular nuclei, suprachiasmatic nuclei, accessory nuclei or neural lobe of homozygous Brattleboro rats.CP-14 and vasopressin immunoreactivities were found to be co-localized; both were present in the periphery of the same perikarya of the supraoptic nuclei of homozygous Brattleboro rats. Differential staining was found with antioxytocin serum in both normal rats and homozygous Brattleboro rats: separate neurons were stained for either oxytocin or vasopressin and CP-14. Immunoreactive oxytocin was found mainly in the perinuclear region of the neurons from the supraoptic, paraventricular and accessory nuclei.     

Anatomical localization of corticotropin-releasing activity in the human brain

Corticotropin-releasing activity (CRa) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) content were measured in seven human hypothalami. The hypothalami were obtained from routine autopsy of patients suffering from no obvious neuroendocrinological abnormality. Twelve distinct hypothalamic areas were dissected in the frozen state and extracted in aqueous solution. CRa was measured by a bioassay measuring the aCTH released by rat pituitary cells in vitro, and vasopressin by direct radioimmunoassay. CRa was detectable in almost every area with the highest values in the supraoptic, paraventricular and infundibular (arcuate) areas. Vasopressin concentrations were maximum in the supraoptic nucleus, followed by the paraventricular and infundibular nuclei. We conclude that: hypothalami obtained from routine autopsy at a general hospital can be used for consistent CRa and vasopressin assay. Vasopressin and CRa are similarly distributed in man and in the rat. In both species, high CRa, which is not explained by AVP, is found in the paraventricular nucleus. The infundibular (arcuate) nucleus seems to display non AVP-dependent CRa much greater in the human than in the rat.     

Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study of the rat hypothalamic nuclei and cell clusters under various experimental conditions

Summary In untreated, pregnant and thirsting rats the neurosecretory hypothalamic areas were investigated by means of the immunoperoxidase technique in order to demonstrate vasopressin- and oxytocin containing elements at the light- and electron microscopic level. In addition, chromalum-hematoxylinphloxin (CHP) staining and conventional double staining of ultrathin sections were used. The areas investigated included the anterior and posterior supraoptic nuclei, the paraventricular nuclei, the numerous accessory cell clusters in the region between the tractus opticus and the third ventricle as well as the median eminence. In all nuclei and in the accessory cell clusters, the number of vasopressin-reactive neurons exceeds that of oxytocin-reactive neurons. Compared with the anterior supraoptic nucleus, the posterior supraoptic nucleus and the accessory cell clusters react more heavily to prolonged thirst. In the median eminence the neurosecretory axons display close contacts with the portal vessels not only in its lateral portion but in thirsting animals also around the mid-line. There the internal layer is broadened and vasopressin-positive tanycytic processes reach the external zone. Parasagittally, fine vasopressin-positive material can be traced from the internal layer to small deposits at the portal vessels. In long term thirsting animals the typical feature of swollen axons exhibits a characteristic distribution in the median eminence and renders a distinct positive reaction to anti-vasopressin. The release of peptide hormones from the perikarya and from the axons within the nuclei as well as the mode of release within the median eminence are discussed. The significance of the positive immunostaining of the ependymal tanycytes and of some perikarya of the suprachiasmatic nucleus must be reconsidered by further studies.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Nr. Kr 569/1) and Stiftung VolkswagenwerkDedicated to Professor Berta Scharrer on the occasion of her 70th birthdayThe author wishes to express her special gratitude to Dr. L.A. Sternberger for supplying the peroxidaseantiper oxidase-complex and to Dr. H. Stein (Pathologisches Institut der Universität Kiel) for supplying Anti-IgG. The skilful technical assistance of Mrs. H. Prien and Mrs. H. Schöning is thankfully acknowledged     

Demonstration of a different localization of perikarya immunoreactive to oxytocin and vasopressin in the cat hypothalamus

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we demonstrated oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the cat hypothalamus. The OT immunoreactive neurons were found mainly in the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and dorsal accessory group located lateral to the fornix. In addition to these hypothalamic structures, the AVP immunoreactive neurons were observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, ventral accessory group located in the retrochiasmatic area and lateral accessory group, dorsal to the supraoptic nucleus caudally, and ventral to the medial part of the internal capsule rostrally. We further demonstrated a different localization of the OT and AVP immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei.     

刺激大鼠穹窿下器官诱发饮水和脑内c—fos表达的胆碱能机制

实验以饮水行为脑内c-fos表达为指标,,观察刺激大鼠穹窿下器官（SFO）的效应,结果显示,刺激SFO能诱发明显的饮水行为,与此同时,前脑8个部位（终板血管器官,正中视前核,室旁核,视上核,下丘脑外侧区,穹窿周核背侧区,丘脑联合核和无名质）和后脑3个部位（最后区,孤束核和壁旁外侧核）的Fos蛋白表达明显增强,免疫组化双重染色结果显示,刺激SFO能诱导视上核和室旁核中部分神经元呈Fos蛋白和加压素共同表达。脑室注射阿托品能部分阻断刺激SFO诱发的饮水行为,脑内上述各部位所诱导的Fos蛋白表达也明显减弱,以上结果提示,M胆碱能机制参与 刺激SFO诱发的饮水行为和脑内Fos蛋白的表达。     

Desmopressin, but not vasopressin, decreases activity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in Brattleboro rats

The pituitary neural lobe of homozygous Brattleboro rats has high rates of glucose utilization not affected by chronic treatment with exogenous vasopressin, despite attenuation of polydipsia and polyuria. We evaluated whether this effect may result from the inability of vasopressin to affect the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial metabolism or from the development of resistance to chronic vasopressin treatment. We used the [14C]deoxyglucose method to compare 28-h effects of vasopressin treatment (5 U/kg, i.m., twice a day) with that of desmopressin (100 micrograms/kg, i.p., once a day), a long-lasting antidiuretic hormone, on glucose utilization of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system and related structures in conscious homozygous Brattleboro rats. Vasopressin and desmopressin reduced water intake, plasma osmolality and plasma Na+ concentration similarly. Vasopressin decreased glucose utilization in the supraoptic nucleus, subfornical organ and median preoptic nucleus, but did not alter activity in the paraventricular nucleus and neural lobe. Desmopressin decreased glucose utilization in all these structures. The results indicate that desmopressin has a more potent inhibitory action on the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system than vasopressin over this short duration of treatment. The lack of response in the neural lobe from chronic treatment with vasopressin seems to be due to its inability to affect the paraventricular nucleus metabolism. The maintenance of metabolic activity in the paraventricular nucleus of vasopressin-treated Brattleboro rats suggests that this structure contributes importantly to the metabolism of neural lobe.     

Distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin neurons in the diencephalon of the Japanese horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. An immunohistochemical study.

The distribution of oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (VP) neurons in the diencephalon of the hibernating Japanese horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, was immunohistochemically investigated by the avidin-biotin complex method. Magnocellular OXT and VP neurons were localized mainly in the paraventricular nucleus and the supraoptic nucleus. In addition to these main nuclei, both kinds of magnocellular neurons were also found in the periventricular nucleus, perifornical area and lateral hypothalamic area. Extensively distributed parvocellular neurons containing only VP were observed in the rostral and middle portions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The size of OXT and VP magnocellular neurons was almost equal in the paraventricular and ventromedial supraoptic nuclei, whereas VP neurons were significantly larger than OXT neurons in the dorsolateral supraoptic nucleus. The OXT and VP cells in the ventral supraoptic nucleus showed a distinctive elliptical shape. Both OXT and VP fibers were distributed in the lateral habenular nucleus, stria medullaris thalami, lateral preoptic area, stria terminalis, and medial and supracapsular part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Moreover, OXT fibers were found in the substantia nigra, and VP fibers were noted in the nucleus reunions and the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus.     

An immunocytochemical comparison of the angiotensin and vasopressin hypothalamo-neurohypophysial systems in normotensive rats.

In the present study we investigated the possibility that angiotensin II/III and vasopressin coexist in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial pathway. For our experiments 8-week-old male rats not treated with colchicine were used. The anatomical orientation of the entire pathway for angiotensin and vasopressin was facilitated by examining a series of subsequent coronal, horizontal and sagittal sections. Arching fibre tracts are formed mainly by projections emanating from cell bodies in the paraventricular nucleus, the accessory magnocellular nuclei, the supraoptic nucleus and the retrochiasmatic part of the supraoptic nucleus. The majority extend as far as the median eminence and the neurohypophysis, where major terminal fields exist. However, there is a difference between the staining pattern within the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the hypophysis. The results clearly show the colocalization of angiotensin and vasopressin in neurones as well as in fibres of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.     

Stress and Colchicine do not Induce the Release of Galanin from the External Zone of the Median Eminence

The aim of the present study was to verify the hypothesis that stress exposure modifies the content and release of galanin in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and the median eminence. Colchicine and immobilization served as stress stimuli, and the changes in galanin immunoreactivity were compared with those in corticotropin-releasing hormone and vasopressin. In control animals, a limited number of galanin perikarya were identified in the paraventricular nucleus. The high dose (75 g) of colchicine enhanced galanin in both parvicellular and magnocellular subdivisions, as analysed 72 h later. In the median eminence, galanin accumulated only in the external zone. High- dose colchicine did not affect galanin, while corticotropin- releasing hormone and vasopressin were depleted from the median eminence. Immobilization (120 min) neither alone nor in combination with colchicine influenced galanin immuno-reactivity in the external zone. The low dose of colchicine induced an unexpected accumulation of galanin in the internal zone of the median eminence, which was further increased by subsequent immobilization. In the external zone, low-dose colchicine induced a complete disappearance of vasopressin, substantial depletion of corticotropin-releasing hormone and no changes in galanin immunoreactivity. The present studies demonstrate that galanin in the external zone of the median eminence is not influenced by colchicine or by immobilization stress.     

The effect of adrenaline and acetylcholine on the hypothalamic-hypophysial neurosecretion in the rat

Summary The present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of adrenaline and acetylcholine on the hypothalamic-hypophysial neurosecretory system in rats.The drugs were injected intraperitoneally and into the lateral brain ventricle. The water diuresis was measured (I group). The animals were killed 45 min after intraperitoneal and 20 min after intraventricular administration of the drugs for the histological observations on the neurosecretory system and the histochemical studies of catecholamines in this area (II group).The antidiuretic effect of adrenaline and acetylcholine was established. The antidiuresis was more remarkable following intraventricular treatment.There was no direct relationship between the amount of neurosecretory substance and ADH activity in the posterior pituitary in the short term experiment after intraperitoneal administration of these drugs.The rapid release of ADH from the posterior pituitary was accompanied with a remarkable output of neurosecretory substance from the neurosecretory cell bodies into the axons and these effects were considerable after intraventricular introduction of the drugs. Some neurosecretory cells in the state of the initial hyperfunction were observed. In the posterior pituitary the initial mobilisation of the neurosecretory material from the neurosecretory terminals following intraventricular introduction of the drugs was observed.The supraoptic nucleus seems to be more sensitive to acetylcholine and the paraventricular nucleus to adrenaline treatment.The significant vasodilatation in the posterior pituitary and in the area of the supraoptic nucleus following intraventricular acetylcholine introduction was established.According to the data described it is possible to expect the existence of control of the hypothalamic neurosecretory activity by means of adrenergic and cholinergic structures.I am very obliged to Prof. W. Bargmann for his stimulating interest in this Study. I am grateful to Dr. G. Leontieva and Dr. V. Govyrin for the possibility to use the fluorescence catecholamine method, to Dr. E. Zeimal and Prof. M. Michelson for using the method for intraventricular injections.     

Role of Catecholamines in Regulation of the Functional State of Vasopressinergic Cells of the Rat Hypothalamus

In in vivo and in vitro experiments there have been shown different mechanisms of regulation of hypothalamic vasopressinergic neurons, including regulation due to changes of activity level of brain catecholaminergic and NPY-ergic neurons innervating hypothalamic vasopressinergic cells. We demonstrated in in vitro experiments that dopamine and noradrenaline had no effects on vasopressin expression, but inhibited its release from cell perikarya in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus. Besides, activity of vasopressinergic neurons might probably be regulated via activation of synthesis of these neurotransmitters in vasopressinergic cells themselves in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. To activate synthesis of various neurotransmitters, in our case, catecholamines and NPY, in vasopressinergic neurons, different stimuli adequate to trigger or activate synthesis of these substances are required. Synthesis of catecholamines in vasopressinergic cells of supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei was revealed after immobilization stress and adrenalectomy. NPY is synthesized in neurons of hypothalamic neurosecretory centers in norm, and its synthesis increases at disturbances of NPY-ergic innervation of vasopressinergic cells.