Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hyponatremia has been observed in elderly patients treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine. The pathogenesis of this effect is not known, but enhanced release of vasopressin (VP) and its renal actions may be a possible mechanism. Excess secretion of VP in combination with large fluid intake is known to induce hyponatremia. We determine if chronic fluoxetine administration in association with liberal fluid intake will induce hyponatremia via enhanced release of VP. We used a previously described model in which fluid intake is forced by administering rats a nutritionally balanced liquid diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats in groups of 10 were randomized to solid and liquid diets, and each diet group administered daily i.p. injections of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) or saline for 10 d. Water was given ad libitum to all groups. Daily weight, fluid and food intake, and urine output were measured. On d 10, rats were killed by rapid guillotine decapitation 1-3 h after injection. Trunk blood was collected for measurements of plasma VP and oxytocin (OT) and serum sodium (Na), BUN, creatinine, and glucose. Pituitary glands were assayed for VP and OT content. VP mRNA in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei (PVN and SON) and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA in the PVN were measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Fluid intake was significantly higher in groups maintained on liquid vs solid diet (p < 0.0001), as was urine output (p < 0.0001). Fluoxetine-treated rats gained significantly less weight than placebo-treated rats (p = 0.01), in keeping with fluoxetine's anorexigenic properties. However, no significant differences were found among the groups in Na, plasma VP or OT, pituitary VP or OT, or PVN CRF or VP mRNA levels. We conclude that administration of fluoxetine to laboratory rats in the dose and duration used in this study does not significantly affect hypothalamic expression, pituitary stores, or peripheral secretion of VP.
 ...
PMID:Vasopressin, oxytocin, corticotrophin-releasing factor, and sodium responses during fluoxetine administration in the rat. 966 40

We hypothesized that the anterior circumventricular organs (ACVO) and the supraoptic (SON) and hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN), among other structures that play a role in sensing extracellular body fluid volume and composition in postnatal animals (as demonstrated by Fos protein production by the immediate-early gene c-fos), would show similar activation in fetal sheep during an osmotic challenge. The brains of 10 fetal sheep [6 treated, 4 controls; 129-131 days of gestational age (dGA) = 0.87 gestation] were immunostained for Fos. Seventy-five minutes before tissue collection the dams were given intravenous 20% mannitol (1 ml . min-1 . kg-1 for 10 min). Subsequently, the ACVO, SON, and PVN were scored for the amount of neuronal Fos immunostaining. The subfornical organ (SFO; 24.5 +/- 9.0 vs. 1.7 +/- 1.2), the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT; 26.8 +/- 5.6 vs. 7.0 +/- 2.0), the SON (39.8 +/- 3.0 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.1), and the PVN (59.8 +/- 7.9 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.7) had increases (P < 0.05) in the average number of Fos-positive cells per field compared with controls, whereas the median preoptic nucleus did not. Double immunostaining for Fos and arginine vasopressin (AVP) or oxytocin (OT) indicated that AVP- but not OT-immunopositive neurons in SON and PVN respond to osmotic challenge. These results demonstrate that the SFO, OVLT, SON, and PVN are activated by osmotic challenge in fetal sheep at 130 dGA.
 ...
PMID:Fos response of fetal sheep anterior circumventricular organs to osmotic challenge in late gestation. 968 50

Systemic administration of the cytokine IL-1 beta produces a significant release of ACTH into the plasma and activation of hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) cells. However, the mechanism(s) by which systemic IL-1 beta induces these responses is not clear. In the present study, we have investigated the proposal that catecholamine cells of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) can relay circulating IL-1 signals via a prostaglandin-dependent mechanism to effect the HPA axis responses in the rat. Intra-arterial administration of IL-1 beta (1 pg/kg) to otherwise untreated animals produced a prominent release of ACTH into the plasma, substantial c-fos expression in paraventricular medial parvocellular (mPVN) corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) cells, supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) OT cells, area postrema cells, NTS and VLM catecholamine cells and cells of the central amygdala. Pretreatment with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin (10 mg/kg body weight ia) 15 min before IL-1 beta administration (1 pg/kg ia) significantly reduced plasma ACTH release and c-fos expression in PVN and SON OT cells and MPVN CRF cells, in addition, the area postrema, A1 and C1 catecholamine cell groups of the VLM and A2 and C2 catecholamine cell groups of the NTS, all exhibited concomitant reductions in c-fos expression. Conversely indomethacin administration did not alter the IL1 beta-induced expression of c-fos in the central amygdala. These data suggest that central pathways involved in the IL-1 beta-induced activation of the HPA axis and OT cells are, at least in part, dependent upon prostaglandin synthesis. It is proposed that neurons in the area postrema, NTS and VLM might mediate this IL-1 beta-induced activation of hypothalamic CRF and OT cells and release of ACTH into the plasma.
 ...
PMID:Indomethacin attenuates oxytocin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to systemic interleukin-1 beta. 970 Jun 79

Centrally administered histamine (HA) stimulates the secretion of the pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides ACTH and beta-endorphin as well as prolactin. The effect of HA on secretion of these adenohypophysial hormones is indirect and may involve activation of hypothalamic neurons containing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), arginine-vasopressin (AVP) or oxytocin (OT). We studied the effect of activating central HA receptors by central infusion of HA, HA agonists or antagonists on expression of CRH, AVP and OT mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei. Intracerebroventricular infusion of HA (270 nmol), the H1-receptor agonist 2-thiazolylethylamine or the H2-receptor agonist 4-methylhistamine increased the level of CRH mRNA in the PVN, and OT mRNA in the SON. In contrast, none of these compounds had any effect on expression of AVP mRNA in the PVN or SON. Administration of the H1-receptor antagonist mepyramine or the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine had no effect on basal expression of CRH, AVP or OT mRNA in the PVN and/or SON except for a slight inhibitory effect of cimetidine on CRH mRNA expression in the PVN. Pretreatment with mepyramine or cimetidine before HA administration inhibited the HA-induced increase in OT mRNA levels but had no effect on the HA-induced increase in CRH mRNA levels in the PVN. We conclude that HA stimulates hypothalamic CRH and OT neurons by increasing mRNA levels, and this effect seems to be mediated via activation of both HA H1 and H2 receptors.
 ...
PMID:Neuronal histamine and expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin and oxytocin in the hypothalamus: relative importance of H1 and H2 receptors. 972 83

The recent cloning of a second estrogen receptor (ER) provided a new tool to investigate and clarify how estrogens are capable of communicating with the brain and influence gene expression and neural function. The purpose of the present study was to define the neuroanatomical organization of each receptor subtype using a side-by-side approach and to characterize the cellular population (s) expressing the ERbeta transcript in the endocrine hypothalamus using immunohistochemistry combined with in situ hybridization. Axonal transport inhibition was accomplished to cause neuropeptide accumulation into the cytoplasm and thus facilitate the detection of all positive luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OT), gastrin-related peptide (GRP), and enkephalin (ENK) neurons. The genes encoding either ERalpha or -beta were expressed in numerous limbic-associated structures, and fine differences were found in terms of intensity and positive signal. Such phenomenon is best represented by the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BnST) and preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus, where the expression pattern of both transcripts differed across subnuclei. The novel ER was also found to be expressed quite exclusively in other hypothalamic nuclei, including the supraoptic (SON) and selective compartments (magnocellular and autonomic divisions) of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). A high percentage of the ERbeta-expressing neurons located in the ventro- and dorsomedial PVN are of OT type; 40% of the OT-ir cells forming the medial magnocellular and ventromedial parvocellular PVN showed a clear hybridization signal for ERbeta mRNA, whereas a lower percentage (15-20%) of OT neurons were positive in the caudal parvocellular PVN and no double-labeled cells were found in the rostral PVN and other regions of the brain with the exception of the SON. Very few AVP-ir neurons expressing ERbeta transcript were found throughout the rat brain, although the medial PVN displayed some scattered double-labeled cells (<5%). Quite interestingly, the large majority of the ERbeta-positive cells in the caudal PVN were colocalized within CRF-ir perikarya. Indeed, more than 60-80% of the CRF-containing cells located in the caudolateral division of the parvocellular PVN exhibited a positive hybridization signal for ERbeta mRNA, whereas very few (<5%) neuroendocrine CRF-ir parvocellular neurons of the medial PVN expressed the gene encoding ERbeta. A small percentage of ERbeta-expressing cells in the dorsocaudal and ventromedial zones of the parvocellular PVN were also ENK positive. The ventral zone of the medial parvocellular PVN also displayed GRP-ir neurons, but no convincing hybridization signal for ERbeta was detected in this neuronal population. Finally, as previously described for the gene encoding the classic ER, LHRH neurons of both intact and colchicine-pretreated animals did not express the novel estrogen receptor. This study shows a differential pattern of expression of both receptors in the brain of intact rats and that ERbeta is expressed at various levels in distinct neuropeptidergic populations, including OT, CRF, and ENK. The influence of estrogen in mediating genomic and neuronal responses may therefore take place within these specific cellular groups in the brains of cycling as well as intact male mammals.
 ...
PMID:Expression and neuropeptidergic characterization of estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) throughout the rat brain: anatomical evidence of distinct roles of each subtype. 973 72

Rat and mouse hypothalami from postnatal animals containing highly differentiated neurones survive very well in long-term (>15 days in vitro, DIV) stationary organotypic cultures. Magnocellular oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) neurones are present in identifiable paraventricular (PVN), supraoptic (SON) and accessory (ACC) nuclei in these cultures. After 15 DIV in standard medium immunocytochemistry revealed 427 +/- 63 OT cells and 217 +/- 27 VP cells per cultured rat hypothalamus, and 380 +/- 72 OT cells and 622 +/- 91 VP cells per cultured mouse hypothalamus. Following a 7-day adaptation period in standard culture medium containing serum, the rat slice-explants survived very well after subsequent transfer to defined, serum- free media (SFM) for an additional 8 days. The number of OT cells surviving in SFM was 612 +/- 147 OT cells per cultured rat hypothalamus. Only 0.5% of the magnocellular OT and VP neurones in the cultures appeared to express both peptides. Experiments on c-fos gene expression in these cultures showed that while only 12% of the magnocellular OT and VP neurones contained barely detectable Fos protein in their nuclei under control conditions, potassium depolarization of these cultures for 3 h produced intense c-fos expression in 87-91% of these cells. Thus, magnocellular neurones in these cultures are sufficiently stable and responsive to permit long-term physiological and gene expression studies to be done under defined media conditions.
 ...
PMID:Stationary organotypic cultures of oxytocin and vasopressin magnocellular neurones from rat and mouse hypothalamus. 983 Dec 61

Previous studies have implicated oxytocin (OT) in the control of surge-type PRL secretion in the pregnant and pseudopregnant rat. The present studies examined the relationship between mating-induced activation of OT neurons in the paraventricular (PVN), supraoptic (SON), and anterior commissural (ACN) nuclei and PRL secretion. Activity within OTergic neurons, as measured by increased c-fos expression, was examined immediately and 5 days following mating in ovariectomized, estrogen-plus-progesterone-treated rats at the time when nocturnal PRL surges are expressed (0600 h) and at an intersurge time (2400 h). Females received fifteen intromissions (15I), 15 mounts-without-intromission (MO), or no stimulation (homecage, HC) from a sexually experienced male. Receipt of 15I at 0600 h induced significantly higher numbers of OT immunoreactive (OT-IR) cells and FOS/OT-IR double-labeled cells in the parvocellular division of the PVN (PVNparv) and in the SON than did 15I at 2400 h. Numbers of OT-IR and FOS/OT-IR cells in the ACN and in the magnocellular compartment of the PVN (PVNmag) were not influenced by mating at either time. In contrast, acute PRL secretion induced within 5-30 min by 15I was not influenced by whether mating occurred at 1800 h (diurnal surge), 2400 h, or 0600 h, nor were plasma OT levels elevated during the 1 h following 15I or MO at these times. Examination of FOS-IR cells throughout the hypothalamus across the two times of day revealed previously unreported differences between 15I and control MO treatments in the PVN, SON, and the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus (ARCvl). On day 5 post mating, numbers of OT-IR and FOS/OT-IR cells in the PVN, SON, and ACN were very low and were similar between 0600 h and 2400 h and between females that showed (15I) or did not show (MO) mating-induced PRL surges characteristic of pregnancy. The results of these studies demonstrate that intromissive but not mounts-only stimulation from males induces a rapid increase in OT-IR staining and OT neuron activation in the PVNparv and the SON. These mating-induced responses in OT neurons occurred within 1 h after mating only at 0600 h, suggesting a diurnal fluctuation in sensitivity to intromissive stimulation. Changes in OTergic function were not seen in response to mating at other times of day, nor at the time of the nocturnal PRL surge 5 days after mating. We conclude that OT activity induced by mating does not act to stimulate PRL secretion directly, but may be involved in the process(es) by which genitosensory stimulation initiates surge-type PRL secretion.
 ...
PMID:Diurnal fluctuations in mating-induced oxytocinergic activity within the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei do not influence prolactin secretion. 983 21

Staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d), a histochemical marker for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is increased in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei in late pregnant rats. To determine whether increases in staining were evident at other times during pregnancy and lactation the number of cells that stained for NADPH-d in the SON and PVN in rats on days 4, 12, 16, and 22 of pregnancy and on days 4, 12, and 20 of lactation was compared to that in virgin females. In a second experiment the influence of ovarian hormones on NADPH-d staining was assessed by comparing staining in the SON and PVN among ovariectomized animals exposed to either a steroid hormone replacement schedule that mimics late pregnancy (oestrogen and progesterone with progesterone removal), oestrogen alone, oestrogen and progesterone, or cholesterol alone. In the last experiment of this series staining was compared among ovariectomized animals given either oestrogen or cholesterol priming accompanied by oxytocin (OT) or vehicle infusion into the third ventricle for 7 days. The number of cells showing dense staining for NADPH-d in both the SON and PVN increased on days 12 and 22 of pregnancy and 4 and 12 of lactation compared to that observed in virgins. NADPH-d staining in these areas was also increased by both the steroid treatment that mimicked late pregnancy and chronic central OT infusion in oestrogen-primed animals. These data suggest that NADPH-d staining in the SON and PVN is increased at times when oxytocinergic cells are known to be active and that the hormonal state associated with late pregnancy is sufficient to increase NADPH-d staining.
 ...
PMID:Changes in NADPH-d staining in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei during pregnancy and lactation in rats: role of ovarian steroids and oxytocin. 991 29

Vasopressin and oxytocin are released into the extracellular space of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN). The dendrites of these neurones contain a high density of neurosecretory granules, and exocytotic profiles have been visualised by electron microscopy. Release within the SON has been measured using microperfusion techniques; release is tetrodotoxin-independent, calcium-dependent, and is activated by a range of physiological stimuli, including suckling, dehydration, haemorrhage and stress. Release of vasopressin into the SON is regulated by a number of forebrain and brainstem areas. Dendritic release does not necessarily parallel neurohypophyseal release, and may occur semi-independently of spike activity in the soma and axons. The physiological consequences of dendritic vasopressin release are not clear, vasopressin and oxytocin appear to induce further vasopressin and oxytocin release from the dendrites. In contrast, by combining retrodialysis and electrophysiology we have shown that, unlike oxytocin which excites oxytocin neurones, vasopressin inhibits the electrical activity of vasopressin neurones, and hence suppresses vasopressin release from the pituitary. Thus, vasopressin released from dendrites may act on vasopressin neurones to regulate their phasic activity by an auto-inhibitory action within the SON. Since dendritic vasopressin release is increased and prolonged after various stimuli, this mechanism may act to restrain excitation of vasopressin neurones (and hence vasopressin secretion from the neurohypophysis) during continuing stimulation.
 ...
PMID:Intrahypothalamic vasopressin release. An inhibitor of systemic vasopressin secretion? 1002 99

Oxytocin (OT) facilitates the onset of maternal behaviour in the late pregnant rat, enhances uterine contractility at parturition, and elicits milk ejection during lactation. If the rising estradiol (E2 and declining progesterone (P) of late pregnancy is reproduced in a virgin ovariectomized rat by implanting E2- and P-filled capsules for 2 weeks followed by removal of P-containing implants 36-48 h prior to death, OT messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels increase in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei (PVN and SON) of the rat. Both E2 administration and P withdrawal are necessary to increase OT mRNA, but the mechanisms of these effects are not understood. P may work within the PVN although P receptors are reported to be sparse or non-existent in the PVN or outside the PVN on PR-containing neurones that project to OT-containing neurones or via membrane bound receptors that are known to bind neurosteroids and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). To determine the mechanism through which P may inhibit or P withdrawal may increase OT mRNA levels, virgin ovariectomized (OVX) rats received sequential E2 and P via Silastic implants for 14 days. On day 13, prior to removal of P capsules on day 14, the rats were given the benzodiazepine agonist, diazepam, or saline injections subcutaneously (s.c.) twice daily until death on day 16. OT mRNA levels were increased in the steroid-treated group that received saline but not diazepam. In experiment 2, P capsules were removed on day 14 or pharmacological P withdrawal was induced by injecting RU486 injections s.c. twice daily until death 48 h later. OT mRNA levels were increased in the steroid-treated group that received RU486. Subsequent studies demonstrated the expression of PR mRNA within the rat PVN. The data suggest that gonadal steroids may influence PVN OT mRNA levels by modulating the GABA(A) receptor or by directly altering gene transcription via the PR.
 ...
PMID:The effects of progesterone on oxytocin mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the female rat can be altered by the administration of diazepam or RU486. 1004 69


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10