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

Using 19 antisera raised against neuropeptides, amines or enzymes of amine biosynthesis, an immunohistochemical characterization of the sheep suprachiasmatic nucleus was performed. The most distinguishing characteristic of the sheep suprachiasmatic nucleus was the low density of serotonin- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibres; their concentration was similar to that in surrounding areas. This is different from observations in rodents but similar to those in primates. Moreover, the sheep suprachiasmatic nucleus is also characterized by a dense plexus of methionine-enkephalin-immunoreactive fibres. This has not been observed in other species. As in other species, such as rodents, the sheep suprachiasmatic nucleus contains numerous neurophysin-immunoreactive neurons and a few tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons. After colchicine pretreatment, many intensely stained vasoactive intestinal peptide-, vasopressin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive perikarya appeared, and more neurophysin-immunoreactive cell bodies were observed. Thus, although similarities exist among species, there are distinct differences in the neuro-chemical organization of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the sheep and other species.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical characterization of the sheep suprachiasmatic nucleus. 259 60

Evidence is rapidly accumulating that a number of neuropeptides are involved in the central control of male sexual behavior. This is consistent with their neuroanatomical distribution, i.e., in CNS loci previously implicated in the control of this behavior such as the medial preoptic area, and with recent findings that the peptide content of some of these regions is regulated by testosterone or its metabolites. Most of the work has been done using rats, but relevant human studies have been included whenever such material has been available. At this point there are relatively few studies which directly demonstrate the involvement of peptides in this behavior. Inhibitory and facilitatory actions, however, have been demonstrated following injections of peptides, peptide antisera, or antagonists into the CNS of male rats. Significant new developments include demonstrations that injections of substance P and A-MSH directly into the medial preoptic area can facilitate this behavior, while ventricular injection of an oxytocin antagonist can produce a powerful inhibition. The emerging picture is that GnRH, oxytocin, A-MSH and substance P stimulate, while CRF, beta-endorphin, prolactin, and neuropeptide Y are inhibitory. The inhibitory peptides CRF, beta-endorphin and prolactin are related, as they are released in response to stress. This may be relevant to the low level of sexual motivation in some depressed men. Questions concerning sites of action and mechanisms of action which mediate the behavioral effects which have been demonstrated remain largely unanswered.
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PMID:Neuropeptides and male sexual behavior. 267 29

Neurons with intrinsic pacemaker activity and presumed sympathoexcitatory function were recorded in rat tissue slices within the confines of the rostroventrolateral reticular nucleus (RVL). These cells were excited in dose-dependent fashion by arginine vasopressin (AVP, 10(8)-10(6) M) but not by oxytocin (up to 10(7) M). The effect of AVP was mimicked by the V1-selective agonist [Phe2,Orn8]vasotocin (VT) (1 microM) but not by the V2-agonist [Val4,D-Arg8]vasopressin (VP) (1.9 microM). The effect of AVP (10(-7) M) was completely blocked by SKF 101926 (10(7) M), a non-selective antagonist and by d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]AVP, a V1-selective antagonist but was unaffected by the V2-selective antagonist d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ile4,Ala-NH2 9]AVP. These cells were also activated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (10(-7)-10(-6) M), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (4 X 10(-8) M), substance P, (10(-6) M), neuropeptide Y (NPY) (10(-8) M) and inhibited by Met-enkephalin (10(-6) M) and morphine (2 mM). Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) (10(-7) M) and angiotensin II (10(-6) M) were ineffective. In conclusion, RVL pacemaker neurons have vasopressin receptors reminiscent of the V1 (vascular and pressor) subtype. Their pacemaking activity is modulated by low doses of several other peptides also known to produce large vasomotor effects after introduction into the cerebroventricular space.
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PMID:Effects of vasopressin and other neuropeptides on rostral medullary sympathoexcitatory neurons 'in vitro'. 275

The anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPv), which lies in the periventricular zone of the preoptic region, is critical for normal phasic gonadotropin secretion since lesions of this nucleus abolish the progesterone-induced surge of luteinizing hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary, block ovulation, and induce persistent vaginal estrus in female rats. However, very little is known about the neurotransmitter-specific pathways associated with this nucleus. In the present study we evaluated the distribution of biochemically specific cells and fibers within the AVPv and adjacent regions by using an indirect immunohistochemical method with antisera to serotonin (5-HT), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cholecystokinin-8 (CCK), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP), neurotensin (NT), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), luteotropin-releasing hormone (LRH), somatostatin (SS), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), oxytocin (OXY), vasopressin (VAS), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH1-24), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), leucine-enkephalin (L-ENK), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Our findings indicate that both cells and fibers containing these putative neurotransmitters are differentially distributed in and around the AVPv in accordance with the cytoarchitectonic organization of this part of the preoptic region. The AVPv itself appears to receive strong inputs from SP-, VAS-, CCK-, and SS-containing pathways, whereas the highest densities of L-ENK-, NT-, 5-HT-, NPY-, and DBH-immunoreactive fibers were found in the cell-sparse zone just lateral to the AVPv. The suprachiasmatic preoptic nucleus (PSCh), a small group of cells located ventral to the AVPv just dorsal to the optic chiasm, contained high densities of alpha-MSH- and ACTH-immunoreactive fibers, as well as substantial numbers of fibers containing catecholamines or NPY. In contrast, a dense plexus of VAS-stained fibers was distributed fairly evenly throughout the AVPv and PSCh. Numerous L-ENK-immunoreactive cell bodies, and moderate numbers of CCK-, NT-, and CRF-stained cell bodies were found in the AVPv. The PSCh contained many TH-stained cells (presumably dopaminergic), in addition to a moderate number of CCK-containing cell bodies, while a high density of NT- and CRF-stained cells were found in the cell-sparse zone lateral to the AVPv, in addition to several CCK-, SP-, VIP-, and TH-containing cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:The distribution of neurotransmitter-specific cells and fibers in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus: implications for the control of gonadotropin secretion in the rat. 288 Jun 34

Using immunohistochemistry, well-preserved neuronal cell bodies and fibres containing neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and cholecystokinin immunoreactivity have been identified in all seven supratentorial anaplastic astrocytomas studied. These neurones have been shown not only on the edge but also in the depth of the neoplastic tissue. These neuropeptides were not present in 18 other intracranial tumours (3 astrocytomas, 1 subependymoma, 8 glioblastoma multiformes, 1 meningioma, and 5 metastases). In all 25 intracranial tumours studied, no immunoreactivity was found for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin, synenkephalin, neurophysin I-II, and corticotropin releasing factor.
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PMID:Neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and cholecystokinin neurone preservation in anaplastic astrocytomas. 290 6

Colocalization of thyrotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactivity with other neuroactive substances was examined immunohistochemically in colchicine-treated rat brains using double-staining or elution-restaining methods. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactivity was shown to be located in the same neurons as: 1. enkephalin-, gamma-amino butyric acid- and tyrosine hydroxylase-, but not somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb 2. oxytocin- and cholecystokinin-, but not vasopressin-like immunoreactivity in the supraoptic nucleus 3. cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in posterior pituitary 4. enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the perifornical area of the hypothalamus and 5. neuropeptide Y- and neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in the periaqueductal central grey. These findings provide further examples of coexistence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone with classical neurotransmitters and/or peptides in the rat central nervous system.
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PMID:Coexistence of TRH with other neuroactive substances in the rat central nervous system. 315 46

Recent reports indicate that oxytocin exerts direct effects on the release of insulin and glucagon from the endocrine pancreas of the rat. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oxytocin-like immunoreactivity is present in the anglerfish islet, and if it is associated with subsets of hormone-producing cells. Antisera against oxytocin, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, and the 200-kd neurofilament polypeptide were applied to serial 5 micrometers sections of pancreatic islets. The antiserum to the 200-kd neurofilament polypeptide labeled nerve bundles and axons, some of which were also stained with the oxytocin antiserum. Oxytocin immunoreactivity was observed in large nerves that branched into varicose fibers. These fibers were consistently associated only with clusters of insulin-producing cells. Successive application of oxytocin and insulin antisera to the same section provided additional verification of this relationship. Oxytocin-labeled nerves were not associated with cells immunoreactive to glucagon, somatostatin, or neuropeptide Y (anglerfish peptide Yg). The results demonstrate that oxytocin or an oxytocin-like peptide is located in fibers that surround only insulin-producing cells in the anglerfish islet. Although the functional significance of this observation remains to be determined, the results imply that oxytocin, or an oxytocin-like peptide, may affect the synthesis or release of insulin from anglerfish islets.
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PMID:Oxytocin-like immunoreactive nerves are associated with insulin-containing cells in pancreatic islets of anglerfish (Lophius americanus). 330 46

This paper presents data showing that the sympathetic autonomic areas of the cat thoracolumbar spinal cord contain nerve terminals and fibres with immunoreactivity for at least seven neuropeptides. The distribution in the intermediolateral cell column of the terminals and fibres which contain enkephalin-, neuropeptide Y-, neurotensin-, substance P-, and neurophysin II-like immunoreactivity (ENK, NPY, NT, SP, and NP2, respectively) suggests that these peptides are involved in more generalized functions of the autonomic nervous system. On the other hand, peaks in density of immunoreactivity at certain levels suggest that different levels of influence of sympathetic preganglionic neurons by the various peptides may occur along the length of the thoracolumbar cord. The distribution of terminals and fibres containing somatostatin- and oxytocin-like immunoreactivity (SS and OXY) suggests that these peptides may be part of specific pathways to particular sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The possible sources of the terminals and fibres containing ENK, NPY, NT, SS, and SP include the spinal cord and supraspinal areas, whereas the source of these structures with OXY and NP2 is most likely supraspinal. The data suggest that coexistence of peptides and interactions between structures containing different neuropeptides occur in the spinal autonomic areas. It is speculated that neuropeptides have an important role to play in the regulation of the cardiovascular division of the autonomic nervous system.
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PMID:Peptidergic inputs to sympathetic preganglionic neurons. 331 10

The effect of 15 defined neuropeptides on the mitogenic activation of lymphocytes from human thymus, guinea pig lymph nodes and rat spleen was investigated. Lymphocytes were incubated in the absence or presence of polyclonal T and B cell activators together with increasing doses of the neuropeptides, and harvested at 48 h of culture after pulse-labeling with 3H-thymidine to assess the DNA synthesis. A dose-related stimulatory effect on the spontaneous 3H-thymidine incorporation of human thymocytes was obtained with methionine-enkephalin (met-enk), motilin and neurotensin. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide HI (PHI) were inhibitory. A similar responsiveness was observed in cultures of phytohemagglutinin P (PHA)-activated human thymocytes. The low level of basal DNA synthesis of guinea pig lymph node cells was stimulated by VIP and inhibited by neuropeptide Y (NPY) and PHI. PHA-activated lymph node T lymphocytes were stimulated by neurotensin, bombesin and motilin, whereas NPY inhibited the thymidine uptake. The low rate of spontaneous DNA synthesis of rat spleen cells was increased in the presence of VIP. Met-enk stimulated both basal and dextran sulfate-activated splenic B cell proliferation, whereas PHI was inhibitory in both cases. The following peptides were found to be inactive in all the above assays: substance P, cholecystokinin-octapeptide, somatostatin, galanin, oxytocin, pentagastrin and gastrin-releasing peptide 1-27 and 14-27. Although the responses were generally of low magnitude and observed at high peptide concentrations, present study contributes to the understanding of possible mechanisms involved in interactions between the nervous and the immune system.
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PMID:Neuropeptide regulation of human thymocyte, guinea pig T lymphocyte and rat B lymphocyte mitogenesis. 349 94

An indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to study the peptidergic innervation of the thyroid gland in homozygous Brattleboro rats (DI) and normal Long-Evans rats (LE). The primary goal of this study was to determine whether the previously demonstrated decrease in thyroid responsiveness to TSH in DI might be due to an abnormality in the innervation of the thyroid. Thyroids from both types of rats were found to contain nerve fibers containing immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and peptide HI (PHI). All four types of fibers were found in close association with both follicle cells and blood vessels. Well developed networks of fibers surrounding blood vessels were particularly apparent in the case of NPY. The density of fibers associated with follicle cells in DI was at least as great as that in LE in regard to SP, NPY, and PHI. Fibers containing VIP were found in greater abundance in DI than in LE. Additional studies revealed no evidence of thyroid fibers containing either somatostatin or neurophysin, which was used as a marker for vasopressin. We conclude that the reduced responsiveness of the thyroid in DI is not due to an inadequate supply of any of the neuropeptides included in this study. Since VIP is known to enhance thyroid secretion, we suggest that the apparent proliferation of VIP-containing fibers in DI may be a reflection of a neural mechanism attempting to compensate for a thyroid gland deficiency analogous to the humoral mechanism by which TSH secretion increases in response to thyroid deficiency.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical studies of the peptidergic innervation of the thyroid gland in the Brattleboro rat. 654 94


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