Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P01185 (vasopressin)
 23,126 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recently in the pig hypothalamus a vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus was identified which, like the supraoptic nucleus, becomes sexually dimorphic after puberty. Following the increase in circulating steroids at puberty, the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus becomes twice as large in both males and females. In adulthood, the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus of females is approximately twice as large as that in males. Because these alterations are possibly due to an influence of gonadal steroids, i.e. estrogens, the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus cells were tested for the presence of estrogen receptors. In addition to the area of the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus, the present study documented the distribution of estrogen receptors in the septal area and other parts of the hypothalamus of intact post-pubertal male and female pigs, by utilizing immunocytochemical methodology. Intense nuclear estrogen receptor staining was found in a number of areas, i.e. the medial preoptic area, the oxytocin-containing dorsomedial extension of the supraoptic nucleus, a possible homologue of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area, the median preoptic nucleus, the medial and lateral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the ventromedial hypothalamus and the arcuate nucleus. In the ventral part of the lateral septum, the septohypothalamic nucleus, the nucleus subfornicalis and the stigmoid nucleus estrogen receptor immunoreactivity was less intense. Dorsolaterally of the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus, estrogen receptor positive cells were observed, but the vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing nucleus itself lacked such receptors. In the magnocellular supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus no nuclear estrogen receptor staining was found. However, a weak cytoplasmic staining was present in all cells. There was a clear sex difference in the estrogen receptor-immunoreactive cell number in a possible homologue of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area. Compared to male pigs, in female pigs the number of cells showing estrogen receptor immunoreactivity in this area, which is known to be sexually dimorphic in various species, was twice as high. In other areas, such as the medial part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial preoptic area, the arcuate and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, a similar sex difference was found. In addition estrogen receptor immunoreactivity was generally more intense in females. No sex differences were noted in the overall distribution of estrogen receptor cells in the areas studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Sex differences in the distribution of estrogen receptors in the septal area and hypothalamus of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa). 770 11

Circulating estrogens influence the electrical and biosynthetic activity of the hypothalamic magnocellular neurons which synthesize vasopressin or oxytocin and regulate body fluid homeostasis and reproduction. As none of these magnocellular neurons express nuclear estrogen receptor in the rat, the present study has combined estrogen receptor immunocytochemistry with retrograde tracing techniques to examine whether the first-order neurons projecting to magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic nucleus may be receptive to estrogen. Green fluorescent latex microspheres (50 nl) were injected into the supraoptic nucleus of five ovariectomized rats. The largest numbers of retrogradely-labelled cells expressing estrogen receptor immunoreactivity were detected in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, anteroventral periventricular nucleus and medial preoptic nucleus where approximately 15% of all retrogradely-labelled cells were estrogen receptor-immunoreactive. Other prominent sites where double-labelled cells were detected were the median preoptic nucleus, subfornical organ, ventrolateral division of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus and the brainstem nucleus tractus solitarii. Triple labelling experiments in the caudal medulla revealed that the estrogen-receptive neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarii and ventrolateral medulla projecting to the supraoptic nucleus were not noradrenergic. These findings show that sub-populations of neurons projecting to the supraoptic nucleus express estrogen receptors. This provides immunocytochemical evidence that estrogen may regulate the activity of magnocellular oxytocin and vasopressin neurons in an indirect, trans-synaptic manner by influencing the activity of first-order neurons projecting to the supraoptic nucleus. The predominance of estrogen-receptive lamina terminalis and preoptic area inputs to the supraoptic nucleus suggests respective sites of estrogen action on magnocellular neurons in modulating fluid balance and reproductive function.
 ...
PMID:Identification of estrogen receptor-containing neurons projecting to the rat supraoptic nucleus. 913 2

An understanding of the functional significance of the newly identified estrogen receptor (ER beta) in the brain will require definition of its expression pattern and relationship to ER alpha. Using an antibody generated against the C-terminus of rat ER beta, we report the presence of ER beta immunoreactivity in the lateral septum, medial amygdala, hippocampus and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of ovariectomized rats. Double labelling studies in the PVN revealed that approximately 35% of oxytocin neurons located principally in the medial and lateral parvocellular divisions of the caudal PVN were immunoreactive for ER beta while vasopressin, somatostatin and magnocellular oxytocin neurons exhibited no ER beta staining with this antibody. No ER alpha immunoreactive cells were identified in the caudal PVN. These observations provide direct evidence for the differential expression of ER sub-types within neurons and indicate that ER beta may be of physiological significance in the regulation of hypothalamic parvocellular oxytocin neurons by estrogen.
 ...
PMID:Differential expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta immunoreactivity by oxytocin neurons of rat paraventricular nucleus. 941 30

The regulatory actions of estrogen on magnocellular oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) neurons of the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei are well documented. To date it is still debated whether the effect of estrogens is exerted directly or mediated by estrogen-sensitive interneurons. Previous immunocytochemical (ICC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) studies detected either low levels or absence of the classical estrogen receptor (ER-alpha) in the PVN and the SON of the rat. The present experiments using a combined ICC and ISH method were undertaken to examine the expression of the recently cloned beta form of ER (ER-beta) in OT- and VP-immunoreactive (IR) neuronal systems of the rat hypothalamus. The results demonstrate that the highest cellular levels of ER-beta messenger RNA (mRNA) in OT-IR neurons can be visualized in the caudal portion of the PVN and in an area ventro-medial to the central core of VP-IR cells. These neurons were previously shown to project caudally to the brain stem and the spinal cord to regulate autonomic functions. In addition, the whole rostro-caudal extent of the PVN and the SON contained OT-IR neurons that coexpressed variable levels of ER-beta mRNA. Similarly, the presence of ER-beta mRNA was seen in a large population of VP-IR paraventricular and supraoptic neurons. In the SON, somewhat stronger hybridization signal was detected in VP-IR neurons as compared with OT-IR neurons. Together, these findings provide strong support for the concept that the functions of OT- and VP-IR neurons in the PVN and the SON are regulated directly by estrogen and that the genomic effects of estrogens are mediated by ER-beta.
 ...
PMID:Expression of estrogen receptor-beta messenger ribonucleic acid in oxytocin and vasopressin neurons of the rat supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. 956 76

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

In the pituitary, vasopressin triggers ACTH release through a specific receptor subtype, termed V3 or V1b. We cloned the V3 cDNA and showed that its expression was almost exclusive to pituitary corticotrophs and some corticotroph tumors. To study the determinants of this tissue specificity, we have now cloned the gene for the human (h) V3 receptor and characterized its structure. It is composed of two exons, spanning 10kb, with the coding region interrupted between transmembrane domains 6 and 7. We established that the transcription initiation site is located 498 nucleotides upstream of the initiator codon and showed that two polyadenylation sites may be used, while the most frequent is the most downstream. Sequence analysis of the promoter region showed no TATA box but identified consensus binding motifs for Sp1, CREB, and half sites of the estrogen receptor binding site. However comparison with another corticotroph-specific gene, proopiomelanocortin, did not identify common regulatory elements in the two promoters except for a short GC-rich region. Unexpectedly, hV3 gene analysis revealed that a formerly cloned 'artifactual' hV3 cDNA indeed corresponded to a spliced antisense transcript, overlapping the 5' part of the coding sequence in exon 1 and the promoter region. This transcript, hV3rev, was detected in normal pituitary and in many corticotroph tumors expressing hV3 sense mRNA and may therefore play a role in hV3 gene expression.
 ...
PMID:Nucleotide sequence and structural organization of the human vasopressin pituitary receptor (V3) gene. 1060 99

Epinephrine is an important neurotransmitter that is synthesized in relatively few neurons of the medullary regions C1-C3. Epinephrine is involved, among others in the control of most neuroendocrine systems, such as corticotropin releasing hormone-, gonadotropin releasing hormone- and oxytocin/vasopressin-containing neurons as part of complex feedback loop systems that often include interactions with the gonadal or adrenal steroid hormones. In order to determine if the interactions between gonadal steroid hormones with the adrenergic neurons are direct or involve steroid-receptive interneurons that in turn innervate the adrenergic neurons, dual immunohistochemistry was applied to identify if estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) protein was expressed by adrenergic, phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT)-positive neurons and if estradiol can activate these neurons as determined by the transient expression of the transcription factor c-Fos. The results show that an average of 22% of all PNMT neurons in the C1 region, 38% in C2 and 42% in the C3 region express estrogen receptor-alpha protein with the highest numbers of dual labeled neurons in the central levels of the C1-C3 regions. Overall, the percentages of dual labeled PNMT/ERalpha neurons did not change during the steroid-induced LH surge. In contrast, the percentage of c-Fos expressing PNMT neurons changed significantly during the LH surge. Thus, c-Fos immunoreactivity was highest in all three regions at 1200 h with 69% of the PNMT neurons in C1, 60% in C2 and 79% in C3 co-expressing c-Fos. C-Fos expression was lowest before and after the surge with 39% of the PNMT neurons in the C2 region containing c-Fos at 0800 h, 52% c-Fos-positive PNMT neurons in C1 and 54% in area C3. The results show that many adrenergic neurons are direct targets for estradiol and that most PNMT neurons in the brainstem are activated during the initiation of the steroid-induced LH surge which suggests that epinephrine is one of the triggers that stimulates GnRH release during the surge.
 ...
PMID:Expression of estrogen receptor-alpha and c-Fos in adrenergic neurons of the female rat during the steroid-induced LH surge. 1096 99

Neuronal expression of vasopressin messenger RNA (mRNA) and peptide has been shown to be estrogen dependent. A 5.5-kb genomic DNA fragment, 5' of the AVP coding region, was used in luciferase reporter assays to measure transcriptional activation by either estrogen receptor alpha or beta in response to various treatments. ER alpha and ER beta displayed differential regulation of the AVP promoter. SK-N-SH cells transfected with ER alpha exhibited increased luciferase activity in response to estrogen, and the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), Tamoxifen, and ICI 182,780. Cells transfected with ER beta exhibited a high constitutive activity, which is unchanged by exposure to SERMs but can be inhibited by estrogen. Deletion of 1.5 kb from the 5' end or mutation of a single estrogen response element (ERE)-like sequence resulted in loss of estrogen-dependent induction by ER alpha and increased the ability of estrogen to inhibit the high constitutive activity of ER beta. The distal ERE-containing 1.5-kb fragment, when coupled to luciferase, is able to support both ER alpha and ER beta mediated activation of transcription by estrogen. These results suggest that a single ERE in the distal 1.5-kb portion of the 5.5-kb fragment contains the primary positive estrogen responsive sequences for ER alpha and ER beta. The data also suggest that sequences proximal to this element serve to inhibit transcription mediated by ER beta.
 ...
PMID:Differential transcriptional regulation of rat vasopressin gene expression by estrogen receptor alpha and beta. 1108 36

Activity of magnocellular vasopressin (VP) neurons in the human hypothalamus is sex- and age-dependent as judged from the size of the Golgi apparatus, neuronal size and VP mRNA levels. These parameters are significantly higher in young (< or = 50 years old) men than in young women and are markedly increased in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women. This data suggest an inhibitory effect of estrogens on metabolic activity of VP neurons in the human supraoptic nucleus (2SON), which is likely to be mediated via estrogen receptor (ER) beta. Estrogens were shown to mediate their inhibitory effect via ER beta. It is expressed to a much higher degree in the SON of young women than in other groups, whereas estrogen receptor alpha, that mediates stimulatory effects of estrogens, is present in a small proportion of SON neurons. In addition, estrogens inhibit p75 neurotrophin receptor expression in VP cells. In conclusion, we discuss the inhibitory role of estrogens in functional activity of human VP neurons, which is most probably mediated directly via ER beta and indirectly by p75 neurotrophin receptor.
 ...
PMID:[Activity of vasopressin neurons in the human supraoptic nucleus: estrogen inhibitory effect]. 1123 35

In an attempt to isolate protein kinase A anchoring proteins (AKAPs) involved in vasopressin-mediated water reabsorbtion, the complete sequence of the human AKAP Ht31 was determined and a partial cDNA of its rat orthologue (Rt31) was cloned. The Ht31 cDNA includes the estrogen receptor cofactor Brx and the RhoA GDP/GTP exchange factor proto-lymphoid blast crisis (Lbc) sequences. The Ht31 gene was assigned to chromosome 15 (region q24-q25). It encodes Ht31 and the smaller splice variants Brx and proto-Lbc. A protein of the predicted size of Ht31 (309 kDa) was detected in human mammary carcinoma and HeLa cells. Anti-Ht31/Rt31 antibodies immunoprecipitated RhoA from primary cultured rat renal inner medullary collecting duct cells, indicating an interaction between the AKAP and RhoA in vivo. These results suggest that Ht31/Rt31 represent a new type of AKAP, containing both an anchoring and a catalytic domain, which appears to be capable of modulating the activity of an interacting partner. Ht31/Rt31 have the potential to integrate Rho and protein kinase A signaling pathways, and thus, are prime candidates to regulate vasopressin-mediated water reabsorbtion.
 ...
PMID:Ht31: the first protein kinase A anchoring protein to integrate protein kinase A and Rho signaling. 1169 53


1 2 3 4 Next >>