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

The neuropeptides vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are supposed to be involved not only in peripheral functions (e.g. diuresis, labour and lactation) but also in central processes that are frequently disturbed during aging and senile dementia (e.g. fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and cognitive functions). A concomitant decrease in activity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) with aging has been postulated in the literature, but has not yet been established. In order to investigate possible age-related changes in the human HNS, immunocytochemically identified AVP and OXT neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus (PVN and SON) were analysed morphometrically in subjects from 10 to 93 years of age, including patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Cell size was used as a parameter for peptide production. Mean profile area of OXT cells did not show any significant changes with increasing age. Mean profile area of AVP cells, however, showed an initial decrease up to the sixth decade of life, after which a gradual increase was observed. Size of AVP and OXT cell nuclei did not change significantly with aging. Observations in brains from patients with SDAT were within the range for their age group. The present results do not support degeneration or diminished function of the HNS in senescence or SDAT, as generally presumed in the literature, but suggest an activation of AVP cells after 80 years of age. The activation of AVP cells in senescence is in accordance with previous findings in the aged Wistar rat.
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PMID:The vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the human supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus; changes with aging and in senile dementia. 404 17

Recordings of SON single unit activity and systemic arterial blood pressure (B.P.) were taken from 10 rats while systemic infusions of angiotensin II (AII), 1-1000 ng/kg body weight/min in 7 steps, or phenylephrine, 1-100 ng in 3 steps were administered. The relationship between AII concentrations and neuronal activity was biphasic. Within the physiological range (1 ng to 100 ng) AII excited single units in a dose dependent manner, but it had little effect on B.P. At higher concentrations, B.P. rose and neuronal activity was decreased. Phenylephrine, however, did not excite neuronal activity. With increasing phenylephrine concentrations, B.P. rose and neuronal activity slowed. We conclude that increased B.P. may dampen the SON neuronal output by baroreceptor inhibition. Under physiological conditions, therefore, AII may serve to reinforce tonic vasopressin release while inhibiting vasopressin release at pressor doses. This further suggests a role for plasma AII as an important link of the renal-hypothalamic-hormonal feedback loop.
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PMID:Systemic angiotensin II, blood pressure and supraoptic neuronal activity. 404 78

The content of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin in various extrahypothalamic sites of the rat brain and spinal cord was determined by specific radioimmunoassays after lesions had been made in either the paraventricular (PVN), supraoptic (SON) or suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). In some animals all 3 nuclei were destroyed together. The PVN provided a considerable amount of the vasopressin innervation of the solitary tract nucleus, and most of that in the spinal cord. Oxytocin was removed from some areas after lesions of the PVN and, again, most of this peptide was lost from the spinal cord. Lesions of the SCN did not appear to be followed by significant quantitative changes in either hormone in any of the areas studied. Lesions of the SON resulted in loss of oxytocin, particularly in the periventricular grey and some other areas, suggesting that extrahypothalamic projections from this nucleus may be more important than was previously assumed. Lesions of all 3 nuclei which included destruction of accessory hypothalamic nuclei resulted in a much more widespread loss of vasopressin and oxytocin, but there was preservation of both peptides in the dorsal raphe nucleus and much of those present in the locus coeruleus. It is concluded that the contribution of the classical hypothalamic nuclei to the extrahypothalamic content of vasopressin and oxytocin in rat brain is less than was originally believed, and that there are areas of the brain such as the locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus in which the source of these peptides may be outside the hypothalamus.
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PMID:Effects of lesions in the hypothalamic paraventricular, supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei on vasopressin and oxytocin in rat brain and spinal cord. 405 70

The in vitro synthesis of catecholamines and the secretion of vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) was measured in localized regions of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The posterior pituitary (PP), median eminence (ME) and supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclear regions were incubated in vitro in media containing 3H-tyrosine. Media and tissue levels of AVP and OT were measured as well as norepinephrine and dopamine content and biosynthesis. There were no differences in peptide release in either the PP, ME or SON. However, there was a marked increase in peptide release from the PVN of the SHR. Media AVP levels were 0.3 pg/ml/micrograms protein in the WKY as compared to 2.1 pg/ml/micrograms protein in the SHR. OT release was increased 2 fold, from 0.85 to 1.7 pg/ml/micrograms protein. PVN content of both AVP and OT was significantly lower in the SHR. ME and SON peptide levels were not changed, while neurohypophyseal AVP levels were increased in the SHR. With regard to the catecholamines appreciable norepinephrine synthesis was measured in the PVN and SON while there was little 3H-norepinephrine in the ME or PP. In the hypertensive rat, there was an increase in norepinephrine synthesis in the PVN with no change in the SON. These results provide further support for fundamental changes in the catecholaminergic and peptidergic systems of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal axis of the SHR.
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PMID:Catecholamine biosynthesis and vasopressin and oxytocin secretion in the spontaneously hypertensive rat: an in vitro study of localized brain regions. 408 Jun 11

The metabolic activity in the brains of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), and Wistar (W) rats was assessed before and after fasting using cytochrome oxidase (COX) histochemistry. Before fasting, metabolic activity in the paraventricular (PVH) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus in SHR was greater than in control rats. Fasting elicited a decrease in arterial pressure (AP) in SHR and WKY; in SHR the decrease in AP was accompanied by a decrease of metabolic activity in the PVH and SON. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that the PVH and SON are involved in the hypertension and in the increased levels of sympathetic nervous activity and vasopressin production known to occur in SHR. In addition, the PVH and possibly the SON may be involved in the suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity and the lowering of arterial pressure which are associated with fasting.
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PMID:Cytochrome oxidase activity in the hypothalamus of SHR and normotensive rats before and after fasting. 609 37

To determine the relative roles of the hypothalamic supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei in the control of the release of vasopressin and of ACTH, we have examined the hormonal responses to electrical stimulation (200 microA, 0.2 msec, 100 Hz, 20 sec) of these regions. Cats were anesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Blood samples were taken 30 sec before stimulation and 1.5 min poststimulation. ACTH and vasopressin were measured by RIA. Electrical stimulation of the caudal pole of the SON increased vasopressin in plasma (1.82 +/- 0.41 microU/ml, n = 17, P less than 0.01) and decreased ACTH (-26 +/- 4 pg/ml, n = 13, P less than 0.01). In contrast, stimulation of the PVN increased vasopressin (2.01 +/- 0.60 microU/ml, n = 7, P less than 0.001) and increased ACTH (107 +/- 20 pg/ml, n = 32, P less than 0.01). Previous work has shown that vasopressinergic neurons of PVN, but not of SON, project to the zona externa of the median eminence. Other have suggested that the retrograde flow of blood from the neural lobe to the median eminence and thence to the anterior lobe would allow vasopressin to influence the release of ACTH. The present results indicate that both SON and PVN facilitate the release of vasopressin. However, PVN facilitates, but SON inhibits the release of ACTH. These findings suggest that the projection from PVN to the zona externa of the median eminence mediates the release of ACTH and that retrograde flow from the neural lobe is not important in the control of ACTH release during modest and transient increases in the release of vasopressin.
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PMID:Control of release of adrenocorticotropin and vasopressin by the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. 625 7

Phasic bursting by magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) in the mammalian supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (SON and PVN) consists of successive periods of action potentials and inactivity. It has previously been correlated with increased release of vasopressin from the neurohypophysis. In the present studies we investigated the neuronal mechanisms underlying this firing pattern. Using coronal slices of rat hypothalamus, we recorded intracellularly from neurons that are considered to be MNCs, based on several criteria. Eight of the 29 cells in this study displayed phasic burst patterns similar to those previously recorded extracellularly from MNCs in intact animals. Among the eight phasic cells, low levels of steady current injection could dramatically alter burst periodicity. Steady hyperpolarization revealed patterned synaptic input in only one case; in the remainder of the cells, nonsynaptic mechanisms appeared to account for periodic bursting. The phasic burst pattern usually appeared to be spike dependent, each burst arising from one or several depolarizing after-potentials (DAPs). Summed DAPs formed a plateau potential, which provided a depolarizing drive for further spiking. Spike frequency decreased late in the burst, and then the plateau potential terminated. During the quiescent period, burst excitability appeared to increase coincident with a small slow depolarization. Spikes and their summating DAPs could then initiate another burst. In several silent MNCs, a brief supra-threshold current pulse could initiate a prolonged afterdischarge, which had the properties of a phasic burst. Two MNCs that fired with a fast-continuous pattern were tested with brief hyperpolarizing current pulses; after each pulse, spike activity ceased and a plateau potential was revealed. Therefore, it appears that a maintained plateau potential (summed DAPs) can drive fast-continuous firing. In one case a periodic bombardment of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) generated a phasic firing pattern. The dependence of the burst characteristics on membrane potential, the apparent lack of patterned synaptic input in most cells, and the ability to evoke bursts with brief stimuli support the hypothesis that bursting in some MNCs involves an endogenous mechanism. Furthermore, phasic firing may be driven by tonic excitatory input. The data on phasic, silent, and fast-continuous cells suggest that many MNCs can generate DAPs and plateau potentials.
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PMID:Analysis of intracellularly recorded phasic bursting by mammalian neuroendocrine cells. 632 96

Influences of afferent inputs from cardiovascular and muscle receptors on the activities of neurosecretory neurons in the hypothalamus, which secrete vasopressin (ADH) were studied. Recordings were made from identified neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of cats and rats. Activation of baroreceptors in the carotid sinus and aortic arch and atrial receptors inhibited SON and PVN neuron activities, while activation of chemoreceptors in the carotid sinus excited them. Repetitive electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus and aortic nerves showed that weak stimulation produced excitation and stronger stimulation produced inhibition of SON and PVN neurons. Electrical stimulation of these nerves and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) by a single or short train of pulses showed that 'fast' and 'slow' pathways between the NTS and the SON existed, while these two types of pathways were not observed between the NTS and the PVN. Evidence of direct connections from the NTS to the PVN was found by means of antidromic stimulation of the PVN. Electrical stimulations of group I afferent fibers from the gastrocnemius muscle did not change SON neuron discharges, while activation of group III and IV afferent fibers excited them. Injection of chemicals (NaCl, KCl, bradykinin) into arteries supplying the muscle excited SON neurons. The excitation disappeared after section of the muscle nerves. The results indicated that activation of small afferents from the muscle excites the SON neurons, leading to an increase in vasopressin secretion. All these studies show that afferent inputs from receptors in the cardiovascular system and in the muscle have modulatory effects on neurosecretory neurons, and participate in control of body water balance by regulating vasopressin secretion from the neurohypophysis.
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PMID:The role of cardiovascular and muscle afferent systems in control of body water balance. 648 Oct 93

The present paper reviews recent work conducted in our laboratory on vasopressin neurons either grown in culture or transplanted into vasopressin deficient rats. The in vitro model of reaggregated cell culture used the anterior hypothalamus, including vasopressin neurons of the SON from normal timed-pregnant LE rats of similar ages used in our in vivo model. Various cells were co-cultured with their known target tissue, the posterior pituitary to analyze further the influence of the target tissue on hormone production. At a designated end point, cultured cells were fixed and stained immunocytochemically for vasopressin and neurophysin. Radioimmunoassay of the samples was performed for vasopressin quantification. Hypothalamic cells from all ages produced vasopressin (VP). The co-culturing of hypothalamus with posterior pituitary produced a significant increase in VP. Correlative transplantation studies were conducted using timed-pregnant Long-Evans (LE) rats at various days post coitus (dpc) and neonatal tissue from 0- and 5-day old rat pups. Animals survived about 40 days then were perfused and their brains processed for vasopressin and neurophysin thick-section immunocytochemistry. The results showed that the capability for survival of younger grafts was much greater than that of older tissue. With this paper, we have shown that the reaggregation of anterior hypothalamic cells in a culture system can be used for microassay of neurosecretory activity. These data suggest a close correlation between the ability of a neuron to survive transplantation and its stage of development. With the present studies, we have shown that neurons not fully differentiated maintain a greater degree of plasticity than older tissue and are better able to survive the rigors of transplantation and that various manipulations of environmental factors have an effect on brain development at critical times.
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PMID:In vitro and in vivo studies on development and regeneration of vasopressin neurons. 648 53

The activity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) was determined in male Wistar rats from 3 to 32 months of age. Plasma levels of vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) were measured by means of a radioimmunoassay. In addition, the distribution of the Golgi apparatus marker enzyme thiamine-pyrophosphatase (TPP-ase) was measured as a parameter for neurosecretory activity in the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (SON and PVN). Plasma levels of radioimmunoassayable AVP were increased in the 32-month-old animals. Plasma levels of radioimmunoassayable OXT in 32-month-old animals did not differ from the levels found in the youngest group, but were higher than in 11-month-old animals. Neurosecretory activity in the SON was similar in 3- and 32-month-old animals, whereas in the PVN neurosecretory activity was increased in the 32-month-old animals. Urine excretion decreased between 6 and 11 months of age and remained on the same level until 32 months of age. In other words, instead of a loss of HNS function as has been suggested in the literature, an increased neurosecretory activity was observed in aged rats.
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PMID:Activation of vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neurons during aging in the Wistar rat. 662 86


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