Colocalization of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and Vasopressin in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Human Hypothalamus

Abstract

The anatomical relationship between corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)- containing cells and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-containing cells in the human hypothalamus was investigated by immunocytochemistry. In the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH), CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) was present exclusively in parvocellular cells, while AVP-like immunoreactivity (AVP-LI) was present in both parvocellular and magnocellular cells. No CRF-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the supraoptic nucleus. All CRF-immunoreactive parvocellular cells in the PVH were also AVP immunoreactive. We confirmed the presence of AVP in the CRF-immunoreactive cells by using two kinds of anti-AVP antisera, one of which recognized the side chain of AVP while the other recognized the ring structure of AVP. Colocalization of CRF-LI and AVP-LI was observed not only in the same perikarya but also in the same nerve fibers of parvocellular cells. The present results raise the possibility that AVP and CRF may be secreted together into the human portal circulation.

The Luteinizing Hormone but Not the Cortisol Response to Arginine Vasopressin Is Prevented by Naloxone and a Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist in the Ovariectomized Rhesus Monkey

“…was found to be a potent stimulator of P-endorphin release from brain POMC-producing cells, as measured in cerebrospinal fluid in the rat [29], The rea sons for this discrepancy remain to be determined. In addition, in the monkey, previous observations have demonstrated a high incidence of interactions between GnRH and AVP terminals and cell bodies [30] The impetus to our second experiment was the obser vation that CRH and AVP are colocalized within the perikarya of parvicellular paraventricular neurons and within axonal neurosecretory granules [ 16,17), and that stressful stimuli increase colocalization [31]. One must then as sume that both CRH and AVP can be released simulta neously, as demonstrated by measurements in hypophy seal portal blood during stress in several species [14,18,19].…”

“…15]. A major sub population of CRH-containing parvicellular perikarya both in the rodent [ 16] and primate [ 17] contains AVP and it is probable that in stress both CRH and AVP are released together into hypophyseal portal blood [14,18,19] from neurosecretory granules in which they are copackaged. The second objective was to investigate whether the presence of CRH is a necessary prerequisite to both the stimulatory action of AVP on the adrenal axis and to its inhibitory action on the gonadal axis.…”

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide stimulates corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin and interleukin-6 gene transcription in hypothalamic 4B cells

“…CRF and AVP neurons in the parvocellular region of PVN project to the external zone of the ME (Seasholtz et al 1988, Gonzalez-Hernandez et al 2006. Furthermore, AVP and CRF in parvocellular PVN neurons exert synergistic effects on ACTH secretion from the AP (Gillies et al 1982, Mouri et al 1993. Therefore, PACAP may contribute to stress responses through stimulation of CRF and AVP neurons of the hypothalamus, causing ACTH secretion.…”

Chronic Hyperosmotic Stress Converts GABAergic Inhibition into Excitation in Vasopressin and Oxytocin Neurons in the Rat

“…These cells were sampled from the medial portion of the PVN that is highly packed with corticotrophin-releasing hormone/AVP colocalizing neurons that are stressactivated (Tramu et al, 1983;Mouri et al, 1993;Kovacs and Sawchenko, 1996;Jiang et al, 2004). The GABAergic PSPs in these neurons were mostly inhibitory regardless of the osmolar condition of the rat (control, 22 of 25 cells; hyperosmolar, 13 of 18 cells; p ϭ 0.247, Fisher's exact test, n ϭ 3 rats per group).…”