Visualising oxytocin neurone activity in vivo: The key to unlocking central regulation of parturition and lactation

Perkinson, Michael R; Kim, Joon S.; Iremonger, Karl J.; Brown, Colin H.

doi:10.1111/jne.13012

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…The identification of leader cells within synchronized cell populations that drive episodic pituitary hormone output has remained a major unresolved issue in multiple neuroendocrine systems. For instance, oxytocin neurons of the hypothalamus display synchronized bursts of firing that lead to pulses of oxytocin release from the posterior pituitary gland ( 37 , 38 ). Attempts using techniques such as paired electrophysiological recordings have been unable to determine leader and follower subpopulations ( 39 , 40 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo imaging of the GnRH pulse generator reveals a temporal order of neuronal activation and synchronization during each pulse

Moore

Coolen

Lehman

2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Significance Hypothalamic oscillators that generate pulsatile patterns of hormone secretion represent a fundamental physiological feature regulating homeostatic systems. How individual cells within these neural ensembles generate and coordinate episodic activity and resultant pulse secretion is unknown. Recently, arcuate KNDy (kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin) cells were identified as a critical component of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator required for reproduction. Using in vivo calcium imaging of KNDy neurons in freely moving mice, we reveal that, prior to each GnRH pulse, individual KNDy cells demonstrate synchronized activity with striking temporal order, with subsets of cells behaving as “leaders” or “followers.” Future work to distinguish these novel subpopulations and define mechanisms underlying the temporal ordering of cellular synchronization may provide avenues to regulate pulse secretion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo imaging of the GnRH pulse generator reveals a temporal order of neuronal activation and synchronization during each pulse

Moore

Coolen

Lehman

2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Upon stimulation, magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) fire high-frequency bursts of action potentials. Each burst generates a large pulse of OT release into the bloodstream to evoke contractions of the uterus and milk ejection [ 46 ]. Likewise, parvocellular neurons release OT toward the central nervous system.…”

Section: Natural Stimuli That Facilitate the Expression Of Maternal B...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurobiology of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals: Acceptance, Recognition, Motivation, and Rejection

Coria-Ávila

Herrera-Covarrubias

Hernández

et al. 2022

Animals

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Among the different species of mammals, the expression of maternal behavior varies considerably, although the end points of nurturance and protection are the same. Females may display passive or active responses of acceptance, recognition, rejection/fear, or motivation to care for the offspring. Each type of response may indicate different levels of neural activation. Different natural stimuli can trigger the expression of maternal and paternal behavior in both pregnant or virgin females and males, such as hormone priming during pregnancy, vagino-cervical stimulation during parturition, mating, exposure to pups, previous experience, or environmental enrichment. Herein, we discuss how the olfactory pathways and the interconnections of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) with structures such as nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and bed nucleus of stria terminalis mediate maternal behavior. We also discuss how the triggering stimuli activate oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, galanin, and opioids in neurocircuitries that mediate acceptance, recognition, maternal motivation, and rejection/fear.

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“…During pregnancy and parturition, the role of hypothalamic release of Oxt is well discussed ( Veening et al, 2010 ). Hypothalamic Oxt release is also important for lactation ( Perkinson et al, 2021 ). Oxt fibers reach the MEA, multiple regions of the pre-optic area- medial preoptic area (MPO), medial preoptic nucleus (MPN), posterodorsal preoptic nucleus (PD), periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, preoptic part (PVpo), anteroventral preoptic nucleus (AVP) as well as the VMH and PMv.…”

Section: Oxytocin Regulation Of Cognitive Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Missing pieces in decoding the brain oxytocin puzzle: Functional insights from mouse brain wiring diagrams

Manjila

Betty²,

Kim³

2022

Front. Neurosci.

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The hypothalamic neuropeptide, oxytocin (Oxt), has been the focus of research for decades due to its effects on body physiology, neural circuits, and various behaviors. Oxt elicits a multitude of actions mainly through its receptor, the Oxt receptor (OxtR). Despite past research to understand the central projections of Oxt neurons and OxtR- coupled signaling pathways in different brain areas, it remains unclear how this nonapeptide exhibits such pleiotropic effects while integrating external and internal information. Most reviews in the field either focus on neuroanatomy of the Oxt-OxtR system, or on the functional effects of Oxt in specific brain areas. Here, we provide a review by integrating brain wide connectivity of Oxt neurons and their downstream circuits with OxtR expression in mice. We categorize Oxt connected brain regions into three functional modules that regulate the internal state, somatic visceral, and cognitive response. Each module contains three neural circuits that process distinct behavioral effects. Broad innervations on functional circuits (e.g., basal ganglia for motor behavior) enable Oxt signaling to exert coordinated modulation in functionally inter-connected circuits. Moreover, Oxt acts as a neuromodulator of neuromodulations to broadly control the overall state of the brain. Lastly, we discuss the mismatch between Oxt projections and OxtR expression across various regions of the mouse brain. In summary, this review brings forth functional circuit-based analysis of Oxt connectivity across the whole brain in light of Oxt release and OxtR expression and provides a perspective guide to future studies.

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Visualising oxytocin neurone activity in vivo: The key to unlocking central regulation of parturition and lactation

Cited by 17 publications

References 62 publications

In vivo imaging of the GnRH pulse generator reveals a temporal order of neuronal activation and synchronization during each pulse

In vivo imaging of the GnRH pulse generator reveals a temporal order of neuronal activation and synchronization during each pulse

Neurobiology of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals: Acceptance, Recognition, Motivation, and Rejection

Missing pieces in decoding the brain oxytocin puzzle: Functional insights from mouse brain wiring diagrams

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