Oxytocin-immunoreactive terminals synapse on oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin, synthesized by magnocellular neurones in the hypothalamus, is well known for its peripheral action during lactation and parturition after its release into the bloodstream from axons in the neurohypophysis. However, it may also be released centrally to control the activity of oxytocinergic neurones themselves. Oxytocin release has been measured from isolated magnocellular nuclei in vitro and in the cerebrospinal fluid. When injected into the third ventricle, the peptide increases the basal firing rate of oxytocinergic neurones as well as the frequency and amplitude of the bursts of action potentials they normally show before each reflex milk ejection. Oxytocin also excites magnocellular neurones when applied microiontophoretically. I now report that immunocytochemical staining reveals synapses in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus where both the pre- and postsynaptic elements contain oxytocin. These oxytocinergic synapses, impinging on their own neurones, may represent the anatomical basis for the hypothalamic release of this peptide and for the facilitatory action on its own secretion.
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Electron microscopic analysis has revealed dense core vesicles containing AVP- and OT-ir in terminals located in synaptic regions of brain areas such as the habenula, lateral septum, amygdala, supraoptic nuclei, ventromedial hypothalamus, and the nucleus of the solitary tract.
“For example, electron microscopic analysis has revealed dense core vesicles containing AVP- and OT-ir in terminals located in synaptic regions of brain areas such as the habenula, lateral septum, amygdala, supraoptic nuclei, ventromedial hypothalamus and the nucleus of the solitary tract [98; 99; 100; 101; 102; 103; 104].”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [99]
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- Authors
- Theodosis, D. T.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Theodosis, Dennise T.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 1985-02
- Volume
- 313
- Issue
- 6004
- Pages
- 682-684
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2038430188
- Cited by
- 141
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 22.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- oxytocin, supraoptic nucleus, magnocellular neurons, autocrine signaling, synaptic terminals, hypothalamus, neurohypophysis, oxytocin release, milk ejection, lactation, childbirth, action potential bursts
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antibody Specificity, Female, Immunologic Techniques, Male, Oxytocin, Supraoptic Nucleus, Rats
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