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PubMed2000

[Functional role of V1- and V2-receptors of the apical and basolateral membranes of the frog bladder epithelial cells].

Arginine vasotocin, 0.02--1 nM, increases osmotic water permeability of frog urinary bladder, arginine vasotocin after a simultaneous addition to the mucosal and serosal Ringer solutions rises the water permeability to a lesser degree than on the hormone addition only to the serosal solution. 1 nM remestyp, an agonist of V1-receptors, from the apical membrane decreases the hydroosmotic effect of arginine vasotocin added to the serosal Ringer solution. When added to the mucosal solution, combination of the same concentrations of arginine vasotocin and SR 49059, an antagonist of V--receptors, or desmopressin, agonist of V2-receptor alone, increases the effect of the same concentration of arginine vasotocin added to the serosal solution. 1 nM arginine vasotocin at the luminal membrane increases secretion into the Ringer solution of prostaglandin E, and prostaglandin E1 but not of prostaglandin F2 alpha. The data obtained indicate the presence of the arginine vasotocin receptors responsible for the hydroosmotic effect only in the basolateral membranes, while arginine prostaglandin E, participation is shown in modulation of the arginine vasotocin effect.

Alprostadil↗

PubMed1977

Evolution of neurohypophyseal hormones and their receptors.

Nine active neurohypophyseal principles have been isolated and identified among the vertebrates. Arginine-vasotocin is the most ubiquitous, occurring in pituitary glands from representatives of all the major vertebrate groups. There is much more variation in structure among the principles that resemble oxytocin. The manner in which these evolved remains unclear. Arginine-vasotocin stimulates smooth muscles from a wide variety of vertebrate species. It can stimulate contraction of oviducts from many jawed fishes and tetrapods. The oxytocin-like peptides are usually less active in this respect. Among adult mammals arginine-vasotocin is replaced by arginine-vasopressin which has much less oxytocin activity. Thus, although arginine-vasotocin may both stimulate oviducts and cause water retention in nonmammalian tetrapods, oxytocic and antidiuretic functions can be regulated independently by oxytocin and vasopressin in mammals. Arginine-vasotocin elicits vasoconstrictor responses in even the most primitive vertebrates. These may be systemic or regional. Their distribution may determine whether arginine-vasotocin acts as a diuretic or an antidiuretic agent. It is possible that the most primitive neurohypophyseal functions were related to cardiovascular regulation and that the neurohypophysis acquired its osmoregulatory functions later in vertebrate evolution.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

Design and synthesis of potent in vivo antagonists of oxytocin.

We have previously shown that the substitution of 8-ornithine and 2-O-methyltyrosine alone and in combination in [1-deaminopenicillamine] oxytocin (dPOT) brought about enhancements in antagonistic potencies to responses to oxytocin in vivo. To explore the effects of these substitutions in analogs of dPOT containing larger alkyl substitutents on the beta carbon at position 1 and on the tyrosine residue at position two, the following six analogs were synthesized: [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-diethylpropionic acid), 8-ornithine] vasotocin (1, dEt2OVT); (1-beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 8-ornithine] vasotocin (2, d(CH2)5OVT): [1-beta-mercapto-beta, beta-diethylpropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine]vasotocin [3, dEt2 Tyr(Me)OVT]; [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-diethylpropionic acid), 2-O-ethyltyrosine, 8-ornithine]vasotocin [4, dEt2 Tyr(Et)OVT]; [1-beta-mercapto-beta', beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine]vasotocin [5, d(CH2)5 Tyr(me)OVT]: [1-beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine]vasotocin [6,d(CH2)5 Tyr(Et)OVT]. The required protected intermediates were synthesized by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and by individual 8 + 1 couplings in solution. All six analogs antagonize the actions of oxytocin on the rat uterus in the absence of Mg2+, in the presence of 0.5 mM Mg2+ and in situ. They also antagonize milk ejection responses to oxytocin, and the vasopressor responses to arginine vasopressin, and all have very low antidiuretic activities. With pA2 values of 7.35 +/- 0.08 and 7.37 +/- 0.17, respectively, compounds 3 and 5 are the two most potent in vivo antagonists of oxytocin reported to date.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Antidiuretic hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase in semicircular canal epithelium.

Basal adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content and the modulation of its production were studied in the frog's semicircular canal epithelium. This epithelium secretes endolymph, a K(+)-rich, positively polarized fluid. The basal cAMP content measured by microradioimmunoassay was 244 +/- 14.2 fmol/structure per 5 min (n = 30). This content was increased about 8 times by 10(-5) M forskolin. Vasotocin, the frog antidiuretic hormone, increased the cAMP production by factors of 1.3 and 3.3 at concentrations of 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M, respectively. This stimulatory effect of vasotocin was blunted by the addition of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, such as 10(-8) M-10(-5) M norepinephrine, in the presence of 10(-5) M propranolol, or 10(-5) M clonidine. Prostaglandin E2 at a concentration of 10(-8) M, which did not affect the cAMP production, did not modify the response to vasotocin. Glucagon (10(-6) M), calcitonin (10(-6) M), and parathyroid hormone (10 units/ml) did not affect the cAMP content. Prostaglandin E2 (10(-7) M) and the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10(-6) M) stimulated the cAMP production by a factor of 1.6. These results indicate that the frog semicircular canal is a target of both vasotocin and catecholamines and that catecholamines through alpha 2-receptors modulate vasotocin-induced cAMP generation. Further, this interaction might be of physiological relevance in the modulation of ion transport in this structure.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1993

Osmoregulatory responses of glucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) to dehydration and hemorrhage.

The effects of dehydration and hemorrhage on plasma ionic, osmotic, and antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasotocin) concentrations and of hemorrhage on salt gland secretion and glomerular filtration rate were evaluated in glaucous-winged gulls, Larus glaucescens. Dehydration for 24 h did not affect plasma ionic, osmotic or arginine vasotocin concentrations; 72 h dehydration significantly elevated plasma osmolality, plasma sodium and chloride concentrations, and plasma arginine vasotocin concentration, but did not affect plasma potassium concentration. Constant infusion of 0.8 mol.1-1 NaCl increased plasma arginine vasotocin concentration and produced salt gland secretion in seven gulls; four secreted well, while three secreted less well. Removal of 20% blood volume during saline infusion immediately reduced (P<0.001) salt gland secretion rate in all gulls. After bleeding, good secretors maintained glomerular filtration rate and urine flow rate; the poorer secretors increased glomerular filtration rate and became diuretic. Blood replacement returned salt gland secretion rate to the prebleeding level (P<0.05) without affecting salt gland secretions sodium concentration in gulls which secreted well, but did not restimulate salt gland secretion in gulls which secreted poorly. Reinfusion of blood had no effect on glomerular filtration rate. Bleeding and blood replacement did not affect plasma arginine vasotocin concentration.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Modified forms of vasopressin and oxytocin in a bovine pineal preparation.

A bovine pineal acid extract displays a vasotocin-like bioactivity in several bioassays, and is recognized by antibodies against the Pro-Arg-Gly-amide ending common to vasopressin and vasotocin. By using molecular sieve filtration and reversed-phase HPLC, a vasopressin- and oxytocin-like peptide was isolated from this pineal preparation, while no evidence for a vasotocin-like peptide was obtained. The isolated neuropeptides contain a modified amino acid at position 2. This structural difference with authentic pituitary vasopressin and oxytocin may alter their biological and immunological properties, which have been interpreted as vasotocin-like, and thus underlies the controversy concerning the existence of vasotocin in the mammalian pineal gland.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Differential processing of provasotocin: relative increase of hydrin 2 (vasotocinyl-Gly) in amphibians able to adapt to an arid environment.

Hydrin 2 (vasotocinyl-Gly) is an intermediate in pro-vasotocin processing found, along with vasotocin, only in the neurohypophysis of anuran amphibians. It increases cutaneous water permeability in the frog and is likely involved in neuroendocrine control of osmoregulation. The relative amounts of vasotocin and hydrin 2 stored in neurohypophysis have been measured on the one hand in amphibian species known not to adapt in dry areas, on the other hand in two species, Bufo regularis (Africa) and Bufo viridis (Near-East) able to survive in an arid environment. In the first group, the proportions of the two peptides are approximately equal whereas in the two toads the molar ratio hydrin 2 to vasotocin reaches 2. The ratio does not appear to vary significantly when these toads are either submitted to dehydration or placed in saline solutions. Predominance of hydrin 2 suggests an adaptive decrease of the activity of the alpha-amidating enzymatic system involved in the conversion of vasotocinyl-Gly into mature amidated vasotocin.

Acclimatization↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Central cardiovascular effects of mammalian neurohypophyseal peptides in conscious rats.

To confirm and extend the results of previous studies which demonstrated central cardiovascular effects of vasopressin in anesthetized rats, we determined blood pressure and heart rate changes for 30 minutes after intracerebroventricular injections of arginine vasopressin, arginine vasotocin and oxytocin in conscious rats. As compared to sham injections, significantly greater increases in either systolic or diastolic blood pressure were noted over the 30 minutes which followed the injection of 0.15, 1.0 or 10.0 nM of either vasopressin or vasotocin. In animals given vasopressin, plasma levels of the peptide were determined. There was a substantial increase in plasma vasopressin only after the highest dose. Overall blood pressure responses to doses of oxytocin as high as 100 nM were not significantly different than sham injections. Heart rate following both vasopressin and vasotocin was increased at 0.15 nM, was initially decreased then increased at 1.0 nM and was substantially decreased after the 10.0 nM dose. There was a significant increase in heart rate at the 10.0 nM and 100 nM doses of oxytocin. Dose response curves for systolic blood pressure and heart rate 20 minutes after injection were similar for vasopressin and vasotocin. We conclude that arginine vasopressin has significant central pressor and tachycardic effects in conscious rats, and it is related, at least in part, to the tail structure of the peptide, which is shared with arginine vasotocin.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[The effect of glucose on antidiuretic hormone absorption in the rat and frog small intestine].

Administration of 5 ml/100 g body weight of 1% glucose solution to stomach produced the same diuretic kidney response in fasted Wistar rats as administration of the same amount of water. Intragastric administration of arginine vasopressin along with the water load evoked an antidiuretic response. Arginine vasopressin in the same volume of glucose induced no kidney response difference as compared with the hormone action in experiments with water load. 0.1 nmol of arginine vasotocin, having been itroduced into the rat isolated ileum, prevented the effect of glucose on the hormone absoption. 0.1 nmol of arginine vasotocin, having been introduced into the frog isolated ileum along with isotonic glucose solution, increased the hormone absorption; fructose did not affect this process whereas mannitol decreased absorption ofarginine vasotocin. This absorption was also reduced by intraileal introduction of arginine vasotocin with the hypotonic Ringer solution. The findings suggest that glucose in the rat gastrointestinal tract does not affect arginine vasopressin absorption in vivo, whereas in the frog ileum glucose increases arginine vasotocin absorption in vitro.

Absorption↗

PubMed1997

Vasotocinergic innervation of areas containing aromatase-immunoreactive cells in the quail forebrain.

In the male quail forebrain, aromatase-immunoreactive (ARO-ir) elements are clustered within the sexually dimorphic medial preoptic nucleus (POM), nucleus striae terminalis (nST), nucleus accumbens (nAc), and ventromedial and tuberal hypothalamus. These ARO-ir cells are sensitive to testosterone and its metabolites: Their number and size increase after exposure to these steroids. The POM and lateral septum are also characterized by a dense vasotocinergic innervation that is also sensitive to testosterone. We analyzed here the anatomical relationships between ARO-ir elements and VT-ir fibers in the quail prosencephalon. Sequential staining for vasotocin, aromatase, or vasotocin plus aromatase was performed on adjacent 30-microm-thick cryostat sections. High concentrations of thin VT-ir fibers were observed within the POM, nST, lateral septum, periventricular mesencephalic central gray, and ventromedial and tuberal hypothalamus. There was a close correspondence between the extension of the ARO-ir cells and of VT-ir fibers. In double-labeled sections, all clusters of ARO-ir cells with the exception of those located in the nAc were embedded in a dense network of VT-ir fibers. Many of the VT-ir terminals appeared to end in the neuropile surrounding ARO-ir elements rather than directly on their cell bodies. This study supports the idea that the testosterone-dependent aromatase system is directly innervated by a testosterone-dependent peptidergic system. Aromatase-containing cells could therefore be modulated by steroids both directly and indirectly through the vasotocin system. Alternatively, this neuroanatomical arrangement may mediate the control of vasotocin synthesis or release by steroids. Functional studies demonstrate that both aromatase and vasotocin affect reproductive behavior in quail, and the present data provide anatomical support for the integration of these effects.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Vasopressin-induced translocation and proteolysis of protein kinase Calpha in an amphibian brain: modulation by corticosterone.

In urodele amphibians, the hypothalamic neuropeptide arginine vasotocin and the adrenal steroid corticosterone interact to regulate reproductive behavior by actions in the brain. The present study investigated signal transduction pathways underlying acute effects of vasotocin and corticosterone, presumably mediated via "non-genomic" steroid action, in an amphibian brain. We used Western blot to examine the effects of corticosterone and the vasotocin receptor agonist arginine vasopressin, alone and in combination, on the subcellular localization and proteolytic processing of protein kinase C-alpha (PKCalpha) in tiger salamander brain tissue. Treatment of whole brain minces with vasopressin or vasotocin led to increases in PKCalpha in membrane fractions and concurrent decreases in PKCalpha in cytosolic fractions. Vasopressin or vasotocin treatment also induced the appearance in membrane and cytosolic fractions of a PKCalpha-immunoreactive band that corresponds to PKMalpha, the proteolytically generated, free catalytic subunit of PKCalpha. Treatment with corticosterone alone had no consistent effect on either PKCalpha or PKMalpha in either fraction. However, pretreatment with corticosterone reliably blocked vasopressin-induced increases in cytosolic PKMalpha. These data provide new information about the cellular mechanisms of action of vasopressin and corticosterone in the vertebrate brain and suggest a cellular mechanism by which the two hormones interact to regulate neuronal physiology and behavior.

Ambystoma↗

PubMed1990

Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate on solute transport and production of cAMP in isolated frog skin.

In the present study we have examined the action of the phorbol diester tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, on the transepithelial transport of sodium, chloride and water and the production of cAMP in the isolated frog skin epithelium (Rana esculenta). Addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the mucosal solution resulted initially in an increase in the short-circuit current, which was followed by a progressive decrease. If the short-circuit current was first activated by addition of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasotocin, then the addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate resulted only in a pronounced inhibition. The changes in the short-circuit current were the result of changes in the active influx of Na+. The effect of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on the intracellular potential measured under short-circuited conditions (Vscc) was time-dependent. Just after addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the mucosal solution, Vscc depolarized; this was followed by a slight hyperpolarization, after which Vscc continued to decline. The inhibition of the Na+ transport by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate was associated with a decline in the response to the antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasotocin), but the ability of arginine vasotocin to increase the cellular level of cAMP and to stimulate the osmotic water flow was not affected by the presence of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. In skin halves in which the short-circuit current was stimulated with arginine vasotocin, addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the short-circuit current, but only minor changes in Vscc were observed. The results presented suggest that the addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the isolated frog skin first increases and then decreases the arginine vasotocin-sensitive sodium permeability of the apical membrane. This might be due to a stimulating effect of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on both the activation and deactivation (turnover) of the sodium channels.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Polarized membrane movements in A6 kidney cells are regulated by aldosterone and vasopressin/vasotocin.

The polarity of cell-surface membrane movements and their regulation by adrenal steroid hormones (10(-6) M aldosterone) and vasopressin or vasotocin were studied in A6 cells. This cell line is derived from the Xenopus laevis distal nephron and displays regulated Na+ reabsorption but is devoid of regulated water transport. Apical and basolateral membrane movements and their hormonal regulation were characterized by measuring the uptake of the fluid phase marker horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the secretion of proteins on both sides of cell monolayers cultured on filters. The intracellular accumulation of HRP was visualized by electron microscopy and quantified by the measure of cell-associated peroxidase activity. The rate of intracellular HRP accumulation corresponded to 0.01 nl/minute/filter (4.7 cm2) from the apical side and was 20-32 times faster from the basolateral side. In contrast, the level of protein secretion was 3.5 times higher apically than basolaterally. Among the secreted proteins some were found to be secreted essentially apically, and others basolaterally. Vasotocin increased apical endocytosis (1.88-fold) and apical protein secretion (1.49-fold) in cells pretreated with aldosterone. Basolaterally, only the endocytosis was increased, and to a smaller extent (1.36-fold). These effects of vasotocin depended on aldosterone pretreatment and could be mimicked with forskolin and 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (BrcAMP). Measurements of intracellular cAMP levels showed that there was a rankorder correlation between the induced level of intracellular cAMP and that of apical endocytosis. This study shows that vasotocin has a polarized stimulatory action on apical endocytosis and protein secretion in A6 cells, and that the mediation of this action by cAMP is aldosterone dependent.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed1968

Natriferic and hydrosmotic effects of neurohypophysial peptides and their analogues in augmenting fluid uptake by Bufo melanostictus.

1. The effect of intramuscular injection of 8-arginine vasotocin, 8-arginine vasopressin, 8-lysine vasopressin, oxytocin, 8-ornithine oxytocin and 8-ornithine vasopressin on fluid uptake across the skin was studied in the live toad, Bufo melanostictus, bathed either in distilled water or in NaCl solution (0.1 g/100 ml.).2. When the bathing solution was distilled water, 8-arginine vasotocin was the most potent, 0.14 nmole/kg augmenting the rate of fluid uptake by 50%. Compared with it the others had relative potencies of: 8-arginine vasopressin 0.8, 8-lysine vasopressin 0.8 x 10(-3), oxytocin 0.8 x 10(-3), 8-ornithine oxytocin 0.8 x 10(-2), 8-ornithine vasopressin < 1.4 x 10(-4).3. When the bathing solution contained 0.1% NaCl, 8-arginine vasotocin was again the most potent, 0.06 nmole/kg augmenting the rate of fluid uptake by 50%. Compared with it the others had relative potencies of: 8-arginine vasopressin 0.3, 8-lysine vasopressin 0.3 x 10(-3), oxytocin 0.3 x 10(-2), 8-ornithine oxytocin 0.8 x 10(-2), 8-ornithine vasopressin < 0.6 x 10(-4).4. Dose-response curves for each peptide showed that in the case of 8-arginine vasopressin, 8-lysine vasopressin and 8-ornithine vasopressin the augmentation of rate of fluid uptake did not differ in the absence or in the presence of NaCl in the bathing solution; whereas in the case of 8-arginine vasotocin, oxytocin, and 8-ornithine oxytocin the augmentation was greater in the presence of sodium chloride.5. Support has been found for the postulate of a binary action of some neurohypophysial peptides on amphibian skin, arginine in position 8 being correlated with hydrosmotic effect, and isoleucine in position 3 with natriferic effect.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Vasoactive peptides and phenylephrine actions in isolated teleost hepatocytes.

The metabolic actions of the vasoactive peptides vasotocin and isotocin and the alpha-agonist phenylephrine are examined in hepatocytes isolated from three teleost species: brown bullhead, rainbow trout, and American eel. These three compounds influenced hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis with significant species differences. Vasotocin and isotocin affected only eel hepatocytes activating gluconeogenesis by 1.7-fold and glycogenolysis by 3-fold. Phenylephrine increased glycogenolysis by 7-fold in bullhead hepatocytes and gluconeogenesis by 1.4-fold in trout cells. Vasotocin and phenylephrine actions were correlated with increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). The vasotocin effects were unaffected by beta- and alpha-antagonists supporting a V2-type receptor on eel hepatocytes. Phenylephrine effects were abolished by propranolol and reduced by prazosin and yohimbine (alpha 1- and alpha 2-antagonists, respectively). Phenylephrine, therefore, affected fish hepatocyte metabolism either by a mixed alpha/beta-receptor mechanism emphasizing beta-adrenoceptors or the classic alpha/beta agonist/antagonist scheme defined for mammals is not appropriate for these fish preparations.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1991

Adenylate cyclase in the semicircular canal. Hormonal stimulation and ultrastructural localization.

The modulation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) production and the cytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase were studied in isolated semicircular canal epithelium of the frog. The basal cAMP content, as measured by radioimmunoassay, was 344 +/- 37.8 fmoles/structure/5 min (mean +/- SEM, n = 41). This content was increased 6- to 8-fold by forskolin (10(-7) M to 10(-5) M). Among the tested drugs, only prostaglandin E2, isoproterenol, and vasotocin increased the cAMP production: 1.7-fold by prostaglandin E2 (1.5 X 10(-7) M) and isoproterenol (10(-6) M), and 1.3- and 3.3-fold by vasotocin at 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M, respectively. The addition of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists blunted the stimulatory effect of vasotocin. The adenylate cyclase was evidenced in both the basolateral and apical membranes of the dark cells. Vasotocin stimulated only the apical adenylate cyclase of dark cells. These results indicated that the adenylate cyclase located in the apical dark cells of the semicircular canal was stimulated by the antidiuretic hormone which may be involved in the regulation of the endolymph secretion.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The vasotocinergic system in the hypothalamus and limbic region of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

We report a morphological and biochemical analysis on the presence, distribution and quantification of vasotocin in the hypothalamus and limbic region of the budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, using immunohistochemistry on serial sections and competitive enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay measurements on tissue extracts. Analysis of the sections showed large vasotocin-immunoreactive neurons in three main regions of the diencephalon, of both male and female specimens. Vasotocinergic cell bodies were located in the ventral and lateral areas of the hypothalamus, dorsal to the lateral thalamus and medial to the nucleus geniculatus lateralis. Immunoreactive neurons were placed also periventricularly, close to the walls of the third ventricle, at the level of the magnocellular paraventricular nucleus. Well evident bundles of immunoreactive fibers were placed ventral to the anterior commissure in the same regions of the hypothalamus and thalamus where vasotocinergic perikarya are localized. Fibers were identified close to the third ventricle, and in the lateral hypothalamic area along the lateral forebrain bundle. In contrast to what reported for other oscine and non-oscine avian species, we were not able to identify immunopositive neurons in any region above the anterior commissure, or detect relevant differences on the distribution of the vasotocin immmunoreactivity between sexes. Competitive enzyme linked immunoadsorption assay and image analysis of the extension of immunoreactivity in the tissue sections were consistent with the qualitative observations and indicated that there is no statistically significant dimorphism in the content of vasotocin or in the location and distribution of vasotocinergic elements in the investigated areas of male and female parrot brains.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

[Immunocytochemical study of the maturation of the hypothalamo-neuro-hypophysial axes in the human fetus (author's transl)].

1. The development of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system was studied using immunocytochemistry with various antisera : anti-neurophysin, anti-oxytocin, anti-vasopressin, anti-vasotocin and anti-somatostatin. 2. Immunocytochemical investigation shows that anti-vasopressin and anti-vasotocin sera react with both vasopressin and vasotocin, whereas the anti-oxytocin serum specifically reveals the oxytocin-containing structures (Fig. 1g, h, i). 3. Perikarya stained with anti-neurophysin, anti-vasopressin and anti-vasotocin sera can be seen from the 11th week of fetal life (Fig. 1a) first in the supra-optic nucleus (SON), then in the para-ventricular nucleus (PVN). Their axons reach the neural lobe as early as the 11th week (Fig. 1b, c). 4. Oxytocin-containing perikarya appear simultaneously in the PVN (Fig. 1e) and SON during the 13th week. 5. From the 16th week, neurons stained with the anti-somatostatin serum can be seen among the neurophysin-positive cell-bodies of the SON and PVN. 6. The various populations of magnocellular neurons show a significant increase in number, especially up to the 19th week, and an increase in their hormonal content up to birth.

Animals↗