Localization of neurophysin in the neurosecretory elements of the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis of the normal and osmotically stimulated guinea-pig as demonstrated by immunofluorescence histochemical techniques

The neurophysin-containing innervation of the forebrain of the mouse

The oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic innervation of the forebrain of normal mice was studied immunocytochemically by use of a set of mouse monoclonal anti-neurophysins applied to serial vibratome sections. The extensive hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic location of these neuropeptides was revealed, with, or without colchicine pretreatment. Magnocellular perikarya immunoreactive for either oxytocin-neurophysin or vasopressin-neurophysin were concentrated mainly: in the anterior commissural nucleus; in various subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus; in a profuse array in the periventricular region; in the supraoptic nucleus including its retrochiasmatic division; in various accessory nuclei; and as a number of cells scattered throughout the preoptic and hypothalamic regions. Extensive groups of parvocellular neurons, containing only vasopressin-neurophysin, were located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus including a ventromedial division, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and in the medial amygdaloid nucleus. Perikarya in the magnocellular nuclei were of generally similar size distribution and there was no evidence that distinct populations of magnocellular and parvicellular neurons, separable on the basis of size, had been labelled within these nuclei. Within the paraventricular nucleus, however, neurons in the posterior part were smaller than those located more anteriorly, and the cells containing oxytocin-neurophysin were slightly smaller than those containing vasopressin-neurophysin. Within the generally similar size distribution, magnocellular neurons of the anterior commissural nucleus were the largest. During processing, shrinkage of the tissue and immunolabeled cells had occurred. The immunocytochemical procedure delineated neuronal processes, in particular dendrites, very effectively. The dendrites were shown to project for far greater distances than is generally recognized, some were of a characteristic corkscrew-like morphology, and most were oriented in a well-defined pattern. Many dendrites of paraventricular neurons passed medially than caudally towards and then along the third ventricle. Most dendrites of supraoptic neurons, in particular those containing vasopressin-neurophysin, had an extensive anteroposterior course beneath the pia of the base of the brain. The axons containing oxytocin- and vasopressin-neurophysin were shown to take rather different paths from the paraventricular nucleus towards the median eminence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Electron microscope immunohistochemical localization of neurophysin in the rat with hereditary diabetes insipidus

In order to study the subcellular distribution of neurophysin in the rat with hypothalamic hereditary diabetes insipidus (DI), an immunoelectron microscopic localization of neurophysin was performed in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system of both homozygous and heterozygous DI rats. Whereas in control rats neurophysin was localized in the granules present in the secretory neurons, in the homozygous DI rats neurophysin was found in the granules and outside the granules in the perikarya and axons of neurons of both supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. In the heterozygous DI rats findings similar to those observed in homozygous DI rats were observed, although in the posterior pituitary, the exgranular material appeared to be less abundant than in homozygous DI rats. These results clearly demonstrated that in hyperstimulated neurons neurophysin was distributed in both granular and extragranular compartments.

Influence of adrenalectomy, total body x-irradiation and dexamethasone on the amount of CRF-granules and "classical" neurosecretory material in the rat neurohypophysis

In 195 female Wistar rats the influence of adrenalectomy, total body X-irradiation and dexamethasone treatment on the amount of CRF-granules in the external zone of the median eminence and "classical" neurosecretory material (NSM) in the internal zone of the median and in the posterior lobe of the hypophysis has been studied. In the normal rat only very few CRF-granules occur. 15 days after adrenalectomy increased amounts of CRF-granules but normal amounts of "classical" NSM are found. X-irradiation leads to a slight diminishment of "classical" NSM in normal rats. In adrenalectomized animals X-irradiation causes no changes in the amount of "classical" NSM but a marked decrease in the amount of CRF-granules. Application of dexamethasone from the 15th to 18th day after adrenalectomy enhances the augmentation of CRF-granules in irradiated and non-irradiated rats but does not influence the amount of "classical" NSM. The findings show that no correlation exists between the quantitative changes of CRF-granules and "classical" NSM under the experimental conditions used. Therefore it is to be assumed that the release of the two substances is regulated by different control mechanisms and that the substances have a different functional significance. The observations do not exclude the possibility that CRF-granules and "classical" NSM are biochemically identical.

The hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system of the guinea pig. I. Immunohistochemical localization of neurophysin in the adult

With the use of the unlabeled antibody enzyme technique and antiserum against bovine neurophysin I, neurophysin was localized in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system of the adult guinea pig. Immunoreactive deposits were found in the perikarya of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, their fiber projections and terminals in the posterior pituitary. No parvicellular neurophysin-positive components were observed. In the median eminence neurophysin was seen in the zona interna where axons of the supraoptico-hypophysial tract pass on their way to the neural lobe. The peptide was also present in axons projecting into zona externa which terminate on the primary portal plexus.

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of neurophysin in freeze-substituted neurohypophysis

Using an immunohistochemical technique at the electron microscopic level, we have observed that within the axon terminals of the guinea pig neurohypophysis neurophysin is present in the large neurosecretory granules, as well as in the axoplasm. A description of a freeze-substitution technique for neural lobe is also present.