Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1997 Jul 1;502(Pt 1):149–159. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.1997.149bl.x

Neurones in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat are regulated by a projection from the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

L N Cui 1, K Saeb-Parsy 1, R E Dyball 1
PMCID: PMC1159578  PMID: 9234203

Abstract

1. In the rat, projections from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) to the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus were characterized in vivo using extracellular recordings and in slice preparations using both extracellular and whole-cell patch clamp recording. 2. Of 117 magnocellular neurones recorded in the SON in vivo, fifteen (13%) displayed a short latency excitation, sixty-eight (58%) a short latency inhibition, six (5%) were unresponsive and twenty-eight (24%) gave long latency responses following SCN stimulation. 3. The responses of putative vasopressin cells in the SON to SCN stimulation in vivo (4 out of 61 cells, 7% excited; 49 out of 61 cells, 80% inhibited) were significantly different from those of putative oxytocin cells (10 out of 50 cells, 20% excited and 16 out of 50 cells, 32% inhibited; P < 0.02, test for differences between proportions). 4. Recordings in vitro using patch technology in whole-cell mode showed both inward and outward currents in SON cells at holding potentials near resting membrane potential following stimulation of the SCN region. The outward currents could be blocked by bicuculline (10 microM; n = 7) and the inward currents were blocked by the non-NMDA antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulphamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (5 microM; n = 4). 5. We conclude that there is a strong projection from the SCN to the SON with both inhibitory (GABAergic) and excitatory (glutamatergic) components which may regulate the daily changes in neurohypophysial hormone secretion.

Full text

PDF
149

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Berk M. L., Finkelstein J. A. An autoradiographic determination of the efferent projections of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Brain Res. 1981 Dec 7;226(1-2):1–13. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(81)91079-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berry M. S., Pentreath V. W. Criteria for distinguishing between monosynaptic and polysynaptic transmission. Brain Res. 1976 Mar 19;105(1):1–20. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(76)90919-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cui L. N., Dyball R. E. Synaptic input from the retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus changes with the light-dark cycle in the Syrian hamster. J Physiol. 1996 Dec 1;497(Pt 2):483–493. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021782. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cui L. N., Jolley C. J., Dyball R. E. Electrophysiological evidence for retinal projections to the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus and its perinuclear zone. J Neuroendocrinol. 1997 May;9(5):347–353. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.1997.00588.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Ellaway P. H. Cumulative sum technique and its application to the analysis of peristimulus time histograms. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1978 Aug;45(2):302–304. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(78)90017-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Greeley G. H., Jr, Morris M., Eldridge J. C., Kizer J. S. A diurnal plasma vasopressin rhythm in rats. Life Sci. 1982 Dec 20;31(25):2843–2846. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(82)90674-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Harris M. C. Effects of chemoreceptor and baroreceptor stimulation on the discharge of hypothalamic supraoptic neurones in rats. J Endocrinol. 1979 Jul;82(1):115–125. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0820115. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hermes M. L., Coderre E. M., Buijs R. M., Renaud L. P. GABA and glutamate mediate rapid neurotransmission from suprachiasmatic nucleus to hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in rat. J Physiol. 1996 Nov 1;496(Pt 3):749–757. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021724. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Inenaga K., Yamashita H. Excitation of neurones in the rat paraventricular nucleus in vitro by vasopressin and oxytocin. J Physiol. 1986 Jan;370:165–180. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp015928. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Jhamandas J. H., Raby W., Rogers J., Buijs R. M., Renaud L. P. Diagonal band projection towards the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus: light and electron microscopic observations in the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1989 Apr 1;282(1):15–23. doi: 10.1002/cne.902820103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Landgraf R., Häcker R., Buhl H. Plasma vasopressin and oxytocin in response to exercise and during a day-night cycle in man. Endokrinologie. 1982 Jun;79(2):281–291. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Levine J. D., Weiss M. L., Rosenwasser A. M., Miselis R. R. Retinohypothalamic tract in the female albino rat: a study using horseradish peroxidase conjugated to cholera toxin. J Comp Neurol. 1991 Apr 8;306(2):344–360. doi: 10.1002/cne.903060210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Levine J. D., Zhao X. S., Miselis R. R. Direct and indirect retinohypothalamic projections to the supraoptic nucleus in the female albino rat. J Comp Neurol. 1994 Mar 8;341(2):214–224. doi: 10.1002/cne.903410207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lincoln D. W., Wakerley J. B. Electrophysiological evidence for the activation of supraoptic neurones during the release of oxytocin. J Physiol. 1974 Oct;242(2):533–554. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1974.sp010722. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Millar-Craig M. W., Bishop C. N., Raftery E. B. Circadian variation of blood-pressure. Lancet. 1978 Apr 15;1(8068):795–797. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)92998-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Moos F. C., Ingram C. D. Electrical recordings of magnocellular supraoptic and paraventricular neurons displaying both oxytocin- and vasopressin-related activity. Brain Res. 1995 Jan 16;669(2):309–314. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(94)01296-t. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Poulain D. A., Wakerley J. B. Electrophysiology of hypothalamic magnocellular neurones secreting oxytocin and vasopressin. Neuroscience. 1982 Apr;7(4):773–808. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(82)90044-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Renaud L. P., Tang M., McCann M. J., Stricker E. M., Verbalis J. G. Cholecystokinin and gastric distension activate oxytocinergic cells in rat hypothalamus. Am J Physiol. 1987 Oct;253(4 Pt 2):R661–R665. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1987.253.4.R661. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Rittig S., Knudsen U. B., Nørgaard J. P., Pedersen E. B., Djurhuus J. C. Abnormal diurnal rhythm of plasma vasopressin and urinary output in patients with enuresis. Am J Physiol. 1989 Apr;256(4 Pt 2):F664–F671. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.1989.256.4.F664. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sawchenko P. E., Swanson L. W. The organization of forebrain afferents to the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1983 Aug 1;218(2):121–144. doi: 10.1002/cne.902180202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Stephan F. K., Berkley K. J., Moss R. L. Efferent connections of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neuroscience. 1981;6(12):2625–2641. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(81)90108-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Tribollet E., Armstrong W. E., Dubois-Dauphin M., Dreifuss J. J. Extra-hypothalamic afferent inputs to the supraoptic nucleus area of the rat as determined by retrograde and anterograde tracing techniques. Neuroscience. 1985 May;15(1):135–148. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(85)90128-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Tribollet E., Dreifuss J. J. Localization of neurones projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus area of the rat: a horseradish peroxidase study. Neuroscience. 1981;6(7):1315–1328. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(81)90190-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Vrang N., Larsen P. J., Møller M., Mikkelsen J. D. Topographical organization of the rat suprachiasmatic-paraventricular projection. J Comp Neurol. 1995 Mar 20;353(4):585–603. doi: 10.1002/cne.903530409. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Watts A. G., Swanson L. W., Sanchez-Watts G. Efferent projections of the suprachiasmatic nucleus: I. Studies using anterograde transport of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin in the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1987 Apr 8;258(2):204–229. doi: 10.1002/cne.902580204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wilkin L. D., Mitchell L. D., Ganten D., Johnson A. K. The supraoptic nucleus: afferents from areas involved in control of body fluid homeostasis. Neuroscience. 1989;28(3):573–584. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(89)90006-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Windle R. J., Forsling M. L., Guzek J. W. Daily rhythms in the hormone content of the neurohypophysial system and release of oxytocin and vasopressin in the male rat: effect of constant light. J Endocrinol. 1992 May;133(2):283–290. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1330283. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Yamashita H., Inenaga K., Kawata M., Sano Y. Phasically firing neurons in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus: immunocytochemical and electrophysiological studies. Neurosci Lett. 1983 May 27;37(1):87–92. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(83)90509-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES