Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1973 Jun;48(2):263–272. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb06912.x

The distribution of vasopressin and oxytocin in the hypothalamoneurohypophysial system of the guinea-pig

G W Bisset, M L Errington, C D Richards
PMCID: PMC1776216  PMID: 4739050

Abstract

1. The ratio of the content of vasopressin to that of oxytocin (V/O ratio) was estimated in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and posterior pituitary gland (PIT) of guinea-pigs.

2. Extracts were assayed for antidiuretic activity to estimate vasopressin and for milk-ejecting activity to estimate oxytocin. In assays for milk-ejecting activity, trypsin was used to inactivate vasopressin in the extracts.

3. The mean V/O ratios in the SON, PVN and PIT were 28, 8·5 and 7·0 respectively in male guinea-pigs, 6·8, 7·4 and 6·9 in non-lactating females, and 5·1, 3·3 and 6·6 in lactating females.

4. The distribution of the hormones within the hypothalamus is discussed in relation to their independent release in response to electrical stimulation of the SON and PVN.

Full text

PDF
263

Selected References

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

  1. ADAMSONS K., Jr, ENGEL S. L., VAN DYKE H. B., SCHMIDT-NIELSEN B., SCHMIDT-NIELSEN K. The distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) in the neuro-hypophysis of the camel. Endocrinology. 1956 Feb;58(2):272–278. doi: 10.1210/endo-58-2-272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ANDERSSON B., MCCANN S. M. Drinking, antidiuresis and milk ejection from electrical stimulation within the hypothalamus of the goat. Acta Physiol Scand. 1955 Dec 31;35(2):191–201. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1955.tb01277.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Aulsebrook L. H., Holland R. C. Central regulation of oxytocin release with and without vasopressin release. Am J Physiol. 1969 Apr;216(4):818–829. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1969.216.4.818. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BANGHAM D. R., MUSSETT M. V. Third international standard for posterior pituitary; re-named third international standard for oxytocic, vasopressor and antidiuretic substances in 1956. Bull World Health Organ. 1958;19(2):325–340. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. BISSET G. W. Effect of tyrosinase preparations on oxytocin, vasopressin and bradykinin. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1962 Apr;18:405–420. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1962.tb01420.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bisset G. W., Clark B. J., Errington M. L. The hypothalamic neurosecretory pathways for the release of oxytocin and vasopressin in the cat. J Physiol. 1971 Aug;217(1):111–131. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009562. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bisset G. W., Clark B. J., Haldar J. Blood levels of oxytocin and vasopressin during suckling in the rabbit and the problem of their independent release. J Physiol. 1970 Mar;206(3):711–722. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009039. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Clark B. J., Silva MR Jr E. An afferent pathway for the selective release of vasopressin in response to carotid occlusion and haemorrhage in the cat. J Physiol. 1967 Aug;191(3):529–542. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008266. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. FANG H. S., LIU H. M., WANG S. C. Liberation of antidiuretic hormone following hypothalamic stimulation in the dog. Am J Physiol. 1962 Feb;202:212–216. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1962.202.2.212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Frandsen P., Jensen S. E. Excretion of oxytocin and vasopressin in human urine. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1971 Mar;66(3):540–546. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0660540. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. GINSBURG M., SMITH M. W. The fate of oxytocin in male and female rats. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1959 Sep;14:327–333. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1959.tb00252.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. KOELLA W. Die Beeinflussung der Harnsekretion durch hypothalamische Reizung. Helv Physiol Pharmacol Acta. 1949;7(4):498–514. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. LAWLER H. C., DU VIGNEAUD V. Enzymatic evidence for intrinsic oxytocic activity of the pressor-antidiuretic hormone. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1953 Oct;84(1):114–116. doi: 10.3181/00379727-84-20559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. LEDERIS K. Vasopressin and oxytocin in the mammalian hypothalamus. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1961 Apr;1:80–89. doi: 10.1016/0016-6480(61)90027-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. NIBBELINK D. W. Paraventricular nuclei, neurohypophysis, and parturition. Am J Physiol. 1961 Jun;200:1229–1232. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1961.200.6.1229. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. OLIVECRONA H. Paraventricular nucleus and pituitary gland. Acta Physiol Scand Suppl. 1957;40(136):1–178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Roberts J. S., Share L. Oxytocin in plasma of pregnant, lactating and cycling ewes during vaginal stimulation. Endocrinology. 1968 Aug;83(2):272–278. doi: 10.1210/endo-83-2-272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. TINDAL J. S. THE FOREBRAIN OF THE GUINEA PIG IN STEREOTAXIC COORDINATES. J Comp Neurol. 1965 Apr;124:259–266. doi: 10.1002/cne.901240210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Tindal J. S., Knaggs G. S., Turvey A. Preferential release of oxytocin from the neurohypophysis after electrical stimulation of the afferent path of the milk-ejection reflex in the brain of the guinea-pig. J Endocrinol. 1968 Feb;40(2):205–214. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0400205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Tindal J. S., Knaggs G. S., Turvey A. The afferent path of the milk-ejection reflex in the brain of the guinea-pig. J Endocrinol. 1967 Jul;38(3):337–349. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0380337. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Tindal J. S., Knaggs G. S., Turvey A. The afferent path of the milk-ejection reflex in the brain of the rabbit. J Endocrinol. 1969 Apr;43(4):663–671. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0430663. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. VOGT M. Vasopressor, antidiuretic, and oxytocic activities of extracts of the dog's hypothalamus. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1953 Jun;8(2):193–196. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1953.tb00777.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES