Oxytocin (OT) is one of the neuropituitary hormones and is synthesized in the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON). Previous studies have shown that the mRNAs encoding OT are delivered from the soma to both dendrites and axons of the neurons in the PVN and SON. However, it has not been elucidated whether a translational regulation mechanism to enable local s...

High densities of nerve cells containing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are located in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. These brain regions play an important role in activating autonomic, behavioral, and endocrine responses to stress. This study was conducted to provide needed information concerning the acute effects of stre...

We investigated the role of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the cytokine-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 activity in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), a critical cardiovascular and autonomic center, in rats with heart failure (HF). Sprague-Dawley rats underwent coronary artery ligation to induce HF or sham surgery. HF rats were treated orally for 6 weeks with vehicl...

In late gestation, challenges to fetal homeostasis are accompanied by increases in adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentrations in fetal peripheral plasma and Fos (c-fos protein) activation in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the fetal hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In adults, ventrolateral brainstem catecholaminergic (CA) neurons (A1/C1, A2/C2) project to the parvocel...

In female rats, stimulation of the uterine cervix during mating induces two daily surges of prolactin. Inhibition of hypothalamic dopamine release and stimulation of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are required for prolactin secretion. We aim to better understand how stimulation of the uterine cervix is translated into two daily prolactin surges. We hypothesize that noradr...

Gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) changes in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) depending on feeding conditions, which is decreased during food deprivation and restored by refeeding, and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) was suggested to play a role in its regulation. This study was conducted to examine if the fasting-induced down-re...

Intracerebroventricular infusion of Na(+)-rich artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) causes larger sympathetic and pressor responses in Dahl salt-sensitive (S) than -resistant (R) or Wistar rats. Enhanced activity of the aldosterone-"ouabain" pathway or decreased nitric oxide (NO) release may contribute to this enhanced responsiveness. Where in the brain these mechanisms interact is largely unk...

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) acts intracellularly to counteract the angiotensin (ANG) II type 1 receptor (AT1-R)-mediated chronotropic effect of ANG II in hypothalamic neurons, an effect mediated by the thiol-protein oxidoreductase (TPOR) activity of the MIF molecule. Here we determined the in vivo actions of MIF in regulating the physiological actions of ANG II that are mediate...

Neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) that project to the brainstem and spinal cord are important for autonomic regulation. The excitability of pre-autonomic PVN neurons is controlled by the noradrenergic input from the brainstem. In this study, we determined the role of " 2 adrenergic receptors in the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs to spinally projecting PVN neu...

The bHLH-PAS transcription factor SIM1 is expressed during the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in three hypothalamic nuclei: the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the anterior periventricular nucleus (aPV), and the supraoptic nucleus (SON). To investigate Sim1 function in the hypothalamus, we produced mice carrying a null allele of Sim1 by gene targeting. Homozygous mutant mice die ...