Abstract
In rats, small (diameter: ca. 10 μm) vasopressinergic neurons have been localized in the forebrain, including extrahypothalamic sites, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the medial amygdala (MeA). In golden hamsters, no such neurons have ever been described in extrahypothalamic sites, while their presence in some hypothalamic sites, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), remains controversial. The present studies were carried out to confirm the existence of small vasopressinergic neurons in the forebrain of golden hamsters, using rats as a positive control. The presence of small vasopressinergic neurons in these sites was first tested by immunocytochemistry in colchicine-treated animals. The resulting distribution was corroborated by in situ hybridization for vasopressin (AVP) mRNA. While a large number of small AVP-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) neurons was found in the BST and MeA of colchicine-treated rats, none was found in the same locations in hamsters. Interestingly, as a few large (diameter: 20-25 μm) AVP-ir neurons were found in the BST just medial to the small neurons in rats, the same area contained a few large and small AVP-ir neurons in hamsters. In the PVN, large and small AVp-ir neurons were found in rats and hamsters. However, three to four times more neurons were counted in rats. These data were confirmed by in situ hybridization. Indeed, in hamsters, no labelling for AVP mRNA was detected in small neurons within the BST and MeA. Furthermore, the PVN of rats contained more labelling for AVP mRNA, as compared to hamsters. These results confirm that the distribution of vasopressinergic neurons in rats cannot be generalized to other species without a detailed analysis.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 589-598 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Comparative Neurology |
| Volume | 360 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1995 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- bed nucleus of stria terminalis
- lateral septum
- medial amygdala
- paraventricular nucleus
- vasopressin messenger RNA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Distribution of small vasopressinergic neurons in golden hamsters. / Ferris, C. F.; Delville, Y.; Miller, M. A.; Dorsa, Daniel; De Vries, G. J.
In: Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol. 360, No. 4, 1995, p. 589-598.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of small vasopressinergic neurons in golden hamsters
AU - Ferris, C. F.
AU - Delville, Y.
AU - Miller, M. A.
AU - Dorsa, Daniel
AU - De Vries, G. J.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - In rats, small (diameter: ca. 10 μm) vasopressinergic neurons have been localized in the forebrain, including extrahypothalamic sites, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the medial amygdala (MeA). In golden hamsters, no such neurons have ever been described in extrahypothalamic sites, while their presence in some hypothalamic sites, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), remains controversial. The present studies were carried out to confirm the existence of small vasopressinergic neurons in the forebrain of golden hamsters, using rats as a positive control. The presence of small vasopressinergic neurons in these sites was first tested by immunocytochemistry in colchicine-treated animals. The resulting distribution was corroborated by in situ hybridization for vasopressin (AVP) mRNA. While a large number of small AVP-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) neurons was found in the BST and MeA of colchicine-treated rats, none was found in the same locations in hamsters. Interestingly, as a few large (diameter: 20-25 μm) AVP-ir neurons were found in the BST just medial to the small neurons in rats, the same area contained a few large and small AVP-ir neurons in hamsters. In the PVN, large and small AVp-ir neurons were found in rats and hamsters. However, three to four times more neurons were counted in rats. These data were confirmed by in situ hybridization. Indeed, in hamsters, no labelling for AVP mRNA was detected in small neurons within the BST and MeA. Furthermore, the PVN of rats contained more labelling for AVP mRNA, as compared to hamsters. These results confirm that the distribution of vasopressinergic neurons in rats cannot be generalized to other species without a detailed analysis.
AB - In rats, small (diameter: ca. 10 μm) vasopressinergic neurons have been localized in the forebrain, including extrahypothalamic sites, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the medial amygdala (MeA). In golden hamsters, no such neurons have ever been described in extrahypothalamic sites, while their presence in some hypothalamic sites, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), remains controversial. The present studies were carried out to confirm the existence of small vasopressinergic neurons in the forebrain of golden hamsters, using rats as a positive control. The presence of small vasopressinergic neurons in these sites was first tested by immunocytochemistry in colchicine-treated animals. The resulting distribution was corroborated by in situ hybridization for vasopressin (AVP) mRNA. While a large number of small AVP-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) neurons was found in the BST and MeA of colchicine-treated rats, none was found in the same locations in hamsters. Interestingly, as a few large (diameter: 20-25 μm) AVP-ir neurons were found in the BST just medial to the small neurons in rats, the same area contained a few large and small AVP-ir neurons in hamsters. In the PVN, large and small AVp-ir neurons were found in rats and hamsters. However, three to four times more neurons were counted in rats. These data were confirmed by in situ hybridization. Indeed, in hamsters, no labelling for AVP mRNA was detected in small neurons within the BST and MeA. Furthermore, the PVN of rats contained more labelling for AVP mRNA, as compared to hamsters. These results confirm that the distribution of vasopressinergic neurons in rats cannot be generalized to other species without a detailed analysis.
KW - bed nucleus of stria terminalis
KW - lateral septum
KW - medial amygdala
KW - paraventricular nucleus
KW - vasopressin messenger RNA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029086724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029086724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/cne.903600404
DO - 10.1002/cne.903600404
M3 - Article
VL - 360
SP - 589
EP - 598
JO - Journal of Comparative Neurology
JF - Journal of Comparative Neurology
SN - 0021-9967
IS - 4
ER -