Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-3-30
pubmed:abstractText
The excitatory effect of [Arg8]-vasopressin and its potential contribution to the circadian cycle of electrical activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat was investigated using extracellular recordings from hypothalamic slices from virgin female rats. The majority of neurons tested for their responses to vasopressin and [Arg8]-vasotocin displayed coincident, dose-dependent excitation by both peptides, although the relative efficacy varied between neurons, with some showing a highly preferential excitation by vasotocin. Perifusion with the vasopressin receptor antagonist d(CH2)5[Tyr(OEt)2,Val4,Cit8]-vasopressin was able to block the majority of responses to vasopressin or vasotocin (20/25), and similar excitation could be induced by the selective agonist [Phe2,Orn8]-vasotocin, indicating a mainly V1 receptor-mediated effect. Few neurons (3/27; 11%) responded to the oxytocin-specific agonist, [Thr4,Gly7]-oxytocin, suggesting a low occurrence of oxytocin receptors. In addition to blocking the action of exogenous vasopressin, the V1 antagonist caused a reversible suppression of spontaneous basal activity in 7/25 cases, consistent with the presence of an endogenous excitatory vasopressin tone. In agreement with previous reports, the activity of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons showed a significant correlation between spontaneous activity and the light-dark cycle, with activity decreasing during the subjective dark phase. When neurons were divided on the basis of their response to vasopressin and/or vasotocin, the peptide-sensitive neurons continued to show a strong correlation (r = 0.513, P < 0.01) while the insensitive neurons showed no correlation (r = 0.136, P > 0.05). These data confirm the presence of V1 type receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and also indicate a small number of neurons possessing additional classes of receptor selective for either oxytocin or vasotocin. Contrary to previous reports, they also demonstrate that endogenous vasopressin tonically excites suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons. The fact that vasopressin-sensitive (but not vasopressin-insensitive) neurons show a level of basal activity correlated with time, suggests that this tone may contribute to the circadian cycle of electrical activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0306-4522
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
62
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
783-92
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
The effects of [Arg8]vasopressin and [Arg8]vasotocin on the firing rate of suprachiasmatic neurons in vitro.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, U.K.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't