Korean J Phys Anthropol.  1999 Jun;12(1):33-44.

Changes In The Distribution of Oxytocin and Vasopressin-Immunoreactive Neurons In the Hypothalamic Area of Normal and Hypophysectomized Rats

• Jeong YG
• Lee NS
• Lee CH
• Hyun BH

Abstract

The localization and number of oxytocin- and vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons (OXY-IR & VP-IR) and their fibers in the hypothalamic areas (supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area and median eminence) of the hypophysectomized rat were compared with normal rats at 6 months of survival after surgery at the light microscopic level. The number of VP-IR neurons was markedly decreased in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the hypophysectomized rats as compared to normal rats. Moreover, The number of VP-IR fibers was decresed in the SON, PVN, lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and median eminence in the hypophysectomized rats. The number of OXY-IR neurons and thier fibers were also decreased in the SON and PVN in the hypophysectomized rats. The present results demonstrate that hypophysectomy induces a significant decrease in the number of OXY- and VPIR neurons and fibers within hypothalamic areas (SON, PVN, and LHA at 6 months of post-hypophysectomy) are decreased.

Keyword

Vasopressin; Oxytocin; Hypophysectomy; Immunohistochemistry; Rat

MeSH Terms

Animals
Hypophysectomy
Hypothalamic Area, Lateral
Immunohistochemistry
Median Eminence
Neurons*
Oxytocin*
Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus
Rats*
Supraoptic Nucleus
Vasopressins
Oxytocin
Vasopressins