Fos-immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus: dependency on the diurnal rhythm, sleep, gender, and estrogen

Diurnal variations and sleep deprivation-induced changes in the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-IR) neurons in various hypothalamic/preoptic nuclei were studied in the rat. The nuclei implicated in sleep regulation, the ventrolateral preoptic (VLPO), median preoptic (MnPO), and suprachiasmatic (SCN, dorsomedial subdivision) nuclei, displayed maximum c-fos expression in the rest (light) period. Sleep deprivation (S.D.) suppressed Fos-IR in the dorsomedial subdivision of SCN but failed to alter Fos in the VLPO. Fos-IR increased in the VLPO during recovery after S.D. A nocturnal rise in Fos expression was detected in the arcuate (ARC), anterodorsal preoptic (ADP) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei whereas the lateroanterior hypothalamic nucleus (LA) and the ventrolateral subdivision of SCN did not display diurnal variations. S.D. stimulated Fos expression in the ARC, ADP, and LA. Statistically significant, albeit modest, differences were noted in the number of Fos-IR cells between males and cycling female (estrus/diestrus) in the VLPO, MnPO, ARC, LA, and AVPV, and the female ADP did not display diurnal variations. Ovariectomy (OVX) was followed by marked reduction in Fos expression in the VLPO, SCN, and AVPV, and the diurnal rhythm decreased in the VLPO, and vanished in the dorsomedial SCN, and AVP. Estrogen administration to OVX female rats stimulated Fos expression in most nuclei, and the lost diurnal variations reoccurred. In contrast, castration of male rats had little effect on Fos expression (slight rises in diurnal Fos in the ARC and ventrolateral SCN). The results suggest that Fos expression is highly estrogen-dependent in many hypothalamic nuclei including those that have been implicated in sleep regulation.     

Numbers of neurons and astroglial cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of male and female rats

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of male and female rats contains about 180,000 neurons per mm3 tissue. As the volume of the SCN (unilaterally) does not exceed 0.064 mm3 in the present preparation it is assumed to contain between 11,000 and 12,000 neurons. The astroglia: neuron ratio is approximately 1:3. The number of neurons and glial cells were obtained by a new approach measuring the areal density of the nuclei on micrographs and their mean volume from three-dimensionally reconstructed nuclei in serial thick sections. Neuronal nuclei tend to be smaller in SCN of male rats, but contain relatively more nucleoli than neuronal nuclei in SCN of female rats.     

Activation of hypothalamic arcuate but not paraventricular neurons following carotid body chemoreceptor stimulation in the rat

The effect of carotid body chemoreceptor stimulation on 292 neurons in midline hypothalamic nuclei has been examined electrophysiologically in ethyl carbamate/sodium pentobarbitone anaesthetized rats. Experiments demonstrated that specific stimulation of carotid body chemoreceptors activates a small group (16) of neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, but has no effect on neurons (157) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus or the anterior hypothalamus. Of 16 arcuate neurons activated by the stimulus, six projected to the median eminence and three projected to the dorsal medulla, as defined by antidromic invasion. Three of the neurons activated from the carotid body also showed a resting discharge that was linked with ventilation rate, suggesting that the arcuate nucleus may have some involvement with respiratory processing. The activation of neurons projecting to the median eminence implies that the release of adenohypophyseal hormones may also be influenced by carotid body chemoreceptors.     

GABAB receptors role in cell migration and positioning within the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

The ventromedial (VMN) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei of the hypothalamus are bilateral nuclear groups at the base of the hypothalamus that are organized through the aggregation of neurons born along the third ventricle that migrate laterally. During development, GABAergic neurons and fibers surround the forming (or primordial) VMN while neurons containing GABA receptors are found within the boundaries of the emerging nucleus. To investigate the role that GABAB receptors play in establishing the VMN, Thy-1 yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mice were utilized for live video microscopy studies. The Thy-1 promoter drives YFP expression in regions of the hypothalamus during development. Administration of the GABAB receptor antagonist saclofen and the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline selectively increased the rate of VMN cell movement in slices placed in vitro at embryonic day 14, when cells that form both the ARC and VMN are migrating away from the proliferative zone surrounding the third ventricle. To further test the role of GABAB receptors in VMN development, GABAB receptor knockout mice were used to examine changes in the positions of phenotypically identified cells within the VMN. Cells containing immunoreactive estrogen receptors (ER) alpha were located in the ventrolateral quadrant of the wild type VMN. In GABABR1 knockout mice, these ERalpha positive neurons were located in more dorsal positions at postnatal day (P) 0 and P4. We conclude that GABA alters cell migration and its effect on final cell positioning may lead to changes in the circuitry and connections within specific nuclei of the developing hypothalamus.     

Cholinergic mechanisms of lordotic behavior in rats

Cholinergic mechanisms of lordotic behavior were studied in hooded rats using behavioral techniques and autoradiographic analysis of the diffusion of [3H]N methyl scopolamine ([3H]NMS) applied to the hypothalamus. Bilateral cannulae were implanted chronically in the region of the ventromedial nuclei (VMN). A series of cholinergic drugs and estradiol (E2) were administered to each rat during successively induced periods of estrus. Robust inhibition of lordosis resulted from administration of atropine and scopolamine. Robust facilitation followed carbachol administration. Pirenzepine, hexamethonium, and tetraethylammonium did not inhibit lordosis. [3H]NMS, the last drug in the series to be administered, inhibited lordosis in two of three rats. Autoradiographic analysis of [3H]NMS diffusion in these rats revealed that radioactivity was confined entirely to the hypothalamus and appeared in the region of the VMN. In an additional experiment, the in vitro binding characteristics of [3H]NMS in the basomedial hypothalamus were examined. The VMN appeared lightly labeled and were surrounded by regions of darker labeling. We conclude that cholinergic drugs influence lordotic behavior when applied in crystalline form in the vicinity of the VMN of the female rat hypothalamus.     

Disruption of diurnal feeding and weight gain cycles in weanling rats by ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions

At the age of 28 days, male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral electrolytic lesions in the ventromedial (VMN) and dorsomedial (DMN) hypothalamic nuclei, repectively. Sham-operated rats served as controls. Food intake and body weight gains were measured for 13 days at the beginning of the light period (0800–2000 hr) and prior to the start of the dark period (2000-0800 hr). Both types of hypothalamic lesions caused a disruption of the naturally occurring diurnal feeding and weight gaining cycles. In accordance with previous data, the VMN rats remained normophagic and made normal weight gains while DMN animals were hypophagic and gained weight subnormally; linear growth was reduced in both types of lesioned animals, but only the VMN rats became obese. The data suggest the existence in the medial hypothalamus of an area that is involved in feeding and weight gaining cycles. From the standpoint of overall-caloric intake, this area consists of two types of neuronal assemblies that differ fuctionally as profoundly as they are anatomically separate.     

Dependence of androgenization on differentiation of the hypothalamic centers

Dependence of the sterilizing action of androgens on the level of differentiation of the hypothalamic centers in the postnatal period of development was studied in female rats. Asynchronous development of the arcuate nucleus (AN; the tonic center) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN; the cyclic center) was found. Neurons of AN begin to produce granules of secretion in 20-day embryos. The first neurons with granules of secretion are found in SCN in rats aged 5–7 days. Injection of testosterone propionate induces an anovulatory cycle in females during the first 7 days after birth, on account of inhibition of development of the hypothalamic cyclic center.Laboratory of Mechanisms of Action of Antitumor Preparations, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. N. Blokhin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 207–209, February, 1978.     

Pituitary-adrenocortical response to shock-induced stress in normal and hypothalamic hyperphagic rats.

Several previous experiments have reported that mediobasal hypothalamic lesions that include the ventromedial nuclei result in decreased adrenal weights and impaired pituitary-adrenocortical responses to stress. In the present experiment, lean and obese rats with lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus that spared the median eminence were found to have normal adrenal weights and normal elevations in plasma corticosterone to shock-induced stress. The previous results were attributed to incidental damage to adjacent structures, particularly the median eminence. Lean but not obese VMH-lesioned rats were found to have higher baseline corticosterone levels.     

Effect of cadmium on 24-h variations in hypothalamic dopamine and serotonin metabolism in adult male rats

This study was designed to analyze the possible cadmium effects on time-of-day variations of anterior, mediobasal, and posterior hypothalamic contents of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) content in adult male rats. Also DA and 5-HT metabolism, as expressed by the ratio 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) to DA and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) to 5-HT, respectively, were studied. Adult male rats were given cadmium at a dose of 25 ppm of cadmium chloride in drinking water for 1 month. Age-matched rats having access to cadmium-free water were used as controls. Weight gain for the whole period was not changed by cadmium exposure. The metal accumulated in the hypothalamus of rats. In the three hypothalamic regions, significant 24-h variations of NE and 5-HT concentration were found in controls, while DA content changed rhythmically in mediobasal hypothalamus only. Mean content of NE, 5-HT, and DA of anterior, mediobasal, and posterior hypothalamus decreased after cadmium exposure. After cadmium the 24-h pattern of NE changed only in mediobasal hypothalamus, whereas the metal changed significantly the pattern of 5-HT in all regions. DOPAC to DA and 5-HIAA to 5-HT ratios decreased and were differentially changed in all hypothalamic regions analyzed in cadmium-treated rats. There was a statistically significant relationship between time of administration of metal and time that the change took place in biogenic amines in the hypothalamus. These results indicate that cadmium may depress hypothalamic biogenic amine release. Electronic Publication     

Nuclear estrogen receptor binding in microdissected brain regions of female rats during pregnancy: Implications for maternal and sexual behavior

Previously, we showed that changes in nuclear estrogen receptor (NER) concentrations within large dissections of the preoptic area and hypothalamus of pregnant rats might underlie changes in both maternal and sexual behaviors. To more precisely localize these biochemical changes, NER concentrations were measured in microdissected nuclei within the preoptic area and hypothalamus of pregnant rats on days 8, 16 and 22. Results indicated that NER levels changed significantly throughout pregnancy and that the magnitude and direction of change was site specific. Although a different pattern of change was found in each nucleus, NER levels in most preoptic area nuclei were significantly higher by the 16th day of pregnancy compared to those on day 8, while receptor levels in most hypothalamic nuclei did not increase until day 22 of pregnancy. The higher NER levels found in preoptic area nuclei of female rats as pregnancy advances can be correlated with growing maternal responsiveness during pregnancy, while elevated concentrations of NER in hypothalamic nuclei at the end of pregnancy may indicate preparation for postpartum estrus.     

Effect of interleukin-1 on adrenocortical activity in intact and hypothalamic deafferentated male rats

Summary The present study was designed to elucidate the site of action of interleukin 1 (IL-1) modulation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal (HHA) axis. An intraperitoneal injection of recombinant human IL-1 (160 U/rat) significantly elevated serum levels of ACTH and corticosterone (CS). In rats with complete mediobasal hypothalamic deafferentation, the HHA response to IL-1 was inhibited. An intracerebroventricular injection of rIL-1 (2 U/ rat) caused a marked increase in serum ACTH and CS. These results suggest that IL-1 activates the HHA axis by a direct effect upon the brain, and that intact neural connections between the mediobasal hypothalamus and extrahypothalamic brain regions are essential for IL-1-induced HHA responses.     

Molecular disruption of hypothalamic nutrient sensing induces obesity

The sensing of circulating nutrients within the mediobasal hypothalamus may be critical for energy homeostasis. To induce a sustained impairment in hypothalamic nutrient sensing, adeno-associated viruses (AAV) expressing malonyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase (MCD; an enzyme involved in the degradation of malonyl coenzyme A) were injected bilaterally into the mediobasal hypothalamus of rats. MCD overexpression led to decreased abundance of long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A in the mediobasal hypothalamus and blunted the hypothalamic responses to increased lipid availability. The enhanced expression of MCD within this hypothalamic region induced a rapid increase in food intake and progressive weight gain. Obesity was sustained for at least 4 months and occurred despite increased plasma concentrations of leptin and insulin. These findings indicate that nutritional modulation of the hypothalamic abundance of malonyl-coenzyme A is required to restrain food intake and that a primary impairment in this central nutrient-sensing pathway is sufficient to disrupt energy homeostasis and induce obesity.     

精氨酸加压素阳性神经元在大鼠下丘脑的定位

目的:观察大鼠精氨酸加压素(AVP)及其mRNA阳性神经元在下丘脑的分布和形态特征。方法:以尼氏染色作参照,运用免疫组化和原位杂交观察AVP及其mRNA在下丘脑的表达。结果:下丘脑AVP及其mRNA阳性的神经元由吻侧到尾侧依次出现于视上核,视上核和视交叉上核,视上核、视交叉上核和室旁核,视上核和室旁核及视上核、下丘脑前核和室旁核。AVP及其mRNA阳性神经元仅占据视上核背内侧;在第三脑室室管膜膜内或膜下可见AVP阳性神经元的胞体或突起;在不同核团内AVP阳性神经元的形态存在差异。结论:AVP及其mRNA阳性神经元在下丘脑不同核团内具有特异性分布;AVP阳性触液神经元可能是调节脑脊液和脑组织之间AVP含量的桥梁。     

Changes in the protein content in hypothalamic neurons of neonatally castrated sexually mature male rats

Changes in the protein content in neurons of the anterior and mediobasal hypothalamus of neonatally castrated sexually mature rats were demonstrated by an interferometric method. A considerable increase in the dry weight of the neurons was found in the medial preoptic region and the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. The clearest changes were observed in the nuclei of these neurons. The results point to an influence of androgens in the period of sexual differentiation of the brain on hypothalamic structures responsible for the regulation of both the cyclic and the tonic secretion of gonadotropic hormones in sexually mature animals.Laboratory of Hormoral Rugulation, Institute of Developmental Biology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 586–589, November, 1978.     

Neurons containing messenger RNA encoding glutamate decarboxylase in rat hypothalamus demonstrated by in situ hybridization, with special emphasis on cell groups in medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamic area and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus

Previous deafferentation studies have suggested that most hypothalamic GABAergic innervation originates from neurons within the hypothalamus. We have investigated the distribution of GABAergic cell groups in the rat hypothalamus by means of the in situ hybridization technique, using a cDNA probe for messenger RNA encoding glutamate decarboxylase. Several major GABAergic cell groups were demonstrated, including cells of the tuberomammillary nucleus, arcuate nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamic area, the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, perifornical area, and lateral hypothalamic area. The most prominent glutamate decarboxylase mRNA-containing cell groups were located in the medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamic area and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, and were composed of small- to medium-sized neurons. Compared to previously well-characterized GABAergic cell groups in the tuberomammillary nucleus, reticular thalamic nucleus, and non-pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex, the cells of these GABAergic groups demonstrated only weak cDNA labelling, indicating that they contain lower levels of glutamate decarboxylase mRNA. Several types of control experiments supported the specificity of this cDNA labelling, and the GABAergic nature of these cell populations was further supported by detection of glutamate decarboxylase and GABA immunoreactivity. Abundance of GABAergic cells in many hypothalamic nuclei indicates that GABA represents quantitatively the most important transmitter of hypothalamic neurons, and may be involved in neuroendocrine and autonomic regulatory functions.     

Anatomical evidence for interactions between catecholamine- and adrenocorticotropin-containing neurons

Recent studies suggest that neurons containing adrenocorticotropin and catecholamines are localized to similar areas of the brain. In this immunocytochemical study, the distributions of neurons and terminals containing adrenocorticotropin and tyrosine hydroxylase, the first enzyme in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, were compared using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Neurons containing adrenocorticotropin and tyrosine hydroxylase formed overlapping hyperbolic lamina in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Although adrenocorticotropin and tyrosine hydroxylase containing neurons often formed small clusters, no double labeled cells were observed. Overlap also occurred between adrenocorticotropin and tyrosine hydroxylase terminal fields in several diencephalic nuclei including the periventricular hypothalamic gray and paraventricular thalamus. In contrast, other regions displayed striking compartmentalization of terminal fields; for example, in both the paraventricular hypothalamus and central nucleus of the amygdala, adrenocorticotropin was located in ventral and tyrosine hydroxylase in more dorsal aspects of the nuclei. Adjacent sections also showed a close correspondence between adrenocorticotropin terminals and tyrosine hydroxylase cell bodies in paraventricular, periventricular, dorsomedial and ventral hypothalamic nuclei. These data provide anatomical substrates for potential functional interactions between catecholamine and adrenocorticotropin systems in forebrain.     

Changes in the Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Neurons in a Number of Hypothalamic Nuclei on Aging

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - Objectives. To identify changes in the immunohistochemical characteristics of neurons in the arcuate (AN), ventromedial (VMN), and dorsomedial (DMN) nuclei...     

Pancreatic islet transplantation in diabetic pregnant rats prevents acquired malformation of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus in their offspring

Exposure to a diabetic intrauterine environment leads to diabetogenic disturbances throughout later life in rats. This is accompanied by a fetally acquired dysplasia of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) which is decisively involved in the regulation of metabolism. We investigated whether malformation of the VMN is preventable by normalization of gestational hyperglycaemia. Correction of hyperglycaemia in pregnant streptozotocin-diabetic rats was achieved by pancreatic islet transplantation. The number of neurons in the VMN was significantly reduced in adult offspring of non-treated, sham-transplanted mother rats (P<0.05), but did not differ between offspring of islet-transplanted mother rats and offspring of control mothers. In conclusion, prevention of VMN malformation in offspring of islet-transplanted diabetic mothers might be co-responsible for normalization of their glucose homeostasis during life.     

The effects of unilateral frontolateral hypothalamic knife cuts and asymmetrical unilateral septal lesions on lordosis behavior of rats

It has been shown that the medial hypothalamus exerts facilitatory control over female sexual behavior in the rat whereas the septal area exerts inhibitory control over lordosis behavior. The present study assessed whether the septal area exerts its inhibitory control over lordosis behavior via efferent connections with the mediobasal hypothalamus. Anatomical studies using retrograde tracers verified that cell bodies located in the lateral septal area project ipsilaterally to the mediobasal hypothalamus. Based upon the predominantly ipsilateral connection between the lateral septum and mediobasal hypothalamus, unilateral frontolateral knife cuts were produced on the left or right side of the mediobasal hypothalamus or else sham surgeries. Subsequently all animals were given unilateral electrolytic septal lesions on the right side of the brain. These animals had septal damage that was located either ipsilateral or contralateral with respect to the knife cuts. Female sexual behavior was tested following the hypothalamic knife cuts and retested after unilateral septal lesions. Unilateral hypothalamic knife cuts on either side of the brain had no detectable effect on female sexual behavior when compared to the sham group. However, following unilateral septal lesions a significant increase in lordosis behavior was observed in all groups following treatment with estrogen alone. There were no differences in lordosis behavior between the groups which had septal lesions located ipsilateral vs. contralateral with respect to the hypothalamic knife cuts. These results support the hypothesis that the facilitation in lordosis behavior associated with electrolytic septal lesions is not mediated by neural connections between the septal area and mediobasal hypothalamus. These two brain areas thus appear to exert separate and independent control over female sexual behavior.     

Efferent projections of the suprachiasmatic nucleus based on the distribution of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) immunoreactive fibers in the hypothalamus of Sapajus apella

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is considered to be the master circadian clock in mammals, establishes biological rhythms of approximately 24 h that several organs exhibit. One aspect relevant to the study of the neurofunctional features of biological rhythmicity is the identification of communication pathways between the SCN and other brain areas. As a result, SCN efferent projections have been investigated in several species, including rodents and a few primates. The fibers originating from the two main intrinsic fiber subpopulations, one producing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the other producing arginine vasopressin (AVP), exhibit morphological traits that distinguish them from fibers that originate from other brain areas. This distinction provides a parameter to study SCN efferent projections. In this study, we mapped VIP (VIP-ir) and AVP (AVP-ir) immunoreactive (ir) fibers and endings in the hypothalamus of the primate Sapajus apella via immunohistochemical and morphologic study. Regarding the fiber distribution pattern, AVP-ir and VIP-ir fibers were identified in regions of the tuberal hypothalamic area, retrochiasmatic area, lateral hypothalamic area, and anterior hypothalamic area. VIP-ir and AVP-ir fibers coexisted in several hypothalamic areas; however, AVP-ir fibers were predominant over VIP-ir fibers in the posterior hypothalamus and medial periventricular area. This distribution pattern and the receiving hypothalamic areas of the VIP-ir and AVP-ir fibers, which shared similar morphological features with those found in SCN, were similar to the patterns observed in diurnal and nocturnal animals. This finding supports the conservative nature of this feature among different species. Morphometric analysis of SCN intrinsic neurons indicated homogeneity in the size of VIP-ir neurons in the SCN ventral portion and heterogeneity in the size of two subpopulations of AVP-ir neurons in the SCN dorsal portion. The distribution of fibers and morphometric features of these neuronal populations are described and compared with those of other species in the present study.