WWW.JNEUROSCI.ORG
-
The Journal of Neuroscience
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
-


HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (35)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Srisawat, R.
Right arrow Articles by Leng, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Srisawat, R.
Right arrow Articles by Leng, G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, September 1, 2000, 20(17):6721-6727

Nitric Oxide and the Oxytocin System in Pregnancy

Rungrudee Srisawat, Mike Ludwig, Philip M. Bull, Alison J. Douglas, John A. Russell, and Gareth Leng

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom

We examined the functional role of the nitric oxide (NO)-producing system in magnocellular neurons and how this changes at the end of pregnancy, using a combination of blood sampling and oxytocin radioimmunoassay, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry for Fos expression, and in situ hybridization histochemistry. In urethane-anesthetized virgin rats, systemic administration of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors led to a facilitation of oxytocin release evoked by hyperosmotic stimulation. Direct application of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside to the supraoptic nucleus by in vivo microdialysis inhibited the electrical activity of both oxytocin neurons and vasopressin neurons, whereas direct application of an NOS inhibitor increased electrical activity, indicating that endogenous NO acts within the supraoptic nucleus to inhibit neuronal activity. However, during late pregnancy, the influence of endogenous NO is dramatically downregulated, reflected by a reduced expression of neuronal NOS mRNA in these neurons and a loss of efficacy of NOS inhibitors on stimulus-evoked oxytocin release. This downregulation may cause the oxytocin system to become more excitable at term, resulting in the capacity for greater release of oxytocin during parturition.

Key words: supraoptic nucleus; microdialysis; osmotic stimulation; in situ hybridization; Fos expression; hypothalamus

Copyright © 2000 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/00/20176721-07$05.00/0


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
M. Ruan and C. H. Brown
Feedback inhibition of action potential discharge by endogenous adenosine enhancement of the medium afterhyperpolarization
J. Physiol., March 1, 2009; 587(5): 1043 - 1056.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
S. Di, M. M. Maxson, A. Franco, and J. G. Tasker
Glucocorticoids Regulate Glutamate and GABA Synapse-Specific Retrograde Transmission via Divergent Nongenomic Signaling Pathways
J. Neurosci., January 14, 2009; 29(2): 393 - 401.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
K. Powers-Martin, J. K. Phillip, V. C. Biancardi, and J. E. Stern
Heterogeneous distribution of basal cyclic guanosine monophosphate within distinct neuronal populations in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2008; 295(4): R1341 - R1350.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
N. F. Rossi and W. H. Beierwaltes
Nitric oxide modulation of ETB receptor-induced vasopressin release by rat and mouse hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal explants
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2006; 290(5): R1208 - R1215.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
T. Gonzalez-Hernandez, D. Afonso-Oramas, I. Cruz-Muros, P. Barroso-Chinea, P. Abreu, M. del Mar Perez-Delgado, N. Rancel-Torres, and M. del Carmen Gonzalez
Interleukin-6 and Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in the Vasopressin and Corticotrophin-releasing Factor Systems of the Rat Hypothalamus
J. Histochem. Cytochem., April 1, 2006; 54(4): 427 - 441.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
N. Sabatier and G. Leng
Presynaptic actions of endocannabinoids mediate {alpha}-MSH-induced inhibition of oxytocin cells
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2006; 290(3): R577 - R584.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
J. E Stern and W. Zhang
Cellular sources, targets and actions of constitutive nitric oxide in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat
J. Physiol., February 1, 2005; 562(3): 725 - 744.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
N. Sabatier, C. H. Brown, M. Ludwig, and G. Leng
Phasic spike patterning in rat supraoptic neurones in vivo and in vitro
J. Physiol., July 1, 2004; 558(1): 161 - 180.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. E. Stern and M. Ludwig
NO inhibits supraoptic oxytocin and vasopressin neurons via activation of GABAergic synaptic inputs
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2001; 280(6): R1815 - R1822.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


-
-

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help
-
Copyright 2009 by Society for Neuroscience ONLINE ISSN: 1529-2401
-