NADPH diaphorase activity in the posterior pituitary: relation to neuronal function

Brain Res. 1987 Jan 6;400(2):348-52. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(87)90633-0.

Abstract

Magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, fibers of the medial basal hypothalamus, and the posterior pituitary gland all stain histochemically for NADPH diaphorase activity (NADPHd). Following 8 days of salt loading to stimulate the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, NADPHd activity, as determined by a spectrophotometric assay, is markedly increased in the posterior pituitary gland but not in the hypothalamus of rats. Therefore, NADPHd activity in this system correlates with neuronal function and may provide a convenient method for the assessment of neuronal activity in selected neuronal populations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • Deoxyglucose
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Male
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Pituitary Gland / cytology
  • Pituitary Gland / enzymology*
  • Pituitary Gland / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride
  • Deoxyglucose
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase