Inhibin beta in central neural pathways involved in the control of oxytocin secretion.
Inhibin (I) a gonadal hormone glycoprotein which suppresses follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion from the anterior pituitary, is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha subunit and one of two distinct beta subunits. S1 nuclease analysis has revealed that RNAs encoding all three subunits (alpha, beta A and beta B) are expressed in rat brain. We report here on the localization, and a potential function, of inhibin beta in the rat brain. A cell group centred in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), a major recipient of visceral sensory information, was stained immunohistochemically with antisera against synthetic fragments of I beta, but not I alpha. The distribution of I beta-stained fibres is consistent with known NTS projections, and includes a prominent projection to oxytocinergic aspects of the magnocellular neurosecretory system.
Sawchenko
P E
PE
Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037.
Plotsky
P M
PM
Pfeiffer
S W
SW
Cunningham
E T
ET
Vaughan
J
J
Rivier
J
J
Vale
W
W
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
D010121:Oxytocin; D007265:Inhibins; D012313:RNA