title: Tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the adult human.
abstract: We have studied the distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the adult human hypothalamus. Large numbers of these neurons were seen in these hypothalamic nuclei; approximately 40% of all the cells within the SON and PVN were immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-ir). Most of these cells were magnocellular. Their distribution was compared to that of arginine-vasopressin-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) cells. In the SON a greater proportion of magnocellular TH-ir cells was found caudally compared to AVP-ir cells. In the PVN the magnocellular TH-ir cells were larger in mean diameter compared to AVP-ir cells. In double-immunofluorescence experiments some TH-ir cells contained oxytocin immunoreactivity but none contained AVP-ir. In the adult human a large number of PVN and SON magnocellular cells appear to synthesize a catecholamine. A subclass of these neurons also synthesize oxytocin but most cells are distinct from the classically described neurosecretory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, S.A., Australia.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Geffen
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Blessing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000032:analysis; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase