Vasopressin coexists in half of the corticotropin-releasing factor axons present in the external zone of the median eminence in normal rats.
Electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry of serial thin sections showed that, in normal rats, approximately 50% of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) axons in the external zone of the median eminence contained vasopressin (AVP) and AVP precursor-derived peptides coexistent in the same secretory vesicles as CRF. The other 50% of the CRF axons contained little or no detectable AVP or AVP precursor-derived peptides. Differential activation of these subpopulations of CRF axons could provide a mechanism by which levels of CRF and AVP in portal plasma could be varied independently.
Whitnall
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MH
Smyth
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Gainer
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D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone