title: Organization of the human paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus.
abstract: The cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the human paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (Pa) was studied with the aid of three-dimensional computer reconstruction. The adult human Pa is a vertically elongated structure that abuts the wall of the third ventricle (3V) medially and is indented dorsolaterally by the descending fornix. Chemoarchitecture revealed the following five subnuclei in the human Pa. The most prominent of these is the magnocellular subnucleus (PaM) occupying the ventrolateral quadrant of the Pa and comprised of a concentration of large arginin-vasopressin (AVP)- and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive cells, and small calbindin (Cb)-positive neurons. Rostrally, the PaM is succeeded by the small anterior parvicellular subnucleus (PaAP), which contains small AChE-, AVP- and tyrosin hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells. Dorsal to the PaM is found the dorsal subnucleus (PaD), containing large spindle-shaped TH-, oxytocin (OXY)-, and AChE-positive cells, as well as a population of small Cb-positive neurons. Abutting the wall of the 3V and medial to PaM and PaD is the parvicellular subnucleus (PaP). The PaP contains small cells immunoreactive for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), neuromedin K receptor (NK3), and nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI32). The posterior subnucleus (PaPo) is situated posterior to the descending column of the fornix; it replaces all above-mentioned subdivisions caudally, and is a chemoarchitectonic amalgam that includes dispersed large AChE-, OXY-, AVP- and TH-positive cells, as well as small NK3-, CRF-, SMI32- and Cb-immunoreactive neurons. The present findings suggest that the human PaM and PaD are homologues to the magnocellular subnuclei of the rat Pa, whereas the human PaP and PaPo correspond to the rat medial parvicellular and posterior subnuclei, respectively.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koutcherov
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ashwell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paxinos
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism; D064026:Calbindins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009481:Neurophysins / Q000378:metabolism; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064026:Calbindins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009481:Neurophysins; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase