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Differences in the distributional pattern of CRF-, oxytocin-, and vasopressin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the median eminence of the rat

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Summary

Conspicuous differences in the distributional pattern of nerve fibers containing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) or posterior lobe hormones, respectively, were shown in the median eminence of the adult male rat by means of immunoperoxidase histochemistry, with the use of anti-CRF, anti-oxytocin, and anti-vasopressin sera. In the rostral and central divisions of the median eminence, a high concentration of CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers was found in the median portion of the external layer; these fibers terminated on the capillary loops of the hypophysial portal system. In the caudal division of the median eminence, the CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers were located in the median to paramedian portions of the external layer. Numerous oxytocin- and vasopressin-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed evenly distributed throughout the internal layer of the median eminence. In the external layer, a small number of the oxytocin- and vasopressin-containing nerve fibers was found around the capillary loops, particularly in the median to paramedian portions. The distributional patterns of the CRF and the posterior lobe hormones in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system and their functional interrelationship are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    M. Kawata & Y. Sano

  2. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan

    K. Hashimoto & J. Takahara

Authors
  1. M. Kawata
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  2. K. Hashimoto
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  3. J. Takahara
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  4. Y. Sano
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Supported by a grant (No. 56440022) from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan

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Kawata, M., Hashimoto, K., Takahara, J. et al. Differences in the distributional pattern of CRF-, oxytocin-, and vasopressin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the median eminence of the rat. Cell Tissue Res. 230, 247–258 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213803

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