Secretion of the neurohypophyseal principles arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, vasopressin-neurophysin, and oxytocin-neurophysin by hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal explants in organ culture was studied. The viability of explant cultures was tested on day 6 by their ability to incorporate 3H-amino acid into acid-precipitable protein, specifically vasopressin-neurophysin. The explants released all four neurosecretory products in a controlled manner during 8 successive days of culture. In addition, these substances were all present in neural lobes and hypothalami at the end of the culture period. Although the tissue retained a 1:1 molar ratio between the hormone and corresponding neurophysin, the levels of neurophysins in culture media were much higher than the levels of hormones. Through immunoprecipitation techniques we determined that both arginine vasopressin and oxytocin were unstable in culture media containing explants or in medium containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum. This suggests that neurophysins are more stable indicators of secretion by explants than are the corresponding hormones. An increased release of arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, vasopressin-neurophysin, and oxytocin-neurophysin occurred in response to elevated K+ and to increased sodium ions in the medium, and these four substances were released in different molecular proportions. The results indicate that explant cultures may be useful for comparisons of secretion of the two neurophysins and, to a more limited extent, of the two hormones in response to such stimuli.

Keywords:
Vasopressin, Oxytocin, Neurophysins, Neurosecretion, Hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal explants
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1986 S. Karger AG, Basel
1986
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.