Biomaterial Database

Neurohypophysial peptides. Histaminergic regulation and function in adenohypophysial secretion. 1996

A Kjaer

Department of Medical Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.

Stress stimulates the secretion of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides ACTH and beta-endorphin (beta-END) as well as prolactin (PRL) from the adenohypophysis. The regulation of adenohypophysial hormone secretion is complex and includes a variety of neuropeptides and neuroamines. Histamine (HA) seems to participate as a neurotransmitter in the central regulation of adenohypophysial secretion and is involved in stress-induced release of these hormones. However, the effect of HA on POMC and PRL secretion is indirect and may involve activation of hypothalamic neurons subsequently releasing hypophysiotropic factors that in turn regulate adenohypophysial hormone secretion. In addition to the major hypothalamic factors regulating POMC and PRL secretion, corticotropin-releasing hormone and dopamine, the neurohypophysial peptides arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) may serve such a regulatory role in adenohypophysial hormone secretion. We investigated this hypothesis at two different levels by a series of experiments presented in this review. The experiments aimed at studying: 1) the possible role of HA as a neuroendocrine regulator of AVP and OT secretion and neuronal activation, and 2) the possible involvement of AVP and OT in physiological regulation of POMC derived peptide and PRL secretion. In the first part of the study we found HA to be an important regulator of vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neuronal activity and of AVP and OT secretion. The effect of HA is mediated via activation of both HA H1- and H2-receptors. The regulatory role of HA on the neuronal AVP and OT system is of physiological relevance since it is important for the adequate AVP and OT response to physiological stimuli such as dehydration and suckling. In the second part of the study we found that secretion of POMC derived peptides and PRL in response to stress and HA is transmitted via AVP but not via OT. The effect of AVP in HA- and stress-induced POMC and PRL secretion is both mediating and permissive and the AVP-receptors involved differ with respect to these two actions as well as with type of adenohypophysial hormone secreted.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D010903	Pituitary Gland, Anterior	The anterior glandular lobe of the pituitary gland, also known as the adenohypophysis. It secretes the ADENOHYPOPHYSEAL HORMONES that regulate vital functions such as GROWTH; METABOLISM; and REPRODUCTION.	Adenohypophysis,Anterior Lobe of Pituitary,Anterior Pituitary Gland,Lobus Anterior,Pars Distalis of Pituitary,Adenohypophyses,Anterior Pituitary Glands,Anterior, Lobus,Anteriors, Lobus,Lobus Anteriors,Pituitary Anterior Lobe,Pituitary Glands, Anterior,Pituitary Pars Distalis
D010904	Pituitary Gland, Posterior	Neural tissue of the pituitary gland, also known as the neurohypophysis. It consists of the distal AXONS of neurons that produce VASOPRESSIN and OXYTOCIN in the SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS and the PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS. These axons travel down through the MEDIAN EMINENCE, the hypothalamic infundibulum of the PITUITARY STALK, to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.	Neurohypophysis,Infundibular Process,Lobus Nervosus,Neural Lobe,Pars Nervosa of Pituitary,Posterior Lobe of Pituitary,Gland, Posterior Pituitary,Infundibular Processes,Lobe, Neural,Lobes, Neural,Nervosus, Lobus,Neural Lobes,Pituitary Pars Nervosa,Pituitary Posterior Lobe,Posterior Pituitary Gland,Posterior Pituitary Glands,Process, Infundibular,Processes, Infundibular
D011388	Prolactin	A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate.	Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D006632	Histamine	An amine derived by enzymatic decarboxylation of HISTIDINE. It is a powerful stimulant of gastric secretion, a constrictor of bronchial smooth muscle, a vasodilator, and also a centrally acting neurotransmitter.	Ceplene,Histamine Dihydrochloride,Histamine Hydrochloride,Peremin
D000324	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone	An anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the ADRENAL CORTEX and its production of CORTICOSTEROIDS. ACTH is a 39-amino acid polypeptide of which the N-terminal 24-amino acid segment is identical in all species and contains the adrenocorticotrophic activity. Upon further tissue-specific processing, ACTH can yield ALPHA-MSH and corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP).	ACTH,Adrenocorticotropin,Corticotropin,1-39 ACTH,ACTH (1-39),Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone,Corticotrophin,Corticotrophin (1-39),Corticotropin (1-39),Hormone, Adrenocorticotrophic,Hormone, Adrenocorticotropic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001127	Arginine Vasopressin	The predominant form of mammalian antidiuretic hormone. It is a nonapeptide containing an ARGININE at residue 8 and two disulfide-linked cysteines at residues of 1 and 6. Arg-vasopressin is used to treat DIABETES INSIPIDUS or to improve vasomotor tone and BLOOD PRESSURE.	Argipressin,Vasopressin, Arginine,Arg-Vasopressin,Argipressin Tannate,Arg Vasopressin
D001615	beta-Endorphin	A 31-amino acid peptide that is the C-terminal fragment of BETA-LIPOTROPIN. It acts on OPIOID RECEPTORS and is an analgesic. Its first four amino acids at the N-terminal are identical to the tetrapeptide sequence of METHIONINE ENKEPHALIN and LEUCINE ENKEPHALIN.	Endorphin, beta,beta-Endorphin (1-31),beta Endorphin