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Neurosecretion: A Historical Overview

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Neurosecretion: Secretory Mechanisms

Part of the book series: Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology ((MANEURO,volume 8))

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Abstract

The conceptual and experimental origins of neurosecretion are discussed. The discovery of the neurosecretory cell by the Scharrers and Bargmann and their insights that this cell type possessed the characteristics of both endocrine cells and neurons are presented. A fundamental feature of the neurosecretory cell, also referred to as a neuroendocrine cell, is the presence of many large dense core vesicles (neurosecretory vesicles) in its cytoplasm. The role of neurosecretory vesicles in the biosynthesis and secretion of the prototypic neurohormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system is described.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institutes of Health, NINDS, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Harold Gainer

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  1. Harold Gainer
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Correspondence to Harold Gainer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA

    José R. Lemos

  2. Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, UMR-S1198, Montpellier, France

    Govindan Dayanithi

Key References: See Main List for Reference Details

Key References: See Main List for Reference Details

  • Bargmann and Scharrer (1951) An important summary of the neurosecretion hypothesis in mammals.

  • du Vigneaud et al. (1953a, b, c) The first clear demonstration of the structure of the neuropeptide oxytocin.

  • Gainer et al. (1977a, b) First experimental evidence for the conversion of nonapeptide precursor conversion to peptide products during axonal transport.

  • Green and Harris (1947) Early study leading to the concept of the neuroendocrine control of adenohypopysial secretion.

  • Knowles (1974) Historically important symposium for the case for neurosecretion.

  • Maddrell and Nordmann (1979) Book summarizing the evidence for the concept and occurrence of Neurosecretion.

  • Raisman (1997) Role of Geoffrey Harris in the proposal of the hypothalamic control of adenohypopysial secretion.

  • Sachs et al. (1969) First paper to propose the existence of a vasopressin prohormon and its processing in secretory granules.

  • Scharrer (1928) The classical paper that first proposed the existence of neurosecretory cells.

  • Watts (2011) An excellent review of the history of neurosecretion leading to the field of neuroendocrinology.

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Gainer, H. (2020). Neurosecretion: A Historical Overview. In: Lemos, J., Dayanithi, G. (eds) Neurosecretion: Secretory Mechanisms. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22989-4_1

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