Definition
The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) consists of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (SON and PVN) and their axons that run towards the neurohypophysis. There, vasopressin and oxytocin are released into the blood circulation from where these neurohormones act on peripheral organs.
Characteristics
The HNS represents the classic example of a neuroendocrine system, i.e. of hormone producing neurons. Vasopressin acts as an antidiuretic hormone on the kidney and regulates free water clearance by V2-type vasopressin receptors and the subsequent formation of aquaporin-2 water channels in the renal collecting duct. In women, oxytocin is involved in labor and lactation by its actions on the uterus and mammary gland respectively [1].
Quantitative Description
Hypophysectomy causes an average loss of 80% of the large neurons from both the SON and PVN, showing that most large SON and PVN neurons project to the neurohypophysis. The SON is subdivided into three parts. The...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Swaab DF (2003) The human hypothalamus. Basic and clinical Aspects, pt 1: Nuclei of the hypothalamus. In: Aminoff MJ, Boller F, Swaab DF (eds) Handbook of clinical neurology. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Van Londen L, Goekoop JG, Van Kempen GMJ, Frankhuijsen-Sierevogel AC, Wiegant VM, Van der Velde EA, De Wied D (1997) Plasma levels of arginine vasopressin elevated in patients with major depression. Neuropsychopharmacol 17:284–292
Ishunina TA, Swaab DF (2002) Neurohypophyseal peptides in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 1:537–558
Lucassen PJ, Salehi A, Pool CW, Gonatas NK, Swaab DF (1994) Activation of vasopressin neurons in aging and in Alzheimer's Disease. J Neuroendocrinol 6:673–679
Insel TR (1997) A neurobiological basis of social attachment. Am J Psychiatry 154:726–735
Meynen G, Unmehopa UA, Heerikhuize JJ, Hofman MA, Swaab DF, Hoogendijk WJ (2006) Increased arginine vasopressin mRNA expression in the human Hypothalamus in depression: a preliminary report. Biol Psychiatry 60:892–895
Erkut ZA, Pool CW, Swaab DF (1998) Glucocorticoids suppress corticotropin-releasing hormone and vasopressin expression in human hypothalamic neurons. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:2066–2073
Erkut ZA, Gabreëls BATF, Eikelenboom J, Leeuwen FW, Van Swaab DF (2002) Glucocorticoid treatment is associated with decreased expression of processed AVP but not of proAVP, neurophysin or oxytocin in the human hypothalamus: Are PC1 and PC2 involved? Neuroendocrinol Lett 23:33–44
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Swaab, D.F., Lucassen, P.J. (2009). Hypothalamo-neurohypophysial System. In: Binder, M.D., Hirokawa, N., Windhorst, U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_2318
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_2318
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-23735-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29678-2
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences